This
morning’s GMB programme highlighted some bad practice in 1 particular Nursery.
This may have raised some anxieties and concerns for parents who use nursery
provision.
The
issues reported within the investigation included:
·
Inadequate staff suitability checks
·
Poor levels of supervision
·
Health and Safety concerns
Staff Suitability
At
St Mary’s Nurseries the Safeguarding procedures are robust and inform the recruitment
and selection process. We ensure that at least one member of the interview
panel has completed the ‘Safer recruitment’ training.
All
staff including volunteers and students are interviewed, DBS checked, references
sought, qualifications confirmed and receive a thorough induction.
Supervision of children
The
legal requirements for adult:child ratios are
0-2years
- 1 adult: 3 children
2-3years
– 1 adult: 4 children
3-5
Years- 1 adult: 8 children
These
requirements are never compromised although there are times when a member of
staff will be working on a 1:1 ratio during certain periods ie nappy changing,
dealing with an accident, speaking to a parent.
Volunteers
and students are NEVER left unsupervised with the children. It is on a very
rare occasion that any member of staff will work alone due to the open plan layout
and position of the office.
Health and Safety
Plug sockets – during the
investigation the reporter found that the nursery in question did not have plug
socket covers. Recently it has been advised by electrical experts to remove all
plug socket covers in care establishments, they are more dangerous when in use
as they release the safety mechanism within UK electrical sockets.
As
with all NHS establishments St Mary’s Nurseries removed all socket covers in
October 2016 following this advice.
Resources - During the report a child
was playing with stilts
The
child apparently had one of the stilts hanging around his neck. This piece of
equipment is appropriate for the age and stage of development for 3-5 year olds.
The problem was that this activity was not adequately supervised. Although we
do not have any stilts we do have pieces of equipment which children do wear
over their heads such as handbags, scarves, capes etc.
Accidents – The presenter informed
viewers that ‘children are having accidents, head injuries, burns and breaking
bones whilst in Nursery’. This is true
but children also have accidents, receive head injuries, burns and broken bones
at home, at school, in the garden, at the park, at Grandmas, etc.
At St Mary’s Nurseries the children are closely supervised at all times
but, inevitably, we do get our fair share of bumps, bruises, bites and scratches.
Every precaution is taken to avoid accidents; risk assessments are carried out but
it must be remembered that children do receive knocks and bumps as a part of
development, during play and physical activities. These unavoidable rough and
tumble little accidents of childhood are mostly shrugged off fairly quickly by
the children. We record in detail any accident/incident of whatever nature, and
we ask the parent to read and sign our report.
As
far as we are concerned this investigation had some valid concerns for example ‘not
vetting staff appropriately, leaving volunteers unsupervised and poor
supervision of children’. However there were some scare mongering tactics in
relation to ‘no plug socket covers’, the
use of equipment ie the stilts and children’s accidents.
If you have
any concerns about this investigation or our response please speak to a member
of the Management Team.
