Education / Positive inspection reports for four isles childcare providers
FOUR local childcare providers have been given positive reports following inspections by the Care Inspectorate.
Islesburgh Out of School Care, Mid Yell nursery, Peerie Foxes in Lerwick and the Anderson High School halls of residence were all visited by inspectors in September.
All of the inspections were unannounced, with the visit to Peerie Foxes a follow-up inspection following recommendations by inspectors earlier this year.
The Care Inspectorate gave all four positive reviews, with the nursery in Mid Yell rated as “very good” for its care, play and learning, leadership and its staff team.
Peerie Foxes, which is now based at the former Salvation Army building in Lerwick, also impressed the inspector on their repeat visit, with the inspectorate finding they had made sufficient improvements to the service.
Inspectors visited the four care providers between 15 and 24 September, rating them on their care, play and learning, leadership and staff.
The halls of residence was rated on how it supported the rights and wellbeing of the pupils it looks after, with up to 91 regularly using the building, receiving a “good” rating.
The inspectorate gives out ratings from one – “unsatisfactory” – to six, which is “excellent”.
Islesburgh was rated “adequate” for its leadership, but received “good” ratings of four for the other key indicators.
Inspectors said the service was undergoing “significant challenges” in terms of staffing at the time of inspection, and “relied heavily” on relief staff.
However, it said this was being “managed well” – adding staff “worked well together” to support the children.
“Children benefitted from caring, friendly interactions with staff,” inspectors said.
“Parents commented positively on staff’s relationships with their children.”
It encouraged Islesburgh’s leadership to “develop a robust system of quality assuring and improvement planning” in future, however.
Mid Yell nursery was rated five out of six – “very good” – in three of the key performance indicators, earning a “good” rating for its setting.
The report found that one parent had said they “really love how calm and organised” the environment in the nursery is.
Inspectors said the only area for improvement was the addition of a secure entry system to the building.
But they said there were “significant strengths” in the quality of care being provided at the Mid Yell nursery, particularly from the “motivated and enthusiastic staff”.
“Staff worked well together to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for children to support the shared vision and a positive working ethos,” the Care Inspectorate wrote.
“Parents described the staff team as ‘lovely’ ‘helpful’ and ‘amazing.’
“Parent comments included, ‘the staff are fantastic, and the service provided is brilliant. My child loves it there and is thriving’.”
Another respondent had described Mid Yell nursery as being “like a family”.
Peerie Foxes, which offers care to pre-school children, had been asked to make improvements to its service following an inspection in May.
Among the recommendations were for staff to ensure children were supported at all times, especially lunch and sleep routines.
Inspectors found on an unannounced visit in September that Peerie Foxes had now employed more staff, to raise the adult to child ratio above the minimum requirements.
The Care Inspectorate said a designated sleep area had also been developed, with cots now available for children to rest.
“Children’s sleep routines were responsive to their needs, and sensitively supported,” inspectors said.
Quality assurance practices had also been improved from the previous inspection, the report found.
The Anderson High School’s halls of residence was inspected over three days, including on a Sunday night.
Inspectors found there were “lots of positive examples of young people being supported in a way that was right for them” at the halls of residence.
“The boarders’ handbook was clear that bullying would not be tolerated,” the report said.
“A young person described how they had been empowered and supported to raise concerns, how well managed this had been and how they were fully informed about how the complaint was being managed.
“It was a clear example of how neither racism or bullying would be tolerated and the high level of support young people were given.”
However, there were “mixed views from young people about how much their opinions and suggestions mattered” – with some feeling that “decisions were pre-decided”.
Despite this, staff at the halls of residence were rated “very good” for ensuring children and young people were safe, felt loved and could get the most out of life.
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