Acorns Early Years Centre

Acorns Early Years Centre Joy House, Franklin Road, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7UZ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 January 2016 28 January 2015

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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 promote young children's communication, physical and social skills very well. Children learn new words through a range of activities such as singing and naming objects as they play. They make good progress towards next stages in their learning.  Children choose from a range of resources and enjoy creative play. For example, they play with a stethoscope and pretend to be a doctor. In their conversation with their peers, they demonstrate an understanding of the roles of community helpers.  Children enjoy their time at the setting and staff offer encouragement and praise to stimulate their enthusiasm in what they do. Children develop positive self-esteem.  Children learn to keep themselves and others safe. Staff encourage them to think about why rules are important. For instance, children say 'We walk inside so we do not bump into each other'.  Leaders and managers have improved the procedures for staff supervision. The setting

p.1

This provision is good

has made good progress towards the actions and recommendations raised in the previous inspection.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always monitor group size effectively during popular activities to promote children's uninterrupted play.  Occasionally, staff do not make the best use of opportunities to extend on what interests and fascinates children.

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

 monitor group size during popular activities to support children's uninterrupted play  strengthen staff skills further to identify children's emerging interests and extend on what fascinates them.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children and their interactions with staff.  The inspector carried out meetings with the manager and the deputy manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents, children and staff.  The inspector viewed a sample of documents, including children's developmental records.  The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders and managers share responsibilities well to identify areas that need further development and to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Self- evaluation is effective and includes the views of parents and children. All room leaders have relevant and suitable qualifications to perform their role, and managers identify training needs effectively to improve staff performance. Safeguarding is effective. Staff know the procedures to follow to protect children's well-being. The provider has close links with local schools and other settings that children attend. For instance, she seeks advice from school staff to plan suitable activities to prepare children for school. Leaders and managers monitor children's progress to identify gaps in their learning. They work in partnership with parents and professionals, for instance, to support children's medical needs.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The quality of teaching is good. Staff offer mutual support and share ideas and skills to plan effectively for individual children's learning needs. Children show curiosity and independence, for example, as they choose resources freely and share experiences with their friends. Staff introduced mathematical language, for example, as children explored wheeling their toy car on a ramp. Toddlers enjoyed exploring bubbles, and staff provided opportunities for them to continue their play outside. Older children enthusiastically engaged in a play dough disco. They listened to music, followed instructions and copied actions such as patting, pinching, rolling and transferring the play dough from one hand to the other. Children used their imagination to build models with junk materials. For example, they made a castle and explained it was for the princess.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff support children's emotional well-being effectively, for example, when they start at the setting and when they transfer between rooms. Children get fresh air as they eagerly explore the equipment outside. They develop confidence in their own abilities and learn to take appropriate risks, for instance, as they walk on the balancing beam. Staff provide healthy choices for children and encourage them to adopt hygiene practices such as washing their hands before meals. Young children learn to care for their personal needs, for instance, they help themselves to water when they are thirsty.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children develop key skills that support their progress towards the next stages in their learning. All children, including those who are learning English as an additional language, make good progress.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY243975 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1033007 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 80 Number of children on roll 85 Name of provider Acorns Early Years Centre Date of previous inspection 28 January 2015 Telephone number 01322 550568

p.4

Setting details

Acorns Early Years Centre Nursery registered in 2003. It is located in Dartford, Kent. There are 28 members of staff, 19 of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications. The nursery is open each weekday from 8am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding for early years education.

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