First Steps Day Nursery at RD&E rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted

The quality and standards of nursery education provided by First Steps Day Nursery at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital have been rated as outstanding by inspectors from Ofsted.

Following an inspection on the 9th January 2017, the Ofsted report findings sing the praises of the staff team.

In the glowing report, inspectors comment that: “Staff are impressive role models and teach the children how to respect and value others. Children’s behaviour is exemplary. Highly skilled staff accurately identify children’s next steps in learning, and use these to plan enriching activities to support children’s learning to the highest level.

“Children thrive in the nurturing environment; staff follow excellent settling-in procedures that help babies quickly feel secure. Staff form highly successful partnerships with parents and other settings”

The report also praised their commitment to individual children’s learning and development, the range of educational and physical activities on offer, and the team’s focus on the children’s health and wellbeing.

RD&E Childcare Manager Kay Rosslee said: “We are absolutely delighted that Ofsted recognises the dedication and professionalism of our staff, who are committed to providing the highest of standards for the children in our care.”

Suzanne Tracey, Chief Executive at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Helping our staff to balance their work and family life is something that is very important to us. First Steps Nursery is an excellent onsite facility and is loved by both our parents and their children. I’m really proud of the team’s achievement and am so pleased to see all their hard work and dedication recognised in this way. ”  

First Steps Nursery opened in 2010 and is run by the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust within the grounds of the Wonford hospital site in Exeter. It caters for the children of RD&E staff and the wider NHS community and currently has 230 children on roll aged from birth to age five.

A full copy of the Ofsted report will be available on www.ofsted.gov.uk from the end of January2017.

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