A children's nursery on the Manchester Royal Infirmary was accused of putting children at risk in a report published by government watchdog Ofsted. But in just a matter of months, the First Steps Day Nursery has turned its rating around to ensure children receive 'high-quality care and education'.
The nursery, which is on the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) Oxford Road campus was rated Inadequate by Ofsted in September 2022, falling from a Good score given in 2016. Inspectors reported that staff place blankets under the heads and near the faces of babies while they sleep, posing a risk of suffocation.
Inspectors also accused leaders of being 'too lax' in their monitoring of the nursery resulting in a 'catalogue of failings' which negatively impact on children. At the time, the NHS trust which runs the nursery described the Ofsted rating as 'disappointing', saying it was a 'snapshot from three months’ prior during the June inspection, and that they had already made improvements.
Too frequently, the 2022 report said, younger children cry for long periods and do not settle, leaving them distressed for too long, according to the inspectors. Some poor hygiene practices were also identified, such as staff wiping children's noses and not washing their own hands before tending to the other children.
Many staff reported that morale is low and their workload is unmanageable. Overall, Ofsted also found the safeguarding arrangements were not effective.
But earlier this month, the government inspectors updated the nursery’s rating to Good after finding significant improvements. In a report published January 13, after an inspection carried out on December 6, the nursery was rated Good in all aspects, after being rated Inadequate in all aspects at the last review.
The January report reads: “Leaders have worked tirelessly since the previous inspection to improve the quality of the provision. They have introduced a range of new policies and practices to ensure children receive high-quality care and education.
“Leaders have a good understanding of what they want children to learn and share this with staff. Children access a broad and balanced curriculum that builds on their existing skills and helps them to make good progress in their learning.”
“Children arrive happy and eager to start their day. Staff greet children warmly and sensitively, helping them to feel safe and secure,” continued the report, with staff focusing ‘strongly on promoting good hygiene practices’ and having a good ‘understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping the children safe’.
First Steps Day Nursery cares for the children of staff working for the trust. This includes Manchester Royal Infirmary, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Royal Manchester Eye Hospital and the University Dental Hospital of Manchester.
Charlotte Moran, Business Manager of the nursery, said: “I’m really pleased that the inspectors have been able to accurately record what our nursery does well. We’ve put a lot of clear procedures in place, to offer high quality provision for the children.
“The nursery offers a positive, safe and stimulating environment. The whole nursery team have worked really hard implementing the range of new practices, to enable the process of learning and provide a broad, balanced curriculum.
“We will continually strive to improve our practice and look at extra ways to develop and progress.”
Education Manager of the nursery, Sue Furness, added: “We get good comments from parents on a daily basis and that’s what makes the difference to our staff. Parents are very happy.
“It’s also lovely when they have another child a few years on and we get to care for them too.
“We’ve been open throughout the whole Covid-19 process. Sadly, a lot of other nurseries closed or many children weren’t allowed to go, as their parents weren’t key workers.
“However, we were able to offer some extra places to children that were struggling with being cared for. We’re proud to say that the steps we take to ensure the safety of our children and staff have been recognised in this way.”
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