Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery Day Care of Children Nile Street Kirkcaldy KY2 5AY Telephone:

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1 Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery Day Care of Children Nile Street Kirkcaldy KY2 5AY Telephone: Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 5 December 2014

2 Contents Page No Summary 3 1 About the service we inspected 5 2 How we inspected this service 7 3 The inspection 12 4 Other information 26 5 Summary of grades 27 6 Inspection and grading history 27 Service provided by: Fife Council Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS If you wish to contact the Care Inspectorate about this inspection report, please call us on or us at enquiries@careinspectorate.com Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 2 of 28

3 Summary This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection. Grades for this care service may change after this inspection following other regulatory activity. For example, if we have to take enforcement action to make the service improve, or if we investigate and agree with a complaint someone makes about the service. We gave the service these grades Quality of Care and Support 4 Good Quality of Environment 4 Good Quality of Staffing 4 Good Quality of Management and Leadership 4 Good What the service does well The children are cared for within a safe and nurturing environment where they benefit from a range of learning experiences. There are opportunities for parents to be involved in their children's learning and to provide feedback on the service. What the service could do better We asked the management team to review medication procedures in line with current guidance and to ensure that children's enrolment information is reviewed no less than every 6 months. School toilets which are sometimes used by nursery children are in need of upgrading. What the service has done since the last inspection The nursery has extended its hours of operation in line with national policy. Nursery furnishings and play equipment have been reviewed and updated. The garden ground has been further developed to support the children's outdoor learning. A toddlers room has been created within the premises which offers informal play opportunities to younger children, under their parents' supervision. Attendance at this group may help children familiarise themselves with the premises and support their transition to nursery. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 3 of 28

4 Conclusion Inspection report continued We found that the service was performing well in most areas. By continuing to effectively monitor and evaluate the work of the nursery, and by carrying out any further improvements which are identified, the manager and staff will be able to continue to ensure positive outcomes for the children who attend. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 4 of 28

5 1 About the service we inspected The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Prior to 1 April 2011, this function was carried out by the Care Commission. Information in relation to all care services is available on our website at The Care Inspectorate will award grades for services based on findings of inspections. Grades for this service may change after this inspection if we have to take enforcement action to make the service improve, or if we uphold or partially uphold a complaint that we investigate. If we are concerned about some aspect of a service, or think it could do more to improve its service, we may make a recommendation or requirement. - A recommendation is a statement that sets out actions the care service provider should take to improve or develop the quality of the service but where failure to do so will not directly result in enforcement. - A requirement is a statement which sets out what is required of a care service to comply with the Public Services Reforms (Scotland) Act 2010 and Regulations or Orders made under the Act, or a condition of registration. Where there are breaches of the Regulations, Orders or conditions, a requirement must be made. Requirements are legally enforceable at the discretion of the Inspectorate. The nursery is provided by Fife Council. The management team comprises the headteacher and principal teacher. The principal teacher spends part of her working week in the nursery and works closely with the early years officers who are responsible for the direct delivery of the service. The nursery offers both morning and afternoon sessions. The service may be provided to a maximum of 20 children aged from three years upwards but not yet attending primary school. Children generally attend one session per day. At the time of inspection, there were 35 children on the register in total, of whom 12 were present in the morning and 14 in the afternoon. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 5 of 28

6 The children are based within room 1 which has its own toilets and an adjoining cloakroom. The conditions of registration also permit nursery children to have access to the central hall, dining hall, playground and nursery garden. The nursery shares written information with parents about the values and aims of the service. Based on the findings of this inspection this service has been awarded the following grades: Quality of Care and Support - Grade 4 - Good Quality of Environment - Grade 4 - Good Quality of Staffing - Grade 4 - Good Quality of Management and Leadership - Grade 4 - Good This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection. Grades for this care service may change following other regulatory activity. You can find the most up-to-date grades for this service by visiting our website or by calling us on or visiting one of our offices. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 6 of 28

7 2 How we inspected this service The level of inspection we carried out In this service we carried out a low intensity inspection. We carry out these inspections when we are satisfied that services are working hard to provide consistently high standards of care. What we did during the inspection We wrote this report following an unannounced inspection visit on Friday 5 December The inspection was carried out by one inspector over both the morning and afternoon sessions. The service completed an annual return during February 2014, as required, providing up to date information about the nursery. In addition, a self-assessment was submitted in September We asked the service to issue questionnaires to parents and staff, in order to allow us to take account of their views. We received 12 completed parents' questionnaires and 3 completed staff questionnaires. We looked at elements of the following 4 quality themes during out visit: * Care and support * Environment * Staffing * Management. We gathered evidence from a number of sources, including the following: - Evidence relating to the information in the service's self assessment - Discussion with the headteacher, principal teacher and early years officers - Observation of staff working with the children - Observation of the environment - Children's personal learning plans (PLPs) - Children's records - Information for parents - Written policies and procedures - Comments from children - Comments from parents We have taken account of all of the above information when writing this report. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 7 of 28

8 Grading the service against quality themes and statements We inspect and grade elements of care that we call 'quality themes'. For example, one of the quality themes we might look at is 'Quality of care and support'. Under each quality theme are 'quality statements' which describe what a service should be doing well for that theme. We grade how the service performs against the quality themes and statements. Details of what we found are in Section 3: The inspection Inspection Focus Areas (IFAs) In any year we may decide on specific aspects of care to focus on during our inspections. These are extra checks we make on top of all the normal ones we make during inspection. We do this to gather information about the quality of these aspects of care on a national basis. Where we have examined an inspection focus area we will clearly identify it under the relevant quality statement. Fire safety issues We do not regulate fire safety. Local fire and rescue services are responsible for checking services. However, where significant fire safety issues become apparent, we will alert the relevant fire and rescue services so they may consider what action to take. You can find out more about care services' responsibilities for fire safety at Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 8 of 28

9 What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at our last inspection There was one recommendation relating to the further development of written information for parents. Work was on-going in relation to this. The annual return Every year all care services must complete an 'annual return' form to make sure the information we hold is up to date. We also use annual returns to decide how we will inspect the service. Annual Return Received: Yes - Electronic Comments on Self Assessment Every year all care services must complete a 'self assessment' form telling us how their service is performing. We check to make sure this assessment is accurate. We received a self assessment document from the service, in advance of the date of inspection, as requested. This enabled the manager and staff to tell us what they do well and to highlight any further improvements which are planned. We were satisfied with the information provided in relation to each of the quality statements. The management team awarded grades of very good (grade 5) against most aspects of the service. We have awarded grades of very good (grade 5) and good (grade 4) against the statements we looked at during the inspection. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 9 of 28

10 Taking the views of people using the care service into account We saw that the children were busy and engaged in their activities throughout the session. They appeared comfortable in the setting and were confident in approaching staff. Some of the children talked about what they were doing in nursery and invited the inspector to take part in their activities. Comments included the following: 'This is my picture. I have to wait for it to dry.' 'My name is X.' 'It's going to be Christmas. These are the decorations.' 'I'm climbing up here.' 'I don't have a dog. I have a little sister. She came in my room and gave me a fright.' 'There's cows in that field (looking at book) Eight cows!' 'Can we read the story now? It's the jungle book from the library.' 'You need to sit here and choose your colour. It's Mary and Joseph (colouring in sheet). Use that one for the branches.' Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 10 of 28

11 Taking carers' views into account We asked the nursery to issue questionnaires to parents to enable them to comment on the service. We received 12 completed questionnaires. Feedback from parents was positive overall, which confirmed that the majority who responded were satisfied with the service. For example, in response to the statement 'Overall, I am happy with the quality of care my child receives in this service', 8 parents strongly agreed, 3 agreed and 1 strongly disagreed. We spoke with one parent whose questionnaire responses were less positive. This parent confirmed that the issues referred to had been addressed and that there were currently no concerns regarding the quality of the service. Further information from the parents' questionnaires is included under the individual statements in this report. Individual comments from parents' questionnaires were as follows: 'Both my children have attended this school and nursery and I have always been more than happy with the level of care provided.' 'I believe that longer hours for the teachers leaves less time to plan and prepare. Great for parents and children but I feel sorry for staff.' 'The nursery could do with a make-over. It's not changed much since I was at the same school 25 years ago! It could also do with some new toys i.e. house corner.' 'I am of the opinion that the staff could be supported better. This is in respect of the challenges they face with non- English speaking children. This is in no way a criticism as I believe the staff work well and care for all the children's needs.' We also spoke to 4 parents and carers during our visit. Those parents confirmed that they were happy with the service. Two parents whose first language is not English confirmed that they had received information in a format which they could understand. One parent did not recollect having been informed about staff changes. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 11 of 28

12 3 The inspection We looked at how the service performs against the following quality themes and statements. Here are the details of what we found. Quality Theme 1: Quality of Care and Support Grade awarded for this theme: 4 - Good Statement 1 We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the quality of the care and support provided by the service. Service strengths We found that the service was performing at a good level in relation to this statement. We gathered evidence of this by looking at the availability of information about the service, seeking parents' views and talking to the manager and staff about methods of consultation which are in place. The manager and staff aimed to work closely with children and their parents/carers and to take account of their views. Parents were encouraged to take an active interest in the service and in their child's learning. They were invited to spend time in their child's room, for example, and to help with Forest Kindergarten. Staff were available to talk to parents during their day to day contacts with the service and parents were invited to meet with their child's key worker from time to time. The service used a range of methods to share information with parents. Written information was provided prior to admission and on an ongoing basis. Staff made good use of notice boards within the nursery to display information which may be of interest to parents, including curriculum information, staff photos and designations and details of key worker groups. Staff had developed 'Your Nursery' folders which provided a photographic record for parents, of various activities which the children had experienced. Newsletters were issued on a regular basis. These measures helped ensure that parents were well-informed. A high percentage of families who used the service used English as a second language. The service was aware that this could be a barrier to effective communication and had some strategies in place to overcome this, including the use of translators and support from older pupils in the school, who are bi-lingual. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 12 of 28

13 The service used Personal Learning plans (PLPs) to record and celebrate children's learning. Parents were encouraged to contribute to their child's plan and were able to meet with staff at least once a year to review and update it. We sampled these folders and found that children's next steps had been identified. In response to the statement 'Staff share information about my child's learning and development with me and, where appropriate, my child', 7 parents strongly agreed, 4 agreed and I disagreed. This confirmed that the majority felt well-informed. Written consent procedures were in place. This allowed parents to remain involved in making choices about their child's care and reduced the risk of any misunderstandings. Parents were asked to complete questionnaires to enable them to provide formal feedback on the service. We saw that their responses had been collated. The Care Inspectorate questionnaire asked for parents views about their involvement in the service. In response to the statement 'The service has involved me, and where appropriate my child in developing the service, for example asking for ideas and feedback', 6 parents strongly agreed, 5 agreed and 1 disagreed. This confirmed that most of those parents felt that they and their children were able to influence the service. Areas for improvement Inspection report continued The following areas for improvement were included in the self assessment: - Feedback to be sought about planning wall format and action points created if required - Children's self-registration to be arranged in a way which ensures parents travel through nursery to see what is on offer to their children Improved parental engagement had been identified as one of the overall priorities for the school as a whole and staff were considering how this could be progressed. This should have a positive impact on the outcomes experienced by the children. Staff were also seeking to further develop participation by the children. For example, staff were working with the early years development officer to develop a pictorial system to help children express choice. Given the range of languages used by the families who use the nursery, staff hoped to identify alternative ways of gathering parents' views, other than by written means. While questionnaires responses had been collated, these had not been shared with parents. This meant that they didn't know the outcome of the survey, or how the information they provided had been used. Parents were invited to meet formally with their child's keyworker; however, some had been unable to attend at the appointed time and there was little evidence of parental input in some of the children's PLP folders which we sampled. Staff may therefore wish to consider how they can better evidence parental involvement. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 13 of 28

14 The service may wish to consider extending the range of information which is available to parents, for example to include information about the National Care Standards and the Scottish Social Services Council and their relevance to the service. Similarly, the nursery may wish to 'signpost' parents to policies and procedures, so that they know how to access these, should they wish to do so. The provider, manager and staff should continue to enable parents and children to assess and improve this aspect of the service. Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Statement 3 We ensure that service users' health and wellbeing needs are met. Service strengths We found that the service was performing at a very good level in relation to this statement. We gathered evidence of this from discussion with the manager and staff, reference to children's records and policies and procedures, our own observations and by taking account of feedback from children and their parents. Staff created a caring and nurturing environment where children were respected and were encouraged to be active and achieving. Adult/child interaction was very positive and supportive. The children were encouraged to be caring and considerate to one another and knew what was expected of them. This contributed to them feeling safe and secure. We saw that the children were familiar with nursery routines and engaged in their learning. The rooms were set out in a way which promoted the children's independence. 'Quiet' spaces were available where children could rest or take 'time out', should they wish to do so. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of children's individual needs. The nursery maintained links with other professionals, involving them in assessing and supporting children when appropriate. We discussed the requirement for all care services to develop a personal plan for each child. Systems were in place to ensure that information was recorded, through the use of enrolment forms, PLPs and any additional records which were required. This helped the service to demonstrate how children's needs were identified and met. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 14 of 28

15 The nursery provided a range of snacks, including oatcakes and cheese, toast and fresh fruit. Following the extension to the hours of operation, snack was offered twice during each session. This meant that children had access to nutritious foods. Appropriate procedures were in place to enable staff to manage any food intolerances/food preferences. Tooth-brushing was an established part of the daily routine which helped children to be aware of the importance of dental hygiene from an early age. The layout of the premises did not enable staff to provide a free flow for children between the indoor and outdoor environment; however, staff often took the children out in groups. We saw that there was space for them to play energetically and use a variety of play equipment. We also saw evidence that the children had taken part in walks in the local area and some had visited the forest to choose and buy the nursery Christmas tree. Forest Kindergarten had been established. This provided the children with the opportunity to experience outdoor learning within a natural environment. Parents confirmed that their children have regular access to fresh air and energetic play. A climbing frame was available in the playroom, to support energetic play indoors. We saw that some of the children enjoyed using it during our visit. The nursery had procedures in place to enable staff to administer medication, with written parental permission. We found that, overall, medication was well-managed. A system was in place to record any accidents and incidents which occurred. We saw that information was recorded appropriately and shared with parents. Staff followed established Fife Council procedures with regard to care and welfare issues. They had attended child protection training and were aware of their obligation to act on any concerns by reporting these to the child protection coordinator, or depute coordinator. They had access to relevant guidance including the Area Child Protection Inter-Agency Guidelines which they could refer to for more information. Arrangements were in place to follow-up on any unexplained child absence. In response to the statement 'I am confident that staff will protect my child from harm, abuse, bullying and neglect', 9 parents strongly agreed, 2 agreed and one didn't know. This confirmed that most of those parents were confident in this aspect of the service. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 15 of 28

16 Areas for improvement The following areas for improvement were included in the self assessment: - Storage facilities for outdoor equipment to be addressed, in order to ensure full access to all of the available equipment - Outdoor garden development to continue with new seating to be provided and further gardening opportunities to be offered We discussed the need for personal plans to be reviewed no less than every 6 months. We asked the manager to ensure that review dates are recorded, as evidence of these having taken place, for example, when parents meet with key workers. Similarly, enrolment information should be checked, and updated as appropriate, at least twice a year. We saw that medication forms did not include all of the required information, such as confirmation of the first dose having been administered at home. We did not see evidence that children's medication needs were routinely reviewed. We asked the manager to review medication procedures in line with the Care Inspectorate guidance note on the management of medication. Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 16 of 28

17 Quality Theme 2: Quality of Environment Grade awarded for this theme: 4 - Good Statement 1 We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the quality of the environment within the service. Service strengths The evidence for the grade awarded for this statement is included under statement 1.1. Areas for improvement The following area for improvement was included in the self- assessment: - To carry out annual questionnaires in order to continually assess the services on offer The manager and staff should continue to enable parents and children to assess and improve this aspect of the service. Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Statement 2 We make sure that the environment is safe and service users are protected. Service strengths We found that the service was performing at a good level in relation to this statement. We gathered evidence of this from discussion with staff, reference to policies and procedures, risk assessments, our own observations and feedback from parents. There was a secure entry system for the nursery which prevented unauthorised access to the building. The self-registration system was overseen by staff so that they were aware of child numbers at all times. These measures helped ensure the children's safety and security. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 17 of 28

18 Overall, the accommodation was well maintained, clean and tidy. This contributed to children being safe. There had been considerable investment in furnishings and play equipment since the last inspection. The environment was welcoming and stimulating and offered children a variety of learning opportunities. The children were able to move around freely and access their choice of equipment throughout the session. We saw, for example, that a group of children played independently at the water tray where they used a range of props to learn about the properties of water. Another group enjoyed playing a table top game with support from a member of staff. Others enjoyed painting and colouring activities at different points throughout the day while many made good use of the story corner. Some children looked at books independently while others asked for stories to be read to them. Children's toilets were accessed directly from the nursery rooms. This meant that the children did not need to be accompanied which encouraged their independence. Nappy changing facilities were readily accessible. Staff used personal protective equipment when changing nappies/managing any spillages, to help prevent the spread of infection. Both adult and child height sinks were easily accessible to staff and children. We saw that staff encouraged the children to wash their hands, both before eating and after using the toilet. Two members of staff had been trained in first aid which helped them to be confident in responding to any accidents or incidents in the nursery. Training in food hygiene helped ensure that foods were stored and prepared hygienically. The nursery had developed a range of written risk assessments which demonstrated how risks to children had been assessed and minimised by staff. This contributed towards children's safety. In response to the statement 'The service is a safe, secure, hygienic, smoke free pleasant and stimulating environment', 7 parents strongly agreed 4 agreed and 1 disagreed. This confirmed that most of these parents were satisfied with this aspect of the service. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 18 of 28

19 Areas for improvement The following area for improvement was included in the self-assessment: - Further develop symbolisation to include simple routines, for example for snack, outdoor play, toilet There was a significant malodour from the school toilets adjacent to the nursery entrance. These toilets were sometimes used by nursery children, for example when they were playing outdoors. The headteacher was aware of this longstanding issue and confirmed that refurbishment of the toilets was planned; however, no timescale had been confirmed. See requirement 1 The snack area was adjacent to the toilets. This was not best practice in terms of infection prevention and control. The protective gloves which were supplied for staff use contained latex. It was recommended that these be replaced by latex free gloves, to minimise the risk of allergic reaction. Toilet brushes were stored in toilet cubicles where they were accessible to the children. We asked staff to store these elsewhere to minimise the risk of the spread of infection. Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 1 Number of recommendations: 0 Requirements 1. The provider must ensure that all parts of the premises used by nursery children are kept in a good state of repair and are appropriately maintained. Reference: The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services Regulations: Scottish Statutory Instrument Regulation 10 (2) (b) and (d) Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 19 of 28

20 Quality Theme 3: Quality of Staffing Grade awarded for this theme: 4 - Good Statement 1 We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the quality of staffing in the service. Service strengths The evidence for the grade awarded for this statement is included under statement 1.1. Areas for improvement The following areas for improvement were included in the self assessment: - Regular updates of nursery booklet - Annual staff PRD reviews and updates of these to be recorded online - Annual questionnaires to be issued to families and children The manager and staff should continue to enable parents and children to assess and improve this aspect of the service. Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Statement 3 We have a professional, trained and motivated workforce which operates to National Care Standards, legislation and best practice. Service strengths We found that the service was performing at a very good level in relation to this statement. We gathered evidence of this from discussions with the manager and staff, observation of staff practices, reference to written information and by taking account of feedback from parents. Staff were qualified and experienced which contributed towards positive outcomes for the children they cared for. While there had been some unavoidable changes within the staff team, this had been managed in way which provided as much continuity for families as possible. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 20 of 28

21 Staff worked well together as a team which resulted in a calm, purposeful atmosphere. They were well deployed throughout the day which meant that children were appropriately supervised. Staff interacted well with the children, in a way which contributed to their self-esteem and supported their learning. We saw that the children were confident in approaching staff and in seeking support when they needed it. In response to the statement 'My child appears happy and confident with staff', 9 parents strongly agreed and 3 agreed. Those members of staff who were required to be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)) were registered and were aware of the codes of practice which they are expected to adhere to. (The SSSC is responsible for registering people who work in social services and regulating their education and training. Its role is to raise standards of practice, strengthen and support the workforce and increase the protection of people who use services). The staff team had access to a range of national guidance documents which supported their day-to-day work with the children, including the following: * Curriculum for Excellence * Child at the Centre 2 * National Care Standards * Pre-birth to three * Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings Staff impressed as motivated and receptive to further training. In addition to planned in-service training days, staff were able to opt in to a variety of training events which were provided by the council. All three staff who submitted questionnaires as part of the inspection process confirmed that they had been given opportunities to access education/training within the past year. Parents expressed confidence in nursery staff. In response to the statement 'I am confident that staff have the skills and experience to care for my child and support their learning and development' 8 parents strongly agreed, 3 agreed and 1 disagreed. This showed that the majority of these parents were satisfied with this aspect of the service. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 21 of 28

22 Areas for improvement The following areas for improvement were included in the self assessment: - Annual PRD reviews for nursery staff - CPD training for staff to be updated - Staff to attend local EAL classes to get a greater insight into the children's lives outside nursery Staff had identified further training they would like to attend, including 'Write Dance' (music and movement).one member of staff did not have a first aid certificate and expressed an interest in attending training. Staff were not yet aware of the recent publication 'Building the Ambition'. They should continue to familiarise themselves with national guidance and consider how they can use this to maintain and improve outcomes for children. Staff may benefit from networking opportunities with other centres, which would allow them to share and reflect on their practice. Grade awarded for this statement: 5 - Very Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 22 of 28

23 Quality Theme 4: Quality of Management and Leadership Grade awarded for this theme: 4 - Good Statement 1 We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the quality of the management and leadership of the service. Service strengths The evidence for the grade awarded for this statement is included under statement 1.1 Areas for improvement The following areas for improvement were included in the self-assessment: - Principal teacher's hours to be scheduled taking account of extended provision from August 2014, to support planning times within the nursery - Management team to spend some time making links with the toddler room parents and carers The manager and staff should continue to enable parents and children to assess and improve this aspect of the service. Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Statement 4 We use quality assurance systems and processes which involve service users, carers, staff and stakeholders to assess the quality of service we provide Service strengths We found that the service was performing at a good level in relation to this statement. We gathered evidence of this from discussion with the manager and staff, reference to written information including the service's own self- assessment and by taking account of progress since the last inspection. The service is provided by Fife Council Education Service which has a well defined management structure. This ensured accountability within the service as well as the provision of on-going support/supervision for staff. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 23 of 28

24 The headteacher was the designated manager of the service. She was supported in her role by a principal teacher who had direct involvement in the nursery on a day to day basis. The management team were responsible for leading planning, monitoring staff practices and providing support and supervision to staff. The principal teacher met with the early years officers on a regular basis to share information. External support was also available from a nominated education officer. Care and welfare issues were well managed. We sampled records and found evidence that concerns had been recorded and followed up appropriately. An improvement plan was in place. The manager confirmed that she valued the views of parents, carers and children. Priorities for improvement had been identified and were being worked on. These were reflected in the service's self-assessment which was submitted to the Care Inspectorate in advance of the date of inspection. Staff were encouraged to be actively involved in assessing and developing the service. The manager was broadly aware of regulatory matters. Areas for improvement The following area for improvement was included in the self assessment: - Questionnaires should be completed annually, in order to fully assess the service and make improvements - Results of questionnaires should be made available to service users - An additional questionnaire/feedback sheet should be created in order to gather views, opinions and suggestions from visitors/professionals who use/visit our service Some proposed developments within the nursery had been unavoidably delayed due to the absence of the manager for a number of months and also turnover within the staff team. A professional development and review system was in place; however, staff annual review meetings had been postponed pending training on a new system which was being introduced within the council. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 24 of 28

25 Policies and procedures were due to be reviewed and updated. We asked the manager to provide a clearer statement for parents on the steps which will be taken by staff, in the event of unexplained child absence. This will ensure that they know what to expect. The management team hoped to update the nursery information booklet. We did not receive notification of the manager's absence. This is required for any absence of more than 28 days. We provided an update regarding required notifications and the document which provides more information about this, for future reference. Nursery children used the library on the upper level of the premises; however, this was not included on the registration certificate as a designated usage area. We advised the manager of the process to follow to request a variation to the conditions of registration. This will avoid any future breach of conditions of registration. Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 25 of 28

26 4 Other information Complaints No complaints have been upheld, or partially upheld, since the last inspection. Enforcements We have taken no enforcement action against this care service since the last inspection. Additional Information N/A Action Plan Failure to submit an appropriate action plan within the required timescale, including any agreed extension, where requirements and recommendations have been made, will result in the Care Inspectorate re-grading a Quality Statement within the Quality of Management and Leadership Theme (or for childminders, Quality of Staffing Theme) as unsatisfactory (1). This will result in the Quality Theme being re-graded as unsatisfactory (1). Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 26 of 28

27 5 Summary of grades Quality of Care and Support Good Statement 1 Statement Good 5 - Very Good Quality of Environment Good Statement 1 Statement Good 4 - Good Quality of Staffing Good Statement 1 Statement Good 5 - Very Good Quality of Management and Leadership Good Statement 1 Statement Good 4 - Good 6 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 12 Dec 2011 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very Good Environment 5 - Very Good Staffing Not Assessed Management and Leadership Not Assessed 1 Dec 2008 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 5 - Very Good Management and Leadership 4 - Good All inspections and grades before 1 April 2011 are those reported by the former regulator of care services, the Care Commission. Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 27 of 28

28 To find out more about our inspections and inspection reports Read our leaflet 'How we inspect'. You can download it from our website or ask us to send you a copy by telephoning us on This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can get more copies of this report and others by downloading it from our website: or by telephoning Translations and alternative formats This inspection report is available in other languages and formats on request. Telephone: enquiries@careinspectorate.com Web: Kirkcaldy North Primary School Nursery, page 28 of 28