Little Acorns

Little Acorns 55 New Cheltenham Road, South Gloucestershire, BS15 1TN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 November 2016 26 September 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

 Managers and staff know children well. Children continually engage in good-quality learning experiences and are inquisitive and motivated learners. They make good progress from their initial starting points.  Managers and staff are clear in their expectations for children's behaviour. They are good role models and teach children how to keep themselves and others safe. Children are tolerant and kind to each other.  Partnerships with parents are well-established. Managers and staff keep parents fully informed about children's progress and guide them on how to support children's learning at home. Parents speak highly of the nursery and the care their children receive.  Managers are committed to improving practice and outcomes for children. They fully consider the views of parents, staff and children, to ensure that planned developments are pertinent. Managers have successfully addressed all recommendations from the last

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff sometimes ask children relevant questions to build on their interest but do not always allow them enough time to think through their ideas and respond.  Assessment arrangements enable staff to monitor the progress of individual children well but do not provide managers with a clear overview of the progress of groups of children. This does not support managers to identify when to target focussed intervention and teaching as promptly as possible.

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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

 support staff to recognise when to give children more time and encouragement to think through their ideas to extend their learning as fully as possible  strengthen the system for tracking children's progress, in order to identify the progress made by different groups of children more precisely.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including attendance records, accident and incident records, staff suitability checks, the self-assessment information, children's observation, assessment and planning records, and documentation linked to managing children's progress.  The inspector spoke with members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held meetings with the director manager and nursery manager.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and carers spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Managers and staff keep up to date with changes in safeguarding legislation. They have a good awareness of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare. Managers follow secure recruitment, vetting and inductions procedures, to help ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Managers have high expectations of the staff team. For example, they monitor the quality of teaching and staff receive regular supervision, and team meetings to help improve their interactions further. Managers and staff complete a range of training courses to help enhance their knowledge and skills. For example, they have attended training on outdoor learning and use strategies they have learnt to help maintain children's good outcomes. Managers and staff have developed strong links with other professionals to support a collaborative approach to children's care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills well. For example, they narrate what babies are doing and model language for older children, such as 'aubergine' and 'leek'. Children are very creative in their play. For example, babies make 'hay bales' for their toy animals, and older children concentrate for long periods as they make cakes from dough. Staff support children to predict and test out their ideas. For example, an interest in puddles led to children using their feet to make ripples and patterns in water. Babies enjoy examining things closely. For example, they watch bubbles and fish rise in a lit-up water tube, and delight in their ability to control toys and equipment by pressing buttons on and off.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are emotionally secure and form very close relationships with staff. Children develop good independence skills. Babies are encouraged to feed themselves and older children learn to make choices about what they want to eat. Children enjoy outdoor play daily where they develop their physical skills. Staff support children to understand the simple rules that are in place to keep them safe. Children begin to develop their understanding of different faiths and cultures, and people who are different to them through their explorations.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including starting school. They develop the skills they need, such as writing. Older children discuss volume and count, sort and match objects. Babies are enthusiastic as they join in with stories and songs. They link words to actions and enjoy listening and participating.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY305073 Local authority South Gloucestershire Inspection number 1061900 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Little Acorns Day Nursery Bristol Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 September 2013 Telephone number 0117 9606537

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reference number

Little Acorns Nursery registered in 2005 and operates in Kingswood, Bristol. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 3 and level 4. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm, all year round. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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