Acorn Day Nursery Shenley

Acorn Day Nursery Shenley Shenley Road, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK5 6AB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 November 2016 27 May 2015

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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

 Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of how children learn and develop. All children make good progress from their individual starting points.  Children are motivated learners. They use an extensive range of accessible toys and resources that captures their interest, engages their curiosity and extends their ideas.  Staff manage children's different behaviours sensitively and they offer praise and encouragement to build on children's confidence and self-esteem. Children behave well and learn good manners.  Effective self-evaluation successfully involves the views of children, parents and staff to improve the quality of the provision further in nearly all areas. The manager and staff are strongly committed to raising existing good standards of care.  Parents are valued as their child's first educator and a wealth of information is shared to extend children's learning both at home and in the nursery.

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This provision is good

 There are good links with other professionals such as teachers who visit the children in the nursery to support their move to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Routines to help improve the quality of teaching to an even higher standard are not fully established.  Staff do not fully help children to learn enough about others from different backgrounds.

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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

 devise additional ways of helping staff enhance their teaching skills to raise children's good learning outcomes even further  help children to have a greater understanding of others from different backgrounds.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the play rooms and garden.  The inspector held discussions with children, parents and staff.  The inspector undertook a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector looked at observation files, monitoring systems, self-evaluation and a selection of policies and children's records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a good understanding of child protection procedures and how to safeguard children's welfare. Effective safety risk assessments are reviewed and updated to respond swiftly to the changing needs of the children. Rigorous recruitment procedures are implemented for the staff working directly with the children. The manager oversees the quality of the educational programme. She checks individual and different groups of children's progress to identify where they may require extra support to catch up in their learning and development. Parents praise staff for the ideas they offer to help extend their children's learning at home.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use effective teaching methods to encourage children to be curious learners such as skilful questioning, demonstrating tasks and suggesting ideas. There is a good balance between adult-led activities and those which children choose for themselves. Well-planned indoor and outdoor activities complement the children's individual interests and encourage their involvement. Children are sociable and they engage in meaningful play with one another. They develop an understanding of the world such as observing living creatures and using technology, such as cash tills, keyboards and torches. Babies have good opportunities and playful experiences which stimulate their senses. For example, they squeal and giggle with delight as they observe a balloon rising out of a box.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff understand the emotional needs of young children. Home visits and settling-in sessions are individually tailored to ensure that children experience a smooth move into nursery and then between play rooms. Each child's key person oversees their care and education effectively. Children enjoy nutritious meals and healthy snacks prepared by the cook. They learn about foods which are good for them, for instance they grow fruit and vegetables. Children make good progress in their physical development. For example, babies enjoy action songs and push and pull toys. Older children climb and balance on apparatus with increasing control over their bodies.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good early reading and writing skills. For example, they have an enjoyment of books, learn to recognise their name, and explore letters and the sounds they represent. Children develop good levels of imagination and creativity. They gain a good understanding of numbers, colours, shapes, sizes and measurement. They are independent, for example, as they butter their rolls at snack time. Children's positive learning experiences help them to prepare for the next stage in their learning and eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 141794 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 1076583 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 - 8 Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 68 Name of registered person Acorn Childcare Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 27 May 2015 Telephone number 01908 507282

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reference number

Acorn Day Nursery registered in 1996. The nursery is located in Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes and it is one of 10 nurseries owned by Acorn Childcare Ltd. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm for 50 weeks a year, closing for bank holidays and five training days. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free education to children aged two, three and four years. There are 15 members of staff, 13 of whom hold relevant qualifications between level 2 and level 6.

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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

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