Acre Wood Nursery School

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD Telephone: 0300 123 1231 Fax: 0300 123 3159 Minicom: 0161 618 8524 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Web: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Acre Wood Nursery School 197-199 Woodside Road AMERSHAM Buckinghamshire HP6 6NU Our Reference EY444351

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Monitoring for provision judged as inadequate

An Ofsted inspector, Sarah Fletcher, monitored your provision on 04/02/2014 following your inspection where the provision was judged to be inadequate.

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Outcome of monitoring

As a result of our inspection on 04/11/2013, we sent you a notice to improve.

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Outcome of monitoring

During the monitoring visit, the inspector discussed with you the steps you had taken to address the actions raised in the notice to improve. The inspector observed staff interacting with the children in all the rooms of the nursery. She held discussions with you and the manager and looked at a range of documentation, which included the improvement action plan, risk assessments, weekly planning sheets and the information available to parents. The documentation to show all members of staff have suitability and the Disclosure and Barring Service checks was also viewed.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found you have developed a detailed action plan to address the issues raised at your last inspection and have strengthened the systems to evaluate the quality of practice and the impact this has on the outcomes for children. This has enabled you to accurately identify how to address the areas for improvement identified and to plan for ongoing improvement.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have welcomed support from the local authority. The inspector held a meeting with the local authority advisor to discuss how she is helping the nursery to address the actions. The advisor expressed confidence in the manager's ability to improve practice and stated she could see some improvements had already taken place. She acknowledged there were visible increases in the quality of staff interactions with the children and the occasional use of the wind chime to attract children's attention was producing a more calm and positive atmosphere to help promote children's learning and development more effectively.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found that you have addressed all the actions raised at the previous Our Reference EY444351

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Outcome of monitoring

inspection. The manager ensured immediate action was taken in respect of the risks identified relating to the first floor window to minimise and remove hazards to children. In addition, risk assessments have been reviewed and staff effectively implement these across the nursery. As a result, children's safety is prioritised and they are cared for in a safe environment.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have sent staff on a number of training courses to improve their knowledge and skills in specific areas, including the Early Years Foundation Stage and communication and behaviour management. As a result, staff demonstrate a more secure understanding of children's learning and development and how to manage their behaviour through improved communication. Staff are now confidently supporting children's activities and learning experiences and instances of children's inappropriate behaviour have significantly reduced. Consequently, children are now making better progress in their learning.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found the staff are taking positive steps to listen to children's views and to value their input. Key persons are taking time to value children's opinions and provide parents with more opportunities to be involved in their children's learning. You have improved the systems for monitoring and assessing children's progress and staff use their observations to provide a basis for planning activities which now include the children's interests and their next steps in learning. As a result, staff are better informed of children's stages of learning and development and are promoting outcomes for children more effectively.

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Outcome of monitoring

You have reviewed routines and implemented a number of changes to reduce the times when children were sitting for lengthy periods. As a result of these changes, staff now encourage the children to be more involved in the routines, follow instructions and develop their sense of belonging.

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Outcome of monitoring

The inspector found you have started a series of support sessions for staff to give them confidence in their teaching and to provide coaching and training where needed. As a result, the consistency and quality of teaching is improving and this is having a positive impact on the level of children's engagement in their learning.

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Outcome of monitoring

Having considered all the evidence, the inspector is of the opinion that the setting has taken prompt and effective action to address the points for improvement.

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Next steps

The next step will be a full inspection. Our Reference EY444351

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Next steps

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your setting. If you have any further queries please contact us on the number at the top of this letter.

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Next steps

Lorna Fitzjohn National Director Our Reference EY444351

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the educational programme for communication and language by providing more opportunities for younger children to develop their speaking and listening skills and encouraging older children to listen attentively in a range of situations, giving their attention to what others say, responding appropriately and following instructions 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure staff supervision provides effective support, coaching and training for each practitioner to improve the consistency and quality of teaching and to help them ignite children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and build on their capacity to learn 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure risk assessments identify aspects of the provision and practice that need to be evaluated on a regular basis and how these risks are will be removed or minimised, with particular regard to the windows and blind cords on the first floor of the premises 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that staff have appropriate qualifications, training, skills and knowledge and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, with particular regard to managing children's behaviour 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children, by making sure that they give their time and attention to engage purposefully with the children 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

ensure that observations are used effectively to plan learning experiences for each child to help them make good progress 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the educational programme for personal, social and emotional development by managing behaviour consistently, and helping children to understand that some behaviour is 16/12/2013 04/02/2014 Our Reference EY444351

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Action Due date Closed date

unacceptable improve systems for planning, assessing, monitoring and tracking, as well as the educational programmes, to ensure staff consistently deliver the best possible outcomes for children across all areas 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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Action Due date Closed date

improve the self-evaluation process to ensure it continually evaluates all aspects of the settings' performance to consistently identify strengths and areas for development. 16/12/2013 04/02/2014

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