Little Acorns Pre-school Ifold

Little Acorns Pre-school Ifold Kelsey Hall, Chalk Road, Ifold, Loxwood, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 0UD

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 June 2016 22 September 2010

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 effectively observe and assess children's learning, and plan activities that meet their needs. This helps children make good progress from their starting points.  Staff are caring, friendly and approachable. Children form strong emotional bonds with adults and show they feel settled, secure and safe.  Children develop a good understanding of the importance of exercise in staying healthy. For example, they enjoy plenty of outdoor play and physical activities indoors.  The manager is keen to improve practice and the professional development of all staff. For example, she observes their practice and carries out annual staff appraisals. She makes sure that all staff benefit from any new knowledge, such as training attended, and implement the new ideas in the pre-school.  The manager is monitoring children's progress effectively. She successfully identifies and addresses gaps in children's learning. For example, staff identified mathematics as

p.1

This provision is good

an area needing more focus. They introduced new ways of including numbers in play and everyday routines to build on children's already strong mathematical skills.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff have not fully developed a wide variety of exciting opportunities for children to extend their awareness and interest in nature.  Staff do not consistently provide children with opportunities and innovative ways to explore using their senses.

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

 increase opportunities for children to build on their understanding of growth and changes in the natural world  extend opportunities for children to explore and investigate further using their senses.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children's activities indoors and in the outdoor area.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled children's learning records and other relevant documentation, including the self-evaluation form.  The inspector held meetings with the manager, staff and Chair of the committee.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to at the inspection and from the provider's questionnaires.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff have an up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding, such as through training. They have a good understanding of their responsibilities and where to refer concerns on to. The committee carries out thorough recruitment procedures that help to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. The manager gives a high priority to keeping children safe. The staff team is very reflective and successfully evaluates its practice. The manager involves parents in the evaluation process and uses their ideas to improve children's learning experiences. For example, following a parent's suggestion, children now enjoy a wider range of exciting art and craft activities available outdoors.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff get to know children well. For example, they gain plenty of helpful information from new parents about children's interests and abilities before they start in the pre-school. This helps staff settle children quickly and start to plan challenging activities for them. Staff are skilled teachers who know how to extend children's play and learning. For example, they use good questioning skills that help children think about what they are doing and express their ideas. Staff repeat and reinforce words and sentences well, such as with the less confident speakers. Staff make good use of activities, such as children's role play, to strengthen their mathematical skills. For example, they count and pay money at the till when pretending to buy petrol for their vehicles.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff create a welcoming and stimulating environment. They make good use of the space and organise it well to meet children's changing needs and interests. Staff give children plenty of opportunities to build on their already good levels of independence. For example, children pour out their own drinks and choose toys from the low-level storage units. Children develop a respect for others and play well together. They learn the rules of the setting and the importance of valuing differences. Children have fun learning how to say 'good morning' in the languages represented in the pre-school.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children develop the skills they need for a successful move to school. They become confident and independent learners. They happily explore and investigate for themselves. For example, they find out what happens to water when they use different utensils to move it around. Children keenly join in activities with others and build on their skills. They form friendships and develop good social skills. Children talk confidently with staff and readily share their experiences. They show good imagination, such as when playing in the newly improved role-play area. Overall, children concentrate well and listen attentively at group times.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 113582 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 825040 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Little Acorns Pre-school

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 22 September 2010 Telephone number 01403 752 670

p.4

reference number

Little Acorns Pre-school Ifold opened in 1973. It operates from a village hall in Ifold, West Sussex. The pre-school opens every weekday during school term times. Opening times are from 9.15am to 1.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and from 9.15am to 3.15pm on Tuesdays. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs five staff. There are four staff working with the children, including the manager, who all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3.

p.4

reference number

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

reference number

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

reference number

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

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5