Acorn Family Centre

Acorn Family Centre Askham Grange Prison, Main Street, Askham Richard, YORK, YO23 3FT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 April 2015 4 January 2010

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Good 2 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

 Children make rapid progress in their learning and development because the quality of teaching is outstanding. Staff expertly use the observation, assessment and planning process. This enables them to monitor children's progress and plan rich activities and experiences, which fully support children's needs, abilities and interests.  Safeguarding children is of the highest priority in the setting. Managers and staff know how to respond quickly should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. This is because policies and procedures underpin the setting's high-quality daily practice. Consequently, children are protected from harm.  Leadership and management are outstanding. The manager consults with staff and mothers to strive for ways to improve practice and make positive changes to the environment. This ensures that the setting consistently achieves the best possible outcomes for all children.

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This provision is outstanding

 Children are extremely confident and enthusiastic in the setting. Staff get to know them and their mothers very well from the start. Staff ensure that moves into and out of the setting are managed extremely sensitively. Consequently, children are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage in their learning.  The highest priority is given to children's well-being and feelings of security. Excellent partnerships with mothers ensure that there is consistency in children's care and learning. This means that children's health and welfare are supported exceptionally well.  Staff are excellent role models who display positive behaviour and good manners in their relationships with children, each other and mothers in the setting.

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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 already good opportunities for children to make informed choices about what they would like to play with.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the main playroom.  The inspector spoke with the manager and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector spoke to mothers to gain their views on the quality of the provision.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with the children.  The inspector looked at children's development records.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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who attend. This is outstanding

The dynamic staff team work very well together to plan excellent activities based on the individual interests and needs of children. Staff expertly observe children in their play and learning. Mothers contribute by sharing vital information about children's learning and development. For example, they notice that their children are communicating by screaming and ask staff to support them in dealing with this unwanted behaviour. Staff and mothers work together and plan how they are going to respond positively. As a result, children are encouraged to say 'help me' or use the picture planning board to show what it is they want or need. Highly effective partnerships between staff and mothers means that children's needs are quickly identified and exceptionally well met. Staff provide a first-class language rich environment. They commentate as children play to extend their vocabulary. Highly-skilled staff use sign language as a result of training, which actively contributes to

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who attend. This is outstanding

the outstanding quality of their teaching and children's learning.

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outstanding

Children develop very secure emotional attachments to staff because they are highly sensitive to children's needs and fully promote their well-being. As a result, children are extremely confident and enthusiastic in the setting. A clear and well-established settling in process helps children to quickly adapt to their new environment. Staff ensure that children have access to daily fresh air and to the wider community. For example, staff take children on walks to the duck pond and the local farm. Staff also organise trips for mothers and their children, such as swimming and joining groups at the local children's centre. These activities support children's physical and social development exceedingly well. They also support the mothers' developing confidence. Children enjoy accessing a wide array of resources from the extremely rich and varied learning environment. They independently select resources and equipment from baskets and low shelves. However,

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outstanding

children sometimes struggle to identify which treasure bag they want. This is because they are all the same colour and the labels are not at child height.

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provision is outstanding

Staff are extremely well qualified in their roles, as a result they have excellent knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The manager supports consistently high practice through regular team and supervision meetings. Staff are offered a wealth of continuous professional development opportunities, such as further training, liaising with other settings and working with the local authority adviser. The manager uses the expertise within her staff team to provide a wide variety of courses and play sessions. For example, mothers helped to design and create a mud kitchen using a range of easily accessible real-life resources. An inspiring movement and music course developed their understanding of the impact of early physical activity for children on their literacy skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY397277 Local authority York Inspection number 859865 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 11 Number of children on roll 1 Name of provider Barnardo's Date of previous inspection 4 January 2010 Telephone number 01904 772 078

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Setting details

Acorn Family Centre was registered in 2009. The nursery is managed by Barnardos Yorkshire Region as part of a service agreement with the home office. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. Two members of staff have Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8.30am until 4.30pm.

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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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