Acorn Nursery

Acorn Nursery The Rise, Portslade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN41 2PY

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 October 2015 3 June 2009

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Staff build trusting relationships with all children, and the children are settled and happy during their time at the nursery.  The manager is dedicated to making positive improvements, and motivates and encourages staff to continue their own professional development to support this well.  Children develop good physical skills as they explore and investigate throughout all areas of learning.  Staff consistently speak with children and ask them questions that encourage them to think. This helps children develop good communication and language skills.  Staff give children effective individual support and have a good knowledge of their individual needs. This helps all children, especially those with additional needs, to make good progress from their starting points and any gaps in their learning are closing.  The staff plan effectively to meet the needs of the children, taking into consideration

p.1

This provision is good

children's interests and needs. Overall, children are engaged well in their learning experiences and make good developmental progress given their starting points.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not always organise themselves and resources effectively to ensure that the activities they lead are fully prepared, to engage younger children and babies in these activities.  Staff do not always encourage the parents to share their children's achievements on a regular basis to help gain a full picture of their development and enable them to build on their children's learning at home further.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 improve the organisation of resources to ensure younger children and babies are more effectively engaged during staff led activities  extend opportunities for parents to share their children's achievements with staff to strengthen their involvement in their children's learning and help them build on this further at home.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor environments.  The inspector observed the staff's interaction with children.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager, and looked at the nursery's written documentation, including a sample of their policies and procedures.  The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff, and took their views into consideration.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff are highly qualified and experienced. They have a good knowledge of the learning and development requirements, and their planning covers all areas of learning. The manager monitors the quality of teaching and builds on this with staff through her regular supervision meetings with them. She uses these meetings to help staff review and evaluate their practice, children's experiences and the learning environments they provide. This supports the children to be motivated and engaged in new and improved learning opportunities. The manager monitors the children's individual and group progress and uses this to support the planning well. Parents are informed daily about their children's day and their learning, and are involved in events set up by the staff. For example, they attend coffee mornings and workshops. Safeguarding is effective. All staff have a good knowledge of the policies and procedures to follow if there is any

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

concern about a child's welfare. They give high priority to safeguarding to fully support the welfare and well-being of all children.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children participate in a variety of learning experiences. For example, children actively take the lead in exploring their creativity using a range of different painting techniques. Staff extend children's learning well; for example, they encourage children to use magnifying glasses to explore the garden snails in more detail. Children are learning to solve problems independently and staff encourage them to think for themselves, to help them learn to manage risks and challenge themselves. Staff promote children's understanding of other cultures and diversity well through the range of resources and activities they provide, and the positive images they display. Staff make good links with other early years settings and schools children attend, to share their learning and development. This helps prepare children well in readiness for their move on to school.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have their achievements valued and staff display children's work to build on this. All staff give children constant praise and encouragement, and this builds on children's high levels of well-being and self-esteem. Staff are good role models and help children to learn what is expected of them. Children behave well, are polite and demonstrate good manners. For example, children play well together and take turns and share with their friends. The children follow good health and hygiene routines and are encouraged to care for their own self-care needs. They are developing good personal independence and physical skills, and are learning about being healthy and leading healthy lifestyles.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

All children are making good progress in relation to their starting points. Children are developing their knowledge of early mathematical skills, communication and social skills. They are gaining the skills they need for their future learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY318095 Local authority Brighton & Hove Inspection number 827283 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 83 Name of provider Brighton & Hove City Council Date of previous inspection 3 June 2009 Telephone number 01273 293980

p.4

Setting details

Acorn Nursery is part of the local authority's children's centre. It registered in 2006 and operates from purpose-built premises within a housing development in Portslade, East Sussex. The nursery is open each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery employs 24 members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications, including two members of staff who hold Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery is in receipt of funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5