Acorns

Acorns Cherry Tree Lane, BLACKBURN, BB2 5NX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 September 2016 20 December 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The outdoor provision has been vastly improved since the last inspection. The new equipment challenges children's learning. They take risks as they climb confidently over obstacles and up and down the steps  The strong management team is very supportive of staff. It has high expectations and provides a positive working environment that encourages staff to improve practices. This helps to provide better learning opportunities for children.  The quality of teaching is good, with some practice being outstanding, particularly in the pre-school room. Children are engaged and motivated. They are developing skills necessary for future learning, including in readiness for school.  Staff know children well. They carry out assessments of children's learning effectively. Staff use the information to plan activities that build on existing skills and children's interests.  Children's emotional well-being is nurtured. Staff create a safe environment where

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This provision is good

children are happy and secure. This helps children to become confident and self- assured.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Managers, on occasions, do not fully utilise their self-evaluation process to identify improvements and formulate actions that can help raise the quality of the provision even further.

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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

 enhance the self-evaluation process even further and help identify improvements that raise the quality of provision to the highest level.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the premises.  The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching in all of the playrooms and outdoors.  The inspector sampled children's assessment records, planning documentation and a range of other records, policies and procedures.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working with children, as well as the provider's self-evaluation and improvement plans.  The inspector took account of the views of staff and parents spoken to on the day of inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team has a good understanding of early years requirements. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe and how to to report any concerns about their welfare. Effective monitoring of children's progress is undertaken and areas for improvement are, generally, prioritised across the nursery. Parents are very happy with the service they receive. They feel involved in their child's learning and development and have good links with the key person for their child. Managers supervise staff well and training is supported to help them improve their skills. Robust recruitment procedures ensure staff are suitable to work with children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff create an inviting and inspiring environment for children. They provide stimulating experiences that help motivate and excite children to want to learn. The equipment and resources in each room support all areas of learning. Staff introduce new vocabulary constantly, such as when playing musical instruments loudly or quietly. Children join in with great pleasure, excitedly shaking or banging their chosen instruments, which they name confidently. Staff extend children's understanding of mathematics, talking about numbers and encouraging them to count. Staff in the baby and toddler rooms give young children a secure environment in which to explore. Children giggle with delight as they move to the rhythm of the singing. Staff effectively support babies' early speech, using engaging tones in their voices. Children are interested and intrigued by the resources, such as when they spoon up porridge oats and fill the receptacles provided.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's behaviour is superb. A strong emphasis on routines and boundaries is embedded and children show great respect for one another. Children learn about cultural differences and create bright and interesting displays of special occasions and places they visit. This helps them to expand their excellent understanding of the world they live in. Children cooperate and patiently take turns, such as when climbing and jumping outdoors. Children thrive on the constant praise and encouragement given by staff. This helps boost their self-esteem enormously. Children are encouraged to manage their self-help skills, such as zipping up their own coats or serving themselves at lunchtime. This helps to build very good levels of independence. Their manners are exemplary and they continually use please or thank you without prompts. Staff constantly act as excellent role models and set behavioural expectations. Children are superbly prepared socially for their future in

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points and any gaps in learning are addressed swiftly. Children have a positive approach to learning, are willing to have a go and enjoy praise for their successes. Staff ensure children have time to explore and become deeply involved in activities. This helps children develop good foundations for their future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY447232 Local authority Blackburn Inspection number 1060249 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 - 17 Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Little Acorns Nursery BB Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 December 2012 Telephone number 01254 200277

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reference number

Acorns was registered in 2012. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. 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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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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