HMP New Hall Mother & Baby Unit

Close relationships and babies’ earliest attempts to communicate give HMP New Hall Mother & Baby Unit its character. At its May 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found that babies felt secure with familiar adults, supported by care tailored to their needs.

This setting is based at H M Prison & Young Offenders Institute in Flockton, Wakefield. The account below describes care and activities in May 2025, when babies were the children attending.

In May 2025, books were positioned within babies’ reach, allowing them to choose for themselves. Expressive storytelling, library visits and participation in world book day, an event linked here to enjoying books, extended that early interest beyond listening to an adult read.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for learning, development and care: for babies, this brings communication, exploration and everyday care together. In May 2025, familiar songs prompted responses and gestures, while staff demonstrated equipment and babies practised movements through repetition. Activities followed babies’ interests, with assessments helping staff decide what to introduce next.

There were two clear areas for development. In May 2025, staff talked with babies frequently but needed to introduce and repeat vocabulary more deliberately. Physical activities also needed greater challenge: a baby’s attempts to stand were an opportunity to adapt play more promptly. Both points matter as babies move from responding to adults towards trying new words and movements themselves.

At the May 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective. In May 2025, the key-person arrangement helped staff recognise individual babies’ needs and use familiar ways to settle them. Personal care was also a time for connection: adults sought babies’ permission before a nappy change or putting on a bib, and supported sleeping routines.

Parents took part in regular discussions about development. In May 2025, they also had opportunities to learn about feeding, weaning and protection from the sun, making the support relevant to daily care as well as nursery activities. Celebrations reflected the attending babies’ cultural backgrounds, with parents encouraged to participate.

The address is H M Prison & Young Offenders Institute, New Hall, New Hall Way, Flockton, Wakefield WF4 4XX.

In May 2025, opening hours were 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year. These are opening hours rather than a description of individual booking sessions.

• Access and joining. This is a mother and baby unit within H M Prison & Young Offenders Institute. What eligibility and access arrangements apply to families using its childcare?
• Early language. In May 2025, vocabulary teaching needed more deliberate repetition and introduction of words. On a visit, ask how practitioners now build this into songs, stories and conversation.
• Physical challenge. The May 2025 improvement priorities included adapting indoor and outdoor experiences to babies’ developing movement. Ask to see how activities change when a baby begins trying to stand.

For families using this mother and baby unit, the strongest reasons to consider its childcare are the individual relationships, accessible books and practical support for parents described in May 2025. It suits families seeking baby-centred care with close communication between adults. More purposeful vocabulary teaching and greater physical challenge remain the two improvement priorities from that inspection.