Acacia Playgroup Association (Acacia Pre- school)

Acacia Playgroup Association (Acacia Pre- school) Malden Wanderers Clubhouse, Cambridge Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4LE

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 February 2017 19 March 2013

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Staff provide a welcoming and well-resourced environment where children make choices in their play. They confidently use a wide range of interesting resources.  Staff use well-considered assessment to plan interesting and challenging opportunities. They track children's progress and identify any gaps in their development, quickly putting plans in place to meet the children's needs. All children make good progress in their learning and development.  The manager has a clear vision for the pre-school and evaluates practice routinely. She uses feedback from parents, staff and children to identify and develop areas for improvement.  Staff support children's communication well. For example, they describe what children are doing and ask questions to extend their learning and thinking skills.  Children are well prepared for school. The manager and staff communicate well with staff at schools children move on to, sharing useful information.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, during large-group activities, younger children become distracted and lose concentration.  Staff do not always support parents to understand how to continue their child's learning at home.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 review daily routines to reflect more precisely the needs of younger children, in particular during large-group activities, to develop their learning experience even further  develop more opportunities to share information with parents to support them to extend their children's learning at home.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to the manager and other staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector engaged with the children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector observed children's indoor and outdoor play, as well as their snack, lunch and hygiene routines.  The inspector engaged in a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector viewed various documents, including risk assessments, the self- evaluation form, and a range of policies and procedures.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. All staff have a good understanding of how to keep children safe and what to do should they have a concern about a child's well-being. Rigorous recruitment and vetting procedures help to make sure staff are suitable for their roles and responsibilities. Staff are effectively supported and undertake regular training to build on their knowledge and skills. For instance, recent training has helped staff to develop their observation, planning and assessment system. This has supported staff to provide challenging experiences based on children's interests and next steps. Overall, staff work closely with parents and there are effective strategies in place to keep them up to date about their children's progress. Parents are warmly welcomed and have plenty of opportunities to get involved with their children's learning at pre-school.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather information from parents to assess what their children know and can do. They use this information and ongoing observations to establish children's starting points in their learning and to plan for what they need to learn next. Staff encourage children to explore and investigate their surroundings. For example, children enthusiastically play with shaving foam, using a range of tools and utensils, pretending to make cakes. Staff pay good attention to supporting children's understanding of mathematics. For example, children weigh out, measure and count toys as they pretend to run a sweet shop.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are motivated and keen to come into the nursery. Staff are friendly and approachable and children settle happily and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Children are well behaved, kind and considerate. Staff support children's good behaviour through positive role modelling and talking to children about good play routines. For example, children confidently explain their golden rules, and share and take turns with resources. They learn to value and respect the needs of their friends. Staff support children's independence skills well. For example, children happily serve their own snacks and thoroughly enjoy being the special helper of the day. Activities such as these boost children's confidence and build their self-esteem.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress and develop the skills that they need for the next stage of their learning. They are keen to learn, develop good thinking skills and concentrate well on activities that interest them. Children develop good literacy skills. For example, they use a range of tools to make their own cards and confidently write their own names in them. Children learn about some physical self-care skills, such as putting on their coats to play outside and attending to their own personal needs confidently.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 131800 Local authority Kingston upon Thames Inspection number 1061359 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Acacia Playgroup Association Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 March 2013 Telephone number 07816 940 560

p.4

reference number

Acacia Pre-School opened in 1955 and is based in New Malden, Surrey. The pre-school opens each weekday from 9.15am to 12.15pm, during term time only. There are 14 members of staff who work with the children. Of these, one holds early years professional status, two hold qualified teacher status and six are qualified at level 3. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5