CM Club:OFSTED came & you know how they like to find thngs to improve......please help me with this?

[KatyMac]

I have to create a more secluded nappy changing area.

I have a large room (24 by 12), lots of windows (well it's a conservatory)

I can't fix anything to the roof (like curtains which I would worry the children would swing on or a blind)

I think something free standing would be tricky

Short of changing a child in a tent has anyone any ideas

okay

if you were to put say a bookcase, waist-height, as a kind of partition, would that work? Or would it have to be higher?

Put that film on the windows, you can get Amazon ??

I know some Cm's use the hallway or downstairs toilet. Would either of those work? Sorry I don't know your layout.

The hall & downstairs loo are too far away

Like the bookcase idea, I have some open storage I could move & maybe tack some hardboard to the back of?

yy that would do

yes but who the hell is looking anyway.. they just have to pick on something dont they.. never ever good enough...

The other children, other staff, parents, visitors

Apparently

Sorry Katy you know i think you are great but I do get their point especially as it is now more normal to have older children in nappies due to the DDA.

But I will admit it is fairly minor!

Do you change on the mat on floor or on a changing table? As that affects 'screening' options

Will check back with ideas

Floor & we do have screening it's just not good enough (yet)

It will be tho' when I've fixed it

Most people don't stand and wtc

Oh if you already have some screening then I take that back!

But if you go up behind the person changing & peer over them..........

Cant you write a 'no peering' in nappy changing policy

What for OFSTED inspectors ?

She has a point but I don't think going into another room is a good idea for either the children or the staff

I have a nappy changing table in the bathroom, but other children are always watching when they come in for the toilet and if a parent comes to collect, they can see, coz I have it in my policies that the door is left open, for staff/child protection. Can you say it is part of KUW?

fgs who cares if other small children catch a glimpse of a baby's bits. \when potty training my mindees spend half their time with their bottoms ou just as they do in ther own homes. and yes, he parents are fine about it and the kids couldn't care less!

Well other children shouldn't be a problem - you can talk to them about good hygiene etc

Other staff presumably do nappy changes themselves anyway, so I don't see the issue OFSTED have there?

Parents and visitors, well, yes, okay, but you can always ask them respectfully to look away/have a policy of asking another staff member where possible to engage them in some kind of interaction to distract them while you change nappies?!

I think the bookcase thing to create a little corner is a good plan but VERY OTT. I'd be more concerned about occupational health issues for the staff with changing on the floor. Could you get a change table as that way it's above eye level for other children and you're screening with your body/attach a screen to it?

That's it isn't it; it depends upon the morality and manners of the person viewing

I would worry more about the H&S of lifting larger children onto a table; I know my back couldn't do it

We do it on the floor as well and can choose between two rooms as there is a mat and a basket containing nappies/gloves/wipes/kitchen roll/antibac in each room. That way if it's too busy in one room with visitors etc then one of us can nip to the other room.

I agree that it's safer to do it in a corner on the floor as long as you use your body as a protective screen and make sure there aren't toys that could fall off anything nearby to clonk the child being changed or careering toddlers to trip over you both.

How about this or www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40116206this

I'm at this: I have a nappy mat that I pull out from between sofa/ chest of drawers, and place on the floor when needed - in the middle of the living room. To be honest, just me and two 17 month olds, never really have visitors - neither inspector nor council adviser has ever said anything about having to have a 'set' place as such. Our downstairs loo is tiny - just enough room to sit on the loo!
As you say, they just have to find something...

nappy mat in the hall, usually children come out to look anyway as they are interested..

if an adult/visitor seemed to be taking an unhealthy interest then they would be out of the door anyway..

totally get privacy issues with older children and toilets but babies!!!

katy dont lift heavy older children under any circumstances..

I have the ikea leaf- turns a corner into a 'quiet' corner for quiet stuff.....unless you were going to use it as a 'fig leaf'

I use a nappy mat and face the bottom end away from prying eyes.....is that not good enough now?

I thnk they just like to find something

We are already working at a very high level, but last time I had to wash the outside toys (in January!!)