Little Acorns Pre-School

Little Acorns Pre-School High Oakham Primary School, Nottingham Road, Mansfield, Notts, NG18 4SH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 November 2016 1 May 2013

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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 provide children with an interesting range of activities to choose from, both indoors and outdoors. They skilfully engage children in their chosen play experiences, effectively supporting them to build on their prior knowledge, skills and interests. This results in all children making good progress.  Staff work well with parents to support children's learning. They provide parents with information about their child's development through daily reviews, as well as at each term. Parents feel their views are valued.  An effective key-person system is in place which ensures that children are supported to settle with a familiar adult. Children enjoy their time at the setting and parents are pleased with the progress they make.  Staff consistently manage children's behaviour well. Children are polite and friendly. They are kind to one another and many are forming good friendships.  Children are constantly supervised by vigilant staff, who work well together as a team

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This provision is good

to protect children's safety. Staff teach children how to use equipment safely and they encourage them to develop good hygiene routines. This supports children's growing awareness of how to keep themselves healthy and safe.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager does not yet critically evaluate staff's teaching skills enough to develop their practice to an outstanding level.  Occasionally, teaching during group activities does not always fully engage all children so that they can learn as much as they can from the experience.

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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

 strengthen the system for performance management of staff, ensuring that staff are set clearer targets for improving the quality of their teaching practice  review the organisation and effectiveness of group activities so that they consistently engage all children and support each child to make more rapid progress in their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as children's records and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre- school.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector took account of the views of children, parents and staff spoken to on the day of inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard children. Staff know what action to take if they have concerns about a child. The manager regularly monitors the educational programmes, ensuring that children are progressing well across all areas of their learning and development. The manager seeks feedback from parents about the quality of the provision verbally and through a questionnaire. This helps her to set clear targets for the continued development of children's care and learning. Parents speak very highly of the pre-school. Staff develop good relationships with the local school, working closely with the teacher to help prepare children to feel emotionally secure when they move on to school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Qualified staff complete regular observations of children as they play. They know individual children well and effectively plan activities to build on their abilities. Children are motivated, happy and eager to participate in activities. In the role play area, children work well together, play cooperatively and using their imagination. Children show great enthusiasm and use good concentration skills in their creative play as they spend time creating craft models. Staff encourage children to use mathematical language to count during daily play opportunities. For example, as they take part in races children talk about who came first, second and third. Staff have accessed training to support children's communication and language development. This has had a positive impact on children's learning in this area as children are becoming confident communicators.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy being physically active and have regular opportunities for outdoor play. They have good space to develop their physical skills, to balance, walk, climb and run. Staff are caring and responsive, and provide children with additional support when needed. Staff successfully help new children to settle quickly as they have introduced a staggered approach where children start at different points during the month. This has had a positive impact on children's emotional well-being. Children's independence is promoted well as they are encouraged to carry out tasks for themselves. For example, they hang up their coats and enjoy helping with tasks at snack time. Children behave well, take turns and are considerate and tolerant of one another. They are taught to value and respect other cultures as they learn about different festivals.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are confident and motivated to learn. All children, including those in receipt of funding for early education, make good progress from their starting points. Children develop good communication and language skills as staff model language and extend their vocabulary by introducing new words. Children enjoy using a range of props, including puppets, when looking at books. This encourages their enjoyment of books from a young age. Children develop the skills and attitudes needed for the next stage in their learning, including school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY257929 Local authority Nottinghamshire Inspection number 1064419 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Little Acorns Pre-School Group

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 1 May 2013 Telephone number 07749 047107

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reference number

Little Acorns Pre-School was registered in 2003. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am to 11.45am, afternoon sessions are 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and lunch club is from 11.45am to 12.30pm. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 5. The pre-school 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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