ACE Early Years

The Ace Children's Centre Burford Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5DZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 April 2015 29 September 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is outstanding

 There is a very strong focus on ensuring that staff know children very well as individuals through excellent assessment procedures and partnerships with parents.  Staff respond very successfully to children's changing interests and to their spontaneous play. They maximise learning opportunities and help children learn in a way that suits them.  The management team ensures that monitoring procedures are highly effective to assess young children's development in key areas of learning. Staff identify and address any gaps in learning rigorously so that children with lower than expected starting points catch up quickly.  Data clearly shows that children attending the day care facility consistently achieve higher levels of attainment on entry to their next stage of learning than other groups of children.  Staff focus very well on promoting independence, helping children to develop new skills and to be confident about making choices.

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This provision is outstanding

 Children benefit from very clear and consistent messages about positive behaviour, which all staff reinforce effectively.  Staff work exceptionally well as a team, supporting new staff and temporary staff very successfully so that everyone is familiar with established strategies and procedures.  The quality of leadership is outstanding. There is an exceptionally strong drive for improvement with excellent opportunities for staff to enhance their professional development.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 enhance the use of visual aids to further support children's awareness of similarities and differences between themselves and others.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the head of the centre.  The inspector talked to children, staff and parents at appropriate points throughout the inspection.  The inspector held a leadership and management meeting with the management team.  The inspector took account of documentation, including children's assessment records, evidence of staff suitability and qualifications, and the setting's various self-reflection records.

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who attend. This is outstanding

There is a very effective whole team approach to meeting children's individual needs. Senior staff, key persons and support staff know children and their families exceptionally well. They put into place strategies and action plans so that all children, including those with low starting points, make rapid and sustained progress in their communication, social and physical skills. This approach provides an excellent foundation for future learning and prepares children very well for their next stages. Staff build very effectively on children's 'in the moment' interests, such as their excitement about ongoing building work to improve the outdoor area. Staff provide a running commentary as workers operate the diggers, supporting children's language skills and understanding of the world very effectively. They provide a viewing platform so that children can choose to watch the ongoing work independently. Trays of stones and gravel on the floor encourage the

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who attend. This is outstanding

children to explore construction toys to re-enact the work they see outside.

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outstanding

Key persons are very effective in helping children to settle and work very closely with parents. For example, they use photo books of children's home lives and the day care facility to encourage children to express their feelings to staff and parents. Staff focus very well on promoting independence, such as providing transition cups to help children manage drinking from an open cup. This has proved to be very successful. Staff support children to manage risks and challenges with confidence, such as showing them how to hold scissors safely. Children have use of the extensive and highly stimulating nursery school garden, which provides excellent opportunities for outdoor play. Staff support children well to learn about people who are different from themselves, although they are not making the best use of visual aids to further promote learning.

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provision is outstanding

The management team demonstrates an excellent understanding of its responsibilities to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Staff receive very good support to help them safeguard children. They all have access to relevant training, routine reviews during staff meetings and the benefit of on-site professional support within the children's centre. Leadership is inspirational and the site is a designated teaching school, providing excellent opportunities for staff development. Partnership working with other professionals and settings around the country promotes the pursuit of excellence and is highly motivational for staff. As a result, staff are very aware of children's individual needs and strategies to support them.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 133481 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 825553 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 2 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 28 Name of provider The Activities, Childcare and Education Centre Ltd Date of previous inspection 29 September 2011 Telephone number 01608 644440

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Setting details

The Ace Children's Centre in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, registered in 1998. Gems Daycare forms part of the children's centre provision. It is open on weekdays from 8am until 6pm all year. The daycare facility cares for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. It receives funding for the provision of free early education for children age two years. The daycare facility employs nine staff, of whom one holds Qualified Teacher Status and one holds Early Years Professional Status. Of the remaining staff, five hold relevant qualifications from level 2 to level 4.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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