Little Acorns @ Our Lady & St Oswalds

Little Acorns @ Our Lady & St Oswalds Upper Brook Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2TG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 November 2016 11 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

 Children are confident and independent learners. They behave very well and are encouraged by staff who are consistently good role models. Children are developing the skills and attitudes needed to support them well in the next stage in their learning.  Partnerships with parents are good. Parents speak very highly about the effective communications in place with the staff. They comment on the approachability of the staff and how their children thrive at the pre-school.  Staff use effective and flexible settling-in strategies when children first start. Key persons work closely with parents to ensure that children's individual needs and interests are taken into consideration. This helps children to settle quickly and easily into the pre-school.  Staff promote children's communication and language skills successfully. They listen carefully to children and allow them time to respond to questions. Sign language and

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This provision is good

visual prompts are also used during discussions to enhance children's communication skills.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The professional development programme in place for staff is not yet sharply focussed on driving the quality of teaching to the highest standard.

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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

 establish a more focused programme of professional development for staff that helps to raise the quality of teaching to a higher level.

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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 completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation and evidence of suitability of staff and committee members.  The inspector spoke to some of the parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff regularly refresh their knowledge of child protection issues, including the most recent government guidance. They know the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about the welfare of a child or the practice of another member of staff. Monitoring of staff practice is in place and staff attend all mandatory training. Risk assessments are effective. Hazards are minimised or removed to ensure that children remain safe and secure within the pre-school. Self-evaluation is used effectively to help maintain good standards throughout the provision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff routinely carry out observations and assess children's development. This information is used effectively to help develop children's learning. Staff understand what children can do and skilfully identify relevant next steps for children's learning. Parents are kept well informed about their child's development by their child's key person and through accessing their child's online learning journal. Staff encourage and motivate children to recognise numbers through fun games. Children enthusiastically roll the cars down the correspondingly numbered drainpipes. Children have plenty of opportunities to be involved in activities to work with their hands, building strength and control in their fingers. They particularly enjoy painting outside with the water or using small stampers and peg games. These developing physical abilities prepare children well to improve their skills, including skills in using tools to develop writing skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work effectively as a team and provide children with clear information and choices as they plan for activities in the daily routine. Staff are well deployed, both indoors and outside, ensuring children's safety and supporting them in their play and learning. Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their healthy lifestyles. The children enjoy physical activities both inside and outside and enjoy taking part in games with the parachute. Healthy snacks are supplied during the day for the children and a choice of a hot, cooked dinner is also available, which is sourced from a local restaurant. Staff promote children's independence effectively. Children take on responsibilities and build on their personal skills. They work together at tidy-up time in readiness for the next activity and put their coats and hats on independently in readiness for going outside.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress given their starting points. Children develop good early literacy and mathematical skills. They learn the letters of their name and use numbers to count items and solve simple mathematical problems. Children acquire the essential skills that they need for the next stage in their learning and their eventual move on to school. Gaps in children's learning are identified and are swiftly closed as staff undertake regular monitoring and evaluation.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY232143 Local authority Shropshire Inspection number 1064329 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Little Acorns @ Our Lady & St. Oswald's Pre- School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 September 2013 Telephone number 01691 676464 / 07966045938

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reference number

Little Acorns @ Our Lady & St Oswalds was registered in 2002. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 3 or 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.30pm. 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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