Nursery staff ‘strapped young children to chairs’
Young children were strapped to chairs by nursery staff to manage behaviour and CCTV cameras were not working, a report from inspectors has revealed.
Selina Thomas, owner and registered person in charge at Nightingales Pre School in Albert Crescent, Penarth, failed to safeguard and promote welfare of the children, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales found.
Issuing non-compliance notices regarding management and managing behaviour, CSSIW inspectors said: “Some behaviour management strategies used are inappropriate and involve excessive control and restraint.”
CSSIW inspectors were told during an unannounced visit in August this year that safety straps were used inappropriately.
“During the inspection, we were told by three members of staff that ‘Clippasafe straps’ are regularly used as a way of restricting children’s movement during some activities.
“We were told by the senior room leader in the 18-months to three-yearolds room that ‘Clippasafe’ straps have been used to keep children on chairs during mealtimes, storytime, using musical instruments and to stop them from running around.
“A second member of staff confirmed that the ‘strap’ is used to hold children in chairs if they won’t sit still during circle time. We were told by this member of staff that the ‘strap’ is also used if children won’t sit on the mat for time-out. This member of staff also told us that children are warned that the strap will be used if they don’t sit still and when they calm down they will be let out so they can sit nicely.
“A third member of staff told us when asked how children respond to the ‘strap’ that they are used to it and often all they have to say is, ‘do you want me to have to get the strap?’
“Staff spoke openly about using the ‘strap’ and did not show an understanding that restraining children in this way is inappropriate.”
When inspectors spoke to Mrs Thomas about these methods, she said she did not know they were being used, the document adds.
CCTV cameras were also not working at the nursery, which is registered to care for up to 44 children aged between six weeks to 12 years. It currently cares for children aged between six weeks and eight years.
Although inspectors found children interact well and “are generally well settled and are happy at the nursery”, they found that Mrs Thomas’ “lack of management oversight is impacting on the smooth running of the nursery and on children’s wellbeing”.
And while she became acting manager and person in charge in 2015, she failed to confirm this in writing to the CSSIW so checks could be completed, the report adds.
“We were also notified that the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for the RP [registered person] expired on October 10, 2016 and forms to update the check by CSSIW were forwarded to the RP in September 2016. However, we have no record that the forms were returned for processing so that we could ensure the RP’s fitness.”
Mrs Thomas was not available for comment when contacted. But her husband Paul Thomas, who said she had owned the nursery for nearly 20 years, said she “completely disputed” the report’s findings.
“We have never used the safety straps for anything other than the intended purpose for safety to stop children falling off chairs. The inspectors did not see them being used,” he said. “We are making a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales about the report, which is grossly misleading and totally inaccurate.”
He said CCTV was not working on the day of the inspection because it had fed into their house and, as they had moved, they had to disconnect it.
Among their recommendations, the inspectors said the nursery should ensure CCTV is connected, review and update its behaviour management policy and reconsider the use of ‘Clippasafe’ straps, while paperwork must also be updated.