An Aberdeenshire out of school club must do more to make sure children are safe, inspectors have said.
Newtonhill Out of School Club received a “weak” rating following an unannounced visit from the Care Inspectorate on May 23.
The service, which operates from the Bettridge Centre, cares for up to 80 school children.
It’s a non-profit club, open to parents and carers of children living in Newtonhill Primary School’s catchment area.
During the visit, inspectors identified some strengths, which were compromised by “significant” weaknesses.
When inspectors arrived at the club they found the gate and main door fully open, with no member of staff supervising the area.
This meant they managed to access the downstairs hall and walk upstairs straight into the club.
The report reads: “We discussed these concerns with the manager and asked for the door to be closed immediately due to the risks to children.
“We also observed one child who tried to leave the club through one of the main exits before being stopped by one of the inspectors.”
Parents have security concerns
A member of staff explained the child was new and unsure of the layout of the building, however, parents told inspectors they were concerned about the security of the building – especially with the door being open.
The outdoor area used by children was also found to be extensive but not fully enclosed. Children seemed aware of the boundaries and knew not to go down into the car park or paths that lead out of the play area.
Inspectors were left concerned about the staff’s understanding and awareness of how many children were present on walking to and from the school after giving vague and approximate numbers.
The report highlighted road safety concerns around children walking to and from school.
Inspectors saw a staff member stand in the middle of the road for children to cross, leaving no one supervising the children further ahead. The staff member also moved off the road before all the children had finished crossing, with no one else there to support the children cross safely.
It was also found that staff do not take children’s medication on the journeys to and from school. It was made clear some staff members did not fully understand children’s medical needs or the signs and symptoms of when a child may need medication.
Although the medication was stored safely and securely, it was not in line with best practice.
For example, medication was found out of its original packaging and there were some cases where there were no consent forms in place.
During the visit, inspectors also found that safe recruitment practices were not being followed by the manager. New staff had started in the club before references were returned and PVG checks completed.
Children relaxed and having fun
Despite this, the inspectors found children to be relaxed and having fun at the club, with staff interacting well with them.
The report reads: “The indoor environment was welcoming for the children and they could access several resources and play experiences.
“The manager had taken a previous recommendation on board and developed a space for children to take part in quiet activities or to rest after their day at school.
“We noted a group of children access this area to chat about their school day.”
Inspectors also found that children benefitted from lots of active play, both indoors and outdoors.
Some parents spoke highly of staff, saying they were friendly, however, a few commented they did not always know the names of new staff members.
Recommendations to improve
In their report, the Care Inspectorate gave a list of requirements to be made by August 1.
This includes making improvements to personal planning to support the health, safety and wellbeing of children using the service.
The staff must also ensure the safety of all children attending the service by putting a secure entry system in place.
A risk assessment should be put in place for transporting children to and from school, whether on the bus or walking. This includes ensuring staff have the knowledge and understanding to make sure children are safe at all times.
Newtonhill Out of School Club declined to comment on the report.
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