Nursery on hospital campus is told to improve after first inspection

Riverside Nursery, based at a hospital in Bath, has been told by Ofsted it needs to make improvements by the end of November.

A child playing | Library image

The nursery’s first inspection took place last month, and the report has been published this week.

The nursery is located within the Royal United Hospital at Combe Park, but is not affiliated with the NHS or the hospital.

The report says the quality of education, leadership and management, children’s behaviour and attitudes and their personal development all require improvement.

The inspector also highlights many positives about the nursery, which opened in 2024 and has 64 children on the roll.

Her report says children arrive happily and settle quickly ready to play. They are well cared for and feel safe. Their happiness is said to be a priority for staff who are attentive to their needs.

Staff build strong bonds with children and parents comment positively about the nursery.

Leaders ensure their new team have the knowledge they need to provide warm, safe and nurturing care to all children, and work well with staff to support their well-being and workload

Leaders also work closely in partnership with the on-site hospital to meet children’s medical needs and provide any intervention they may need.

However, there are said to be “weaknesses” in the quality of education that children receive.

The report says: “Although leaders adopt a curriculum that carefully sequences what children need to know and do, it is not implemented well enough to help children meet their developmental milestones.

“Additionally, leaders do not coach and mentor staff effectively to help children make the progress of which they are capable.

“For instance, staff do not always help children to manage their feelings and behaviour. This impacts some children’s personal, social and emotional development.”

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must by the end of November:

• Improve the implementation of the curriculum so staff build succinctly on what children already know and can do.
• Provide staff with effective coaching and training to support their professional development, with a specific focus on their teaching skills to ensure the curriculum has the intended impact on children’s progress.
• Develop a consistent approach to supporting the development of children’s emotional literacy so they can share how they feel with others and regulate their own behaviour.

To further improve, the nursery has been asked to improve the organisation of transitions and routines to reduce waiting times and improve children’s engagement to support their learning and development.

This week, Jacqui Watson, owner/director of Riverside, told the Echo: “We moved from the centre of town to the site at the RUH in January 2024. We have been building a new team since then.

“We acknowledge the areas for improvement outlined in the report and fully accept the findings.

“Since the inspection, we have already taken meaningful steps to address the recommendations, including enhancing staff training, strengthening curriculum delivery, and introducing further support for children’s emotional development.

“At Riverside Nursery, the wellbeing, safety, and development of the children in our care remain our top priority. We are committed to continuous improvement and are working diligently with our team, families, and partners to ensure that all children thrive in a nurturing and high-quality learning environment.

“We appreciate the inspection process and are using the feedback as a valuable opportunity for growth. We are confident that the measures we are putting in place will lead to lasting improvements that benefit every child.”