Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House’S Nootka Group Child Care

• PHYSICAL, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING / Play Area, Materials and EquipmentNon-critical

  All indoor and outdoor play materials and equipment accessible to children are suitable for the age and development of the children, safely constructed, free from hazards and in good repair. [CCLR Sec. 16(4)]

  Observation. The program is now back in their originally licensed spaces. Room arrangement in the larger multi purpose room featured a number of defined areas for play. There were home like features such as rugs, lighting, soft furnishing. Having this range of furnishings and staff's imagination support delivery of a program that facilitates play and creative spaces for children to be alone, in small groups or gather as a larger community. There were defined areas for active play, quiet reflection and table top activities. All combines to provide a supportive social and emotional environment. Younger group has moved back into Room 104. Noted the staff working together using the current furnishings to create a space that respond to and supports children's current interests (e.g. creating a plane, ticket booth). Spoke with the staff team and then the Manager post inspection over the phone. Manager confirmed that now they are back in the room, they will proceed with ordering two double sided lockable cabinets that will provide more storage and act as dividers to define and protect areas for play. Manager said they are committed to finding ways to overcome and further enhance the experiences provided the children in Room 104.

• PHYSICAL, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING / Play Area, Materials and EquipmentNon-critical

  The entire outdoor play area is enclosed and constructed in a manner that is suitable for the age and development of children, and ensures that children are free of harm. [CCLR Sec. 16(3)(a)(b)]

  Observation. When reviewing the outdoor playground checklist for September, noted that staff had commented on need for additional fibar. Inspected the outdoor play yard and confirmed the concern. There is a central area with a variety of play structures and fibar as resilient ground cover. All children enter the play yard from east to west and the fibar drifts naturally toward the far west side of the play space. In addition the fibar has drifted under platforms and away from high impact areas under swings, bottom of slides and swing toy areas. Landscape membrane is visible in key areas throughout the play area. In particular, the rough cement base and landscape membrane was evident under the same swing toy as last year. Also noted the condition of the fibar has deteriorated over the year. Raking for even distribution will help mitigate the safety concern in the short term. However the fibar quality may not be sufficient to provide the depth and resiliency required to prevent serious injury (as per CSA guidelines), in the long term (i.e. past this winter). Discussed with Manager over the phone post inspection. Manager confirmed that she had spoke with the principal and the principal concurs that this is an issue for not only the school age program but the school as a whole. Principal has submitted a work order. The school engineer confirmed they are waiting for a response. School engineer will make an additional call today and update the Manager accordingly.

• PHYSICAL, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING / EnvironmentNon-critical

  The facility, the furniture, equipment, fixtures and supplies are of sturdy and safe construction.  They are easy to clean, and are clean and in good repair and free from hazards. [CCLR Sec. 13(2) and Sec. 15(1)(a)]

  Observation. Room 104, the drama room, continues to be under assessment and construction. Manager reported the VSB is testing the air quality. VSB facilities has indicated a full roof repair may be required. This work may require waiting until the spring / summer of 2025 for conditions to be right. In the meantime, the children continue to receive care in Room 173. Room 173 is a huge improvement on many levels from the drama room. The staff and children may leave ongoing projects out. There is natural light, with windows that can open and that look directly out on the playground. There is direct access to a pick up and drop off area rather than staff having to radio the other multi purpose room and children & staff having to move back and forth. There is a bank of hooks and open cubbies plus storage for the group's materials and supplies. This room is far more conducive to supporting the program and children's needs. The room was arranged in an engaging and inviting manner with the children's ongoing projects. The staff team and children have been working collaboratively to maximize the rooms' potential for programing and play. Manager inquired if it were possible for this room to be the permanent home for this group and what the process would be. CCFL reviewed the process briefly and asked Manager / Licensee to approach CCFL with a proposal if this was indeed possible.

• PHYSICAL, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING / Play Area, Materials and EquipmentNon-critical

  All indoor and outdoor play materials and equipment accessible to children are suitable for the age and development of the children, safely constructed, free from hazards and in good repair. [CCLR Sec. 16(4)]

• PHYSICAL, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING / EnvironmentNon-critical

  The facility, the furniture, equipment, fixtures and supplies are of sturdy and safe construction.  They are easy to clean, and are clean and in good repair and free from hazards. [CCLR Sec. 13(2) and Sec. 15(1)(a)]

  Observation. The child care is in an aging school building. Staff do their best to maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness. Noted the dry wall is damaged - chipped and crumbling - above the sink in the kitchen. The small program room - Room 104 - appears to be clean. However there is evidence of water damage along the ceiling and a very strong musty smell, indicative of past and or ongoing water damage. The scent is strong even when all three windows are open. Interesting the closet in the corner does not have an odour. The odour is clearly coming from the room. It is unpleasant and impacts the overall play environment. Manager and staff team stated they have informed the school and facilities about the issue and were told it was the carpet. Staff team reported the stains in the ceiling were dismissed as a nonissue. There has been no further action, either to identify the source of the odour and / or remove the carpet and address the source if it is indeed the carpet. In CCFL's experience, odours are a common medium through which risks become perceptible. This matter warrants further attention.

• PHYSICAL, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING / Play Area, Materials and EquipmentNon-critical

  All indoor and outdoor play materials and equipment accessible to children are suitable for the age and development of the children, safely constructed, free from hazards and in good repair. [CCLR Sec. 16(4)]

  Observation. Room arrangement in the larger multi purpose room featured protect pockets for play, well defined and made homelike via arrangement of roll away storage carts, soft furnishings and carpets, lighting, etc. This capacity and the staff's imagination supports the delivery of a program that facilitates play and creative, spaces for children to be alone and in small groups, a sense of comfort, privacy as well as establishing areas for active play. Room arrangement in Room 104 is challenged by the lack of storage. Staff team works hard to create protected areas for play and engagement similar to the larger room but are unable to do so due to lack of furnishings, e.g. movable storage carts and dividers, pop up tents, etc. that can be arranged to protect and support a variety of play. The end result is, despite staff's best efforts and creativity, a room that is noisy, where children are tempted to run and disrupt other's play and work. There is no sense of privacy, or areas of calm where children can retreat to refresh and reset. Staff remarked that between the smell and the challenge of storage / ability to create defined areas, they are not able to fully meet program requirements. Noted that there is a discernible impact on social, emotional climate in the room. Observed that there is space along the wall where a couple of storage units on castors and small dividers could be easily tucked away & secure during the school day.

• PHYSICAL, EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHING / Play Area, Materials and EquipmentNon-critical

  The entire outdoor play area is enclosed and constructed in a manner that is suitable for the age and development of children, and ensures that children are free of harm. [CCLR Sec. 16(3)(a)(b)]

  Observation. The school age uses the school playground as well as local parks (e.g. Renfrew Community Centre) for outdoor active play. Today the older group were out in the main playground of the school where there are a variety of play structures. Typically the VSB Facilities staff come and inspect then service the school playgrounds over the summer. I was surprised this early in the new school year that the fibar was shallow in areas of high impact and risk. For example, the cement base and landscape membrane was evident under one play structure. Also noted that much of the fibar supply had shifted from the high impact areas to under platforms on some structures. Discussed this with the Manager. Manager said she was unsure of whether the playground had been attended to as they close and amalgamate with the program at the Neighbourhood House over the summer. Manager noted the yard was like this when school started. Discussed how it is in the best interests of the school and child care to ensure the fibar is evenly distributed to meet CSA /DOLSOP standards to ensure the safety of children throughout the day. Manager agreed and stated she would speak with the principal about this.

No violations recorded at this inspection.

No violations recorded at this inspection.

No violations recorded at this inspection.