Together for Children's Bump to Baby Project rated Outstanding by Ofsted

August 2021

Together for Children's Bump to Baby Plus Project has been rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted following an inspection of the service in July 2021.

The service, which is based at Ryhope Health Centre and is open to young children of teenage parents in Sunderland, received an 'Outstanding' rating in all four areas inspected: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

Ofsted inspectors found that children, who are aged between 0 and 4 years, "thrive as staff are extremely experienced in support very young parents with their babies" and "staff ensure babies, toddlers and families have the very best start and are prepared for their eventual move to other provisions."

The report highlights that children are at the heart of everything staff do, and it was recognised that children have high-quality opportunities to learn, develop and make sense of the world around them. Examples of the positive experiences shared throughout the report, such as sensory learning and play.

Jill Colbert, Chief Executive at Together for Children, said: "We are delighted with the outcome of Ofsted's report following a recent visit to our Bump to Baby Plus Project. The service has been recognised as outstanding and this is truly reflective of the incredible work the nursery team do as a collective. As recognised in the report, the children who attend the project and their families are at the heart of everything we do. The project provides a safe environment for children to experience enriching activities that support their learning and development, and the report highlights the impact that this service has on families in Sunderland."

Key achievements highlighted in the report include:

• The strong nurturing bond between babies and staff is evident and this helps children to feel exceptionally safe and secure.
• Children's communication and language development is a high priority of the curriculum and staff use every opportunity to develop children's language skills.
• Children delight in the experiences staff provide to enable them to experiment in the environment.
• Staff expertly encourage children to continuously develop and practice their skills and this empowers the youngest children to develop exceptional levels of perseverance and determination.
• Staff are excellent role models and consistently support children.
• Management and staff have high ambitions for every child to develop a love of learning and achieve to the best of their abilities. They have put in place a curriculum that inspires children to learn.
• Staff are exceptionally skilled in the ways they support children's development, and they encourage children to attempt new things and develop a can-do attitude to learning.
• Staff are highly attuned to the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and they work closely with partners and other professionals to ensure children and families get the support they need.
• Staff are proud to belong to the nursery and work together as a team. They share high aspirations for the children, who are at the heart of everything they do.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has had a significant impact on the lives of families and children in Sunderland, was also recognised within the report. Whilst the nursery was closed in line with government restrictions, it was found that children who missed being in nursery had readily adjusted upon returning and that their development is flourishing. Parents praised the support given during the pandemic and valued online communication whilst the service was unable open during covid-19. It was also noted that children are confident and happy with the new routines put in place to promote their health and safety during the pandemic.

Partnerships with parents was noted to be outstanding and a key strength of the nursery, which offers further education, training and support groups to parents of the children who attend.

Safeguarding practices were also found to be effective, with children's wellbeing being recognised as a top priority for everyone at the nursery and effective systems being in place to identify any children or families who might need additional support or early help. The report outlines that "staff and leaders know children and their families very well and are alert to any concerns" and that they "work closely with a raft of other services to help keep children safe." Robust recruitment and regular training practices were also praised, ensuring that staff are knowledgeable, confident and able to fulfil their responsibilities.

During the visit, Ofsted inspectors observed both indoor and outdoor learning environments used by children and spoke with managers, staff, parents and children, taking into account their views and experiences. This inspection first since the service moved from its old base in Hendon to Ryhope in 2019.

You can read the full inspection report on Ofsted's website at: Ofsted | B2B Plus Project.