Acorn Preschool

Acorn Preschool Holy Rood Church, Gosport Road, Stubbington, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14 2AS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 May 2015 8 December 2009

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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

 All staff make effective use of observations on children to regularly assess their abilities and plan further activities that underpin the children's good progress.  Experienced staff use their teaching skills well to promote children's learning. They offer children interesting and exciting activities that encourage children to join in.  Staff build good partnerships with parents, which promote consistency for children. The key-person system works well to meet children's care needs. Children have good bonds with their special person, which promotes their emotional well-being.  Staff implement rigorous safeguarding practices to keep children safe at all times.  Staff have regular supervision and attend regular training to help them develop their knowledge and skills to benefit children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff provide children with limited opportunities to see written words around the environment to help develop their understanding of linking words to meaning.  Staff do not gather a wide range of information about what children can already do when they first start to inform planning of activities and experiences from the outset.

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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 use of written words in the learning environment to promote children's early reading skills and their understanding that words carry meaning  strengthen partnerships with parents by gathering more information about the children's previous achievements when they start at the pre-school that can be shared with all staff.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children's activities and the quality of staff teaching.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled the information kept on the children including observations, assessments and monitoring.  The inspector spoke to the children, staff and parents.

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who attend. This is good

The quality of teaching is good. Staff are skilled at asking children useful questions. This helps children to use their thinking skills and enables them to contribute their ideas and build on their previous knowledge. Children enjoyed using their 'listening ears' to identify objects through the sounds that they made. Consequently, staff prepare children well for their next stage in learning. Children become engaged in activities of their choice and staff engage positively with them to develop their learning. For example, in the 'mud cafe' staff promoted conversations around volume, weight, textures and numbers. Children enjoyed drawing animals and staff extended children's knowledge using books to encourage discussions about the different features of animals. Staff keep parents fully informed of all aspects of their children's learning. They provide worthwhile information so that parents can continue children's learning at home.

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good

Staff provide a welcoming environment where children settle quickly and feel safe and secure. Children confidently choose from a wide variety of good quality resources and activities. For example, children confidently select mark-making resources to 'write' lists of numbers and compose menus in the role play cafe. Children interact well together, taking turns and sharing, and responding to the music signal when it is tidy-up time. Children learn about healthy lifestyles through activities and healthy snacks, and enjoy fresh air and physical play each day. The balance bikes are particularly popular and children grow in confidence as they use them. Staff are effectively deployed so there is a constant focus on the learning and well-being of all children, while maintaining their safety.

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provision is good

The good team of dedicated staff work really well together to drive improvement. The manager has a good understanding of her role and responsibility to meet the requirements. She evaluates the quality of provision and involves everyone in the process. The manager monitors every child's progress and the quality of teaching to identify any gaps in children's learning or weaknesses in staff practice. Staff work with other professionals, such as speech therapists to close gaps in children's learning. Staff undertake training to develop their knowledge and skills. For example, staff have used observation training to track the progress of every child carefully. Parents speak highly of the care and support their children receive.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110050 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 845978 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 48 Name of provider Holy Road Church Centre Committee Date of previous inspection 8 December 2009 Telephone number 01329 661154 or 07906113281

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Setting details

Acorn Preschool registered under its current ownership in 2000. It is situated in a church hall, which is located in Stubbington, Hampshire. There are nine members of staff, of whom seven hold relevant childcare qualifications at Level 3 and above, and two staff are unqualified. The pre-school operates during school term times, opening each weekday from 9am to 3.30pm. However, on Wednesdays there is no morning session so the pre- school opens from 12 noon to 3.30pm. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two-, three- and four-years-old.

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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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