My Acorns Pre-School

My Acorns Pre-School Holy Trinity Church, Ramleaze Drive, Shaw, Swindon, SN5 5PY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 January 2017 24 February 2014

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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

 Leaders and staff have successfully addressed the recommendations set at the last inspection. They use effective systems to evaluate the quality of the provision. For example, they have developed successful ways to encourage children to care for their resources and help to maintain a safe environment.  Parents are fully included in their children's learning. For example, they are regularly encouraged to contribute information on children's changing interests to support staff in planning for children's development.  Staff complete regular assessments and leaders monitor children's achievements to plan effectively and narrow any gaps in learning. All children make good progress.  Leaders and staff develop good relationships with other professionals and early years settings. They work closely to meet children's care, development and learning needs.  Children behave well and staff are good role models. For example, they help children

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This provision is good

understand how to take turns with more popular resources, share and be kind to others through clear expectations and boundaries.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff complete simple tasks for children rather than encouraging them to do things for themselves to support their independence skills.  Staff do not consistently organise some activities or changes between activities effectively to maintain young children's interest and learning.

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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

 offer more support for staff to know when to encourage children to manage tasks for themselves, to further extend children's independence  review the organisation of some activities and routines to ensure children remain interested and engaged.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the activities and the quality of teaching throughout the setting.  The inspector held discussions with the leadership team and spoke with children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, including staff suitability checks, self-evaluation, observations, assessments, planning records, and documentation linked to checking children's progress.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation of staff practice and discussed this with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders and staff keep up to date with changes in safeguarding legislation. They have a good understanding of how to report any concerns about children's welfare. Recruitment and induction procedures are effective in checking staff's initial and ongoing suitability. Staff are well qualified and are supported well by leaders. For example, they have regular meetings, observe staff and provide training to update staff's professional skills. This has a positive impact on children's learning outcomes. For example, staff have used their new knowledge well to plan enjoyable and interesting activities to support children's mathematical learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their good observations and assessments of children to identify the next steps in their learning and plan to help them make good progress. They are skilled in planning creative activities that really engage children's interest, such as making colourful costume headdresses. Younger children are challenged well by staff to solve problems in their play. For example, children experimented to find the most successful way to make collage materials stick to the crowns they decorated. Staff help younger children to develop a good understanding of positional language. For example, when children were constructing and playing with train tracks they learnt about concepts such as 'next to', 'forwards' and 'backwards' in their play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children have good opportunities to discuss and understand similarities and differences between themselves and others. For example, staff support their understanding well with colourful displays showing where children and their families originate from around the world. Children have good opportunities to be outdoors on a daily basis and practise their physical skills. Younger children enjoy being helpful. For example, they worked cooperatively together in sweeping up the glitter and rice they spilt during their creative activities. Children develop high levels of confidence and self-esteem. They show great pride in their achievements, such as sharing their very individual creations with friends.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good skills to prepare them well for the next stage in their learning, including going to school. Older children develop a good understanding of the wider world. For example, they use atlases to identify the country they live in and other countries around the world, such as America. They consider the best forms of transport they could use to visit other countries. Children are focused and concentrate well on activities for long periods of time. They develop good communication and language skills and understand about the importance of taking turns and listening to others' views.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY425120 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 1069061 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person My Acorns Preschool Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 February 2014 Telephone number 07900412235

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reference number

My Acorns Pre-School opened in 1990 and re-registered in 2011 as a privately owned business. It operates from a church hall in the Shaw district of Swindon. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school opens from 8.30am until 3.30pm from Monday to Friday during term time. There are eight members of staff who work with the children. Of these, one holds early years professional status, two hold an early years qualification at level 5, two hold a qualification at level 3, and a further two are qualified at level 2.

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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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