Partou Thornbury Day Nursery & Pre-School

Little Acorns (Thornbury) Gillingstool, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2EG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 August 2016 1 October 2012

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Nursery leaders use effective ways to continuously check and improve the service they provide for the children and their families. The staff are keen to obtain further qualifications, following the example set by the new and enthusiastic nursery manager.  The recommendation from the previous inspection has been implemented successfully. Staff take a consistent approach to managing children's behaviour. They set children good examples. Children are well mannered and learn to respect others' needs.  The nursery is extremely well equipped in all rooms and the outside areas. Staff make effective use of resources to encourage children to learn through exploring and investigating. Children make good progress. They make particularly strong progress in gaining new physical skills, including babies and children with special educational needs or disability.  Leaders seek and act on the advice of external professionals, which helps to develop

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This provision is good

staff teaching skills. For example, the manager has concentrated on improving arrangements for children with special educational needs so that they achieve as well as possible. Funding provided for some children aged two years is used well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, not all children remain interested during some routine group-time activities, particularly circle times.  Staff do not always make the most of opportunities to encourage children to recognise rhyming words to help them make the best possible progress in the development of their early literacy skills.

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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

 make sure that the content of routine group times is planned to keep each child fully engaged and interested  extend the range of activities that support children's early literacy skills, including their understanding and use of rhyme.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector viewed all the areas of the nursery used by children indoors and outdoors.  The inspector talked with the nominated person, manager, staff and some children.  The inspector talked with parents to take account of their views.  The inspector read a variety of relevant paperwork, including reports from a local authority advisor, some policies, the risk assessment, staff qualification certificates and copies of children's records kept electronically.  The inspector observed children's activities and the impact of staff teaching on children's learning, and undertook joint observations and follow-up discussions with the manager, indoors and outdoors.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager is effectively supported in her role, such as by the area manager. For example, she has been supported to introduce an electronic system to accurately track children's progress, including groups of children, and identify areas for improvement. The manager pays good attention to staff's professional development. Staff are keen to gain senior responsibilities and take advantage of opportunities to obtain higher qualifications. There are extremely strong working relationships with parents who contribute to improving the outcomes for children, including those with additional needs. Safeguarding is effective. Leaders oversee regular risk assessments of the nursery premises and check that staff supervise children closely, particularly when outside. Staff have a clear understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe from harm. They maintain children's good health effectively through, for example, monitoring the toilet areas to keep

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

them clean and well supplied through the day.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding overall of how children learn and have high expectations of what they can achieve. They use their qualifications well to plan free-choice activities that interest children so they want to choose what to do. For example, older children test their catching and throwing skills, such as when trying volleyball, and learn new words when they discuss the Olympics. Younger children develop their coordination well in preparation for future writing skills. For example, they are intrigued with twiddling handles, keys and bolts, and learn to cope with going up and down challenging slopes. Staff consistently provide good levels of support during children's independent play. Babies, for example, receive a lot of individual attention that helps them find their voices, and toddlers joyfully experiment with mixing paints and using their hands to create marks.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work closely with parents from the start to know, and meet, their children's changing physical needs and abilities. They support transfers between nursery rooms well, and the move to school, which parents say they appreciate. The extremely good relationships between staff and children help children feel settled and happy. Older children know who takes special care of them. Children learn about healthy living effectively. They enjoy outdoor play and are keen to spend long periods outdoors.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared for the next learning stage and for school. They learn to take turns, form friendships, gain personal independence and have positive attitudes to being out in the fresh air. Older children learn to play fairly, count and write their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY414936 Local authority South Gloucestershire Inspection number 1058940 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 112 Number of children on roll 130 Name of registered person Little Acorns (South West) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 1 October 2012 Telephone number 01454 418788

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reference number

Little Acorns (Thornbury) registered in 2010. It is located in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, and is one of a small chain of nurseries. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays throughout the year, with the exception of bank holidays and three further days at Christmas. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 24 members of staff, including the manager. Of these, 20 hold relevant qualifications, including three who have qualified teacher status and one with early years professional status.

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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.

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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.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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