Little Acorns Pre-School

Little Acorns Pre-School Langley Community Infant School, Pendeen Crescent, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 6QS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 May 2015 17 April 2012

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 The quality of teaching is consistently strong. Staff provide a wide range of good quality learning experiences for children, which motivates them to learn.  Staff are skilled in promoting children's development in communication and language. This helps to prepare them well for future learning.  Staff are deployed effectively and use their expertise to take advantage of every opportunity to promote learning and development during routines and activities.  Children develop independence during routines, such as snack time, because staff encourage them to help themselves and make choices.  Staff know children well and form positive relationships with them. This promotes good behaviour and supports children's emotional development.  Staff implement a good range of procedures and policies, which they review regularly and share with parents, to support children's welfare and well-being. Staff have a

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This provision is good

secure awareness of safeguarding issues and their responsibilities to protect children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not provide a broad variety of resources for children to make marks in different ways to promote their early writing skills.  Staff share information about children's progress with parents and other providers children attend. However, they do not extend partnerships so that children can become familiar with school staff and the new environment, to help them with their move on to school.

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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

 extend the range of resources to support children's development of early writing skills  review arrangements for working with the host school so that children moving on to school can become familiar with staff and the new environment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed joint observations with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager and looked at relevant documentation, including children's records and evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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who attend. This is good

Staff use their strong knowledge of how children learn and their expertise in teaching to provide an interesting range of learning opportunities. For example, they encourage children to look closely at sunflowers and find out about the parts of the plant. They skilfully guide the children as they paint detailed sunflower pictures, which they are proud to display. As a result, children gain creative skills and find out about the natural world. Staff give children time to explore, play and experiment, which ensures they remain engaged and focused on activities for prolonged periods. Consequently, children develop essential skills for future learning. Staff encourage children to ask questions, use mathematical language and solve problems. Children develop good mathematical skills, for example, as they count and compare the numbers and sizes of pine cones and conkers.

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good

Staff are good role models and support children to manage their feelings and be considerate to others. As a result, children behave very well, sharing, cooperating and forming friendships through their play. Staff use risk assessments effectively and are vigilant about possible risks to children's safety. They remind children about staying safe, and encourage them to tidy away resources when they have finished playing with them. Children enjoy choosing healthy snacks, which they serve themselves, developing confidence and independence in the choices they make. Staff talk to them about the importance of eating healthy food, which helps to promote a positive attitude to leading a healthy lifestyle. The outdoor area provides children with opportunities to develop their physical skills and find out about nature and the world around them.

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provision is good

Management monitors staff effectiveness well. The experienced and well-qualified staff t are reflective of their practice and attend training to gain new ideas and update their knowledge and skills. For example, training in developing children's literacy has resulted in more resources to improve children's early reading skills. Management and staff seek the views of children and parents, and strive to improve the service they provide. This helps them to identify and address areas for development, including recommendations from previous inspections. Staff find out about children's interests and needs from parents when they start, and encourage them to contribute and share what children achieve at home. These good partnerships with parents promote a consistent approach to children's care and learning. Successful assessment allows the manager to track children's progress to ensure planning addresses any gaps in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 117194 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 840098 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 26 Name of provider Little Acorns Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 17 April 2012 Telephone number 01752 204082

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Setting details

Little Acorns Pre-school registered in 1995. It operates from a classroom in the grounds of Oakwood Primary School, in a residential area approximately five miles from Plymouth city centre. It is open Monday to Friday during school terms, from 8.55am until 11.25am, and 12.35pm until 3.05pm. A lunch club operates from 11.30am until 12.30pm. There are five staff employed to work with the children; three of whom have an early years qualification at level 3 and one who has Early Years Professional Status.

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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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