Tiny Acorns

Tiny Acorns 17 Dalrymple Road, London, SE4 2BQ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 March 2016 5 May 2015

p.1

3

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

p.1

3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

p.1

This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Recently, the provider failed to notify Ofsted about the appointment of a new manager and a change in opening hours, as required. The provider demonstrated insufficient knowledge of the responsibility to notify these changes in good time. However, there are no concerns that these omissions are having a serious detrimental impact on children's safety, well-being or learning and development.  Teaching is not consistently good for all age groups. Managers continue to monitor and support staff, particularly in rooms for younger children, to improve their practice further.  Staff do not carry out the comprehensive progress reviews required for two-year-olds. However, children’s needs are met. Staff routinely carry out their own regular observations and share their assessments with parents. Staff plan for children’s individual needs and seek outside professional help promptly if the need arises.  The nursery's programme of professional development is not well-planned. Staff and

p.1

This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

managers do not always receive the training updates they need when taking on new roles.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Staff nurture children's social and emotional development well and listen to their ideas. Children enjoy their time in the nursery. They become confident talkers who are able to make their needs known to carers they trust.  Staff and parents communicate well. There is good continuity in each child’s care and learning between their home and the nursery. Key staff and parents make sure children have the skills and confidence they need when moving on to school.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 improve knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Register, particularly the requirements to notify changes to Ofsted 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 implement a review of each child's progress when they are aged between two and three years and provide each child's parents with a written summary to meet the requirements of the progress check at age two. 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 support staff to improve their teaching skills, particularly for younger children, in order to secure better outcomes for all children  enhance the nursery's programme of professional development to improve the knowledge and skills of all managers and staff.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities indoors and outdoors. She spoke with staff and children at suitable times throughout the day.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held discussions with the provider, manager and deputy manager.  The inspector looked at a sample of policies, procedures and documents relating to the management of the nursery, including those relating to checks on the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke with parents and took into account parents' written feedback to the nursery.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The provider failed to check necessary notifications of changes were made to Ofsted during a recent period of reorganisation. Failure to notify changes, without reasonable excuse, is an offence. However, the provider checked the suitability of the manager to ensure the safety of children. The provider consulted parents about the change of hours to ensure children’s needs are met. Safeguarding is effective. Recruitment and supervision policies and procedures meet safeguarding requirements. Staff follow the nursery's procedures to secure early help when they have concerns about a child's welfare or development. The provider and managers have gone some way to address the areas for improvement following the previous inspection. They have improved reading resources for younger children. The provider supports some staff to continue their studies to improve their qualifications. However, she does not ensure all staff and managers have the training

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

they need, for example, to help them implement the two-year old progress check.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff plan suitable activities, based on their own observations of what children know and can do already. Parents contribute regularly to their child’s assessments. Staff identify gaps in children's learning, for example in speech and language, and effectively work with parents to secure support from other professionals. However, the manager continues to help some staff to improve the quality of interactions for younger children. Staff are beginning to enrich babies’ experience with books, songs and rhymes. Some babies and toddlers experiment with sounds and sing as they play. Staff plan challenging experiences for older children and give them time to explore their own ideas. For example, children use mathematical skills imaginatively when measuring stone and leaf ingredients in the 'mud kitchen' outdoors.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children form secure relationships with staff who nurture their emotional well-being. Staff model positive relationships in every aspect of their work. Children follow their example and, with gentle reminders, behave well. They are courteous and cooperative. Children learn to move safely as they run and jump in the refurbished garden area. All children have good access to messy, sensory and healthy physical activities, which excite and motivate them in their learning. Staff support children’s health and hygiene effectively. Children choose healthy portions from snack and meal options. Older children confidently manage their personal hygiene. They find their coats and shoes independently.

p.3

Outcomes for children require improvement

The achievement of younger children has been too variable until recently. With some recent improvement in interaction and engagement by staff, younger children are beginning to explore more purposefully and make better progress. Older children make good progress from their starting points because of the well-planned and appropriate activities provided. Older children confidently incorporate counting, drawing and early writing into their play. They gain a wide range of knowledge and the creative, personal and social skills they need to be ready for school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY333372 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 1036466 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 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 29 Name of provider Sharon Roye Date of previous inspection 5 May 2015 Telephone number 02086943553

p.4

Setting details

Tiny Acorns registered in 2006. It is one of three settings owned by the provider. The nursery is open each weekday from 8.00am to 6.00pm throughout the year, except public holidays and one week at Christmas. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged three and four years. It provides for children who speak English as an additional language. The nursery employs 11 members of staff, including the manager, to work with the children. All of these hold relevant childcare qualifications. In addition the nursery employs a cook and a cleaner.

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