Business Development - A model for healthy living

Nuffield Health may be best known as a chain of private hospitals, but it now boasts 12 nurseries attached to its gyms.

Swimming lessons, circuit training for the under-fives and, from September, a mini health MOT are all on offer for the children of health-conscious parents.

The not-for-profit healthcare company, which has 75 gyms, 36 private hospitals and 200 corporate fitness clubs across the UK, opts to run its own nurseries (in contrast to David Lloyd Leisure, whose nurseries are run by Asquith Nurseries).

According to Sam Othen, national children's services manager, Nuffield's first nursery was created in 2008 as a planning permission requirement, and demand led to the Nuffy Bear brand being launched in 2012. 'Members took their fitness very seriously and wanted the same for their children,' she says.

The Nuffy Bear nurseries span London, the south east and Gloucester, with all of those inspected by Ofsted rated 'good' bar one, which is 'satisfactory'.

The settings, which offer full daycare for children from three months and have between 15 and 77 places, all follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and have at least Level 3-qualified staff, with some working towards Level 5 and full degree level qualifications. A minority also have additional qualifications as swimming instructors and personal trainers.

'When people join us they get free gym membership and they tend to be very interested in well-being and getting the children to be more active, says Ms Othen.

Though circuit training is mentioned several times, Ms Othen is keen to dispel the notion that this is equivalent to the sort of training adults do. 'We do not want children to feel they have to get on a treadmill,' she says. 'By circuit training we mean lots of different activities such as throwing a ball around. It's about making fitness fun.'

Some of this takes place in the same studio space used by adults with staff on hand to clean up the mess, while the swimming programme (once a week in term time for threes and over) is also a popular part of provision.

Non-sport activities include dance and music for over-threes and even French classes in some settings, with baby yoga and massage training for parents.

Ms Othen says the nurseries are not just about health but offer the full gamut of good practice, and the Ofsted reports would seem to bear this out.

The report into the Slough nursery praises the 'inclusive environment, where children learn about the positive differences in society', adding, 'Staff support children who speak English as an additional language extremely well, with a vast range of activities to value and reflect their home language and culture.' In the St Albans setting, the latest report says, 'Staff provide babies and children with opportunities to play outside in the fresh air every day. They enjoy playing in the mud kitchen and digging in soil.'

This emphasis on the outdoors, with gardens in all settings bar two that are served with nearby parks, means that children 'go out in all weather'. 'We expect settings to take children out twice a day,' says Ms Othen, who is herself working towards a Level 5 childcare qualification, though this is not a formal policy.

Other adult-inspired 'well-being' elements include a mini-health MOT programme, which is to be trialled in September, adapted from the company's 45-minute adult version with the aim of addressing health and lifestyle issues ea- rly. 'It's working with parents to ensure children are getting the right nutrition and are the right weight,' explains Ms Othen.

So is the average parent a health-loving gym bunny? 'There is a mix overall,' she says. 'We have people who wouldn't go to the gym but want a healthy start for their children - they might not feel they are able to do it at home. And then we have people who go to the gym twice a day.'

Sometimes parents' nutrition is also an issue. 'There are times when we do need to get involved with parents,' Ms Othen explains. 'We have nutritionists at most sites and can organise for parents to meet them to talk about eating habits.'

Larger settings have on-site kitchens and the Nuffield nutritionists get involved in the menu design and producing menu cards for parents. At the bigger sites, other pan-site staff include GPs.

So how much does all this cost? Activites are included in the day rate, which Ms Othen says is on average £55 per day, rising to £70 in the more expensive areas. Parents don't have to be a gym member and if their child attends five days per week they receive a gym membership at no extra charge, while children get junior membership free.

Sessions are designed by gym professionals in collaboration with the early years professionals.

While Ms Othen admits that some of the design is aimed to impress parents, she says that 'we don't want to be overexerting our children'.

'We want it to be as fun as possible.,' she adds. 'The gym team will suggest things and the early years team decides what would work for the children.'

Nuffield's policy of getting children through the door early is obviously paying off. 'I see children in the clubs at the weekends who came into the nursery first - they become lifelong members,' Ms Othen explains.