Acorn Under Fives (Birstall)

Birstall Acorns Under 5's Playgroup C/o Highcliffe Community Centre, Greengate Lane, Birstall, Leicestershire, LE4 3DL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 October 2015 3 November 2009

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The well-qualified staff is are extremely motivated and work well together. Children become highly engaged in play and benefit from the outstanding teaching and support they receive.  All children make consistent progress based on their starting points. A very successful system to observe and record children's development is established which enables staff to plan for children's next steps in learning.  The dedicated and passionate staff team provides a fully inclusive environment. The very effective organisation of resources ensures children's enjoyment in both the inside and outdoor environments.  Effective daily routines prepare children extremely well for their move on to school. Children have very regular opportunities to visit the adjoining school. They often meet and speak with teachers and children who have previously attended the playgroup.  Tracking of children's progress is rigorous and targeted. Any gaps in children's

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This provision is outstanding

development are quickly identified and interventions are developed and put in place.  Partnership working is a central feature of this playgroup. Staff are accurately aware of children's individual needs and work closely with parents, other early years providers and professionals. This provides a collaborative approach to children's individual care and learning needs so they all make excellent progress.  Parents are extremely complimentary about the playgroup and the staff. They state that staff support them well during times of change, such as when their children start playgroup or when a change occurs to their personal circumstances.

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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

 continue to build on staff's first-rate practice and understanding, by providing staff with regular opportunities to observe each other's work and to discuss and share best practice.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's play and activities in the indoor and the outdoor environments.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider and playgroup manager. She spoke at appropriate times to staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's records, activity plans and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures to safeguard children's welfare.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children and the provider's self-evaluation and development plans.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The highly qualified and experienced manager has an in-depth knowledge of her role and responsibility to teach children and keep them safe. Staff regularly update their already excellent knowledge of child development. This is reflected through their outstanding abilities to support children's individual needs. The manager acknowledges that current arrangements for reviewing staff practice can be strengthened even more. The manager accurately tracks and evaluates children's learning and development. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff have an excellent knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and how to keep children safe. Robust risk assessments and daily checks are in place. The management team uses very effective systems to regularly review and evaluate the service they provide for children and their families.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Children confidently enter this very welcoming playgroup and are highly motivated to learn from the outset. Staff plan an array of imaginative learning experiences. Children become highly engaged and concentrate for long periods of time. They enjoy being independent and dress up in costumes. Children use torches to look at books and read stories in the spooky den. Children confidently use resources to relive activities carried out at home and independently use a range of tools. They use their imaginations to bake cakes from dough and skilfully decorate them with butterflies. Children's communication skills are developing well. Staff expertly talk with children about what they are doing to assess their understanding. Staff provide regular, comprehensive and informative reports for parents.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children build very close relationships with staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff offer frequent praise and encouragement to children for their efforts, which clearly promotes their confidence and self-esteem. This has a positive impact on the children's behaviour. Children relish being active in the fresh air and have many opportunities to investigate and make their own discoveries, both inside and outdoors. Children learn about foods that are good for them as they grow, pick and cook the produce with staff. They thoroughly enjoy playing with their friends as they manoeuvre bikes over muddy banks and down pathways. Staff ensure children are given time and space to achieve their goals. Children use brushes and shovels to gather leaves into large piles.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make excellent progress based on their starting points, this includes those with special educational needs. Staff expertly support and encourage children who exceed their expected levels of progress. Children learn to be independent, for example, making decisions about the activities they take part in and solving problems for themselves. Staff provide children who are more capable with additional challenges to extend their knowledge and understanding. This prepares them well for their first steps into school. Children's literacy skills are developing well. They recognise the sounds letters make and know how to read and write their own names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 226252 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 864370 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 46 Name of provider Acorn Under Five's (Birstall) Committee Date of previous inspection 3 November 2009 Telephone number 01162672795

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Setting details

Birstall Acorns Under 5's Playgroup was registered in 1983. It is a committee-run organisation which operates from a self-contained room within the community wing of the school. The playgroup employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 to 6, including the manager who holds Early Years Professional status and Qualified Teacher Status. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 8.30am until 11.30am and 12.30pm until 3.30pm. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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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

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Setting details

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