The Acorn Nursery School

The Acorn Nursery School Cranleigh Infant School, Church Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8AR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 June 2015 15 June 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

 Children enjoy an extensive range of exciting and stimulating activities in a bright and interesting environment. They independently select resources that cover all areas of learning.  Staff provide excellent support for children with additional needs. They monitor children's progress accurately and effectively. As a result, all children make extremely strong progress.  All areas of learning are expertly promoted throughout the day. However, the opportunities for children to explore their understanding of emotions during their free play through use of resources, for example, are not always extensive.  Staff work in excellent partnership with parents and successfully encourage them to provide information on their children's learning at home.  Managers have robust recruitment procedures and they maintain staff suitability efficiently through regular meetings and appraisals.  All staff have excellent knowledge of how to protect children and they actively ensure

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This provision is outstanding

children's safety throughout the day. As a result, children feel safe to take and manage risks appropriate to their age. For example, children enjoy climbing trees and exploring their outdoor environment.

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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 further the opportunities for children to explore their understanding of emotions.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the manager and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector engaged with the children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector observed children's indoor and outdoor play, as well as their snack and hygiene routines.  The inspector engaged in a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled various relevant documents that included the nursery's risk assessments, a range of policies and procedures, staff recruitment records and children's learning journeys.

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who attend. This is outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of how children learn. They use this knowledge to expertly question children to make them think of different answers. The key-person system is securely embedded and staff know the children very well. They plan and tailor activities to meet their individual needs and, as a result, children make excellent progress. Children actively learn about the world around them. They grow fruit in the garden and eat it for their snack. This helps children to understand the entire process of growing, from planting and watering the seeds to being able to eat the fruit that has grown. Staff provide excellent support for children moving to school. Children are highly independent and have developed all the skills needed for their move to school.

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outstanding

Staff use every opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles to excellent effect. Children talk about the effects of exercise on their bodies and the importance of drinking water and eating healthy food. They wear sun hats outdoors and engage in excellent hygiene routines. Staff provide an environment in which all families feel welcome. For example, families of different cultures come in to show the children examples of their traditional food and to read stories to them. Staff work in excellent partnership with other professionals to support children with additional needs. This helps to provide continuity of learning and care, and eases the children's move to other settings. Staff are good role models and, as a result, children are exceptionally well-behaved. Staff consistently develop children's confidence and self-esteem by praising and encouraging them in all they do.

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provision is outstanding

The leadership and management of the nursery are excellent. The manager actively ensures that all policies and procedures are in place, up to date and understood by all staff. There is a targeted programme of professional development. Staff are highly enthused and go on many training courses that interest them. They share the information gained with the other members of staff and this is used to benefit the children. Staff are highly qualified and the manager ensures they use their strengths to provide the best support and learning experiences for the children. The manager monitors the children's learning journeys to ensure that staff are accurately assessing their learning and development. The manager has a strong drive to achieve and improve. All staff are involved in self-evaluating the provision and they highly value the views of parents and children. As a result, the self-evaluations are honest and accurate with relevant areas for

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provision is outstanding

improvement. The manager regularly observes staff practice, and staff regularly observe each other. This helps to ensure that good practice is shared and consistently maintained.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 119925 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 825216 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 49 Name of provider Pauline Crowder Date of previous inspection 15 June 2011 Telephone number 01483 271976

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Setting details

The Acorn Nursery School registered in 1994. It operates from within the grounds of Cranleigh Primary School Lowers, in the village of Cranleigh, Surrey. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four. The nursery is open five days a week, term time only, from 8.45am until 2.45pm at the latest. Finish times vary on different days. There are 11 members of staff, two of whom have Qualified Teacher Status and one who holds an Early Years Teacher qualification. All of the remaining staff 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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