Children 1st @ Acorns

Children 1st @ Acorns Draycott Road, Upper Tean, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST10 4JJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 March 2016 7 June 2012

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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

 Leaders and managers demonstrate a clear vision and an uncompromising drive to achieve high quality in all aspects of the provision. Every member of the team strives to continually improve their practice.  Partnerships with parents are superb. Parents praise practitioners' friendly and knowledgeable approach. They describe practitioners as excellent communicators. Parents comment on the attention to detail that practitioners demonstrate when they carry out children's individual care routines.  The recruitment and induction of practitioners and trainees is extremely safe and effective. Managers closely supervise the progress of new employees to check that they understand and meet the high standard required. Managers actively encourage practitioners to be self-motivated professionals who continue to learn.  All children make excellent progress in their learning and development from their starting points. Practitioners and parents plan carefully and thoroughly so that children

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This provision is outstanding

transfer smoothly between the childcare rooms as they grow. This promotes their confidence and emotional well-being.  Managers are unfailingly reflective in their examining of practice and their analysis of children's outcomes. A practical and manageable development plan underpins rigorous performance management for every member of the team.  Teaching is creative and exciting. Practitioners demonstrate deep understanding of how children learn. They encourage children to think deeply and to try hard. Children are proud of their achievements and learning. They are enthusiastic learners who want to learn more.

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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

 review the implementation of the planned changes to opportunities for children to use all of their senses when they play and learn and evaluate the impact on their outcomes.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and senior managers. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Leaders and managers rigorously implement clear procedures for monitoring the performance of the nursery team. Teaching is observed as part of a well-developed supervision process. In addition, managers frequently give practical guidance to practitioners during nursery sessions. The well-qualified practitioners welcome the high level of challenge and support from their managers. Managers make excellent use of an online learning journal. They check that the assessment of children's progress is accurate and that targets for their learning are challenging. For example, when children were making only average progress in understanding and using technology, managers delivered training and reviewed and enhanced resources. The impact on children's progress will be measured when assessment outcomes are checked again. Safeguarding is effective. Changes to national, local and nursery policy are effectively incorporated into procedures.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Practitioners know children's interests and know precisely what they need to learn next. They use their expert knowledge of the areas of learning to design activities that encourage children to learn swiftly. For example, children who are learning to recognise numbers participate in an exciting outdoor treasure hunt. They run and climb to find the numbers then write them on their clipboards. Practitioners provide further challenge for most-able children by asking them to read numbers that have more than one digit. A rich array of activities allows children of all ages to learn through using their senses. Following training delivered at the provider's annual training conference, practitioners have recognised the importance of adding more multi-sensory experiences to the programme of activities. They intend to try out their ideas and encourage children to become even more deeply involved in rich, rewarding learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Relationships in the nursery are exceptional. Practitioners devote their time and attention to meeting the children's needs. Well-established routines help children to become confident and independent. For example, two-year-old children work alongside practitioners to help with setting tables for lunch. By the time they are ready to start school, children ably work with a partner to set the tables for lunch. Children learn about their bodies and keeping healthy. They know that if they do not drink enough fluid they will become dehydrated. Children learn to be courteous and kind to each other. They learn to value and celebrate each others' achievements.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children confidently match letters with sounds. They understand that books are enjoyable and informative. Children know how to count and do simple calculations. They understand the purposes of numbers and counting in daily routines. Children skilfully operate computers and programmable toys. They use tools and equipment safely. All children, including those whose starting points are below those of others of the same age, make rapid progress in their learning. Excellent partnerships with other professionals and schools help children to prepare well to begin the next phase of their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY440074 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 850276 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 - 10 Total number of places 140 Number of children on roll 154 Name of provider Breedon House Nurseries Limited Date of previous inspection 7 June 2012 Telephone number 01538723366

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Setting details

Children 1st @ Acorns was registered in 2011. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 4, 16 at level 3 and two at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery 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

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

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