Acorn at Meadowside

Acorn at Meadowside Meadowside Primary School, Park Road, Kettering, NN15 5QY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 February 2017 Not applicable

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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 and their families are enthusiastically welcomed into this warm and friendly club. The manager ensures that experiences and activities offered by the club complement and consolidate those offered by the school.  Children develop positive relationships with staff. They are happy and eager to spend time at the club, and children of all ages play well alongside each other. Older children act as positive role models for the younger children.  The environment is stimulating. Staff provide a wide range of toys and resources which enables children to make choices about their play.  Children demonstrate confidence and skill in their communication and language skills. They are happy to share their daily experiences and achievements from school with their peers, staff, and visitors.  The partnership with the school is particularly strong. The good communication between the staff and the school ensures continuity of care for all children.

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This provision is good

 The manager is committed to developing the club further. She evaluates her practice accurately, taking into account the views of children, parents, staff and other professionals to promote ongoing improvement.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Opportunities for parents to share detailed information about what their child knows and can do, when they first start, have not yet been fully explored.

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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

 enhance the partnerships with parents further to promote the sharing of more detailed information about children's prior achievements, so that staff have a full picture of what children can do when they first start.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the activities indoors and outdoors, and the interactions between staff and children.  The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the club manager and spoke to the headteacher. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views from documentation provided for the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the club manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The well-qualified manager is dedicated and enthusiastic. Safeguarding is effective. Recruitment procedures are robust and ensure that staff are fully checked and vetted. Induction procedures help new staff to understand their roles and responsibilities. All staff complete essential training and receive regular supervision meetings. The premises are secure and safe. Thorough risk assessments are conducted to ensure that any potential hazards are minimised. All staff are aware of their role and responsibility in child protection procedures and know how to report concerns about children's welfare. Robust policies and procedures underpin and strengthen their practice. Staff regularly reflect on the activities they provide, which helps them to identify and make improvements for the children. Parents speak positively about the service the club provides. They receive feedback from staff daily and are kept well informed about their children's care.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff meet with children at the beginning of the session and discuss what they would like to do. They deploy themselves effectively and communicate well with each other to support children's play. Children spend time playing outside. They enjoy playing football with their friends or with ride-on bikes and scooters. Staff join in their games and engage in conversations about their school day. Children enjoy spending time on the computer. They use the mouse skilfully to negotiate the cursor and complete different programmes. Older children are sensitive to the needs of the younger children and are happy to provide assistance. For example, they help to spell tricky words by sounding them out. Children play well together; they set themselves tasks, solve problems and show persistence in accomplishing their goals. They build complicated structures that require them to work cooperatively, in order to achieve what they set out to do. Children express their creativity

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

through art and craft activities. They enjoy drawing and creating pictures, which they proudly show to staff and visitors. Staff share information with parents about the activities their children take part in.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's physical well-being is promoted well. Staff teach children about the importance of being healthy and taking part in physical exercise. They talk to children about the importance of eating well and help them to make healthy choices. Staff ensure children adopt good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Staff have high expectations and act as positive roles models. Children behave well and develop strong friendships. They understand the importance of being safe and following rules. They listen to what staff and other children have to say and learn to respect and value the opinions and ideas of others. Children are polite and use good manners. Snack time is a social occasion; children sit together with their friends to enjoy their food and each other's company. They develop their growing independence. For example, they have opportunities to pour their drinks and select their own snack. Staff

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

praise children's achievements and encourage them to be proud of their own accomplishments. Children have opportunities to learn about others beyond their immediate experience and find out about the wider world.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY486934 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 1006371 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 4 - 11 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Acorn Childcare 2

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07903152855

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reference number

Acorn at Meadowside was re-registered in 2015. It is managed by a charitable organisation and is situated within Meadowside Primary School. The club employs four members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years or Playwork Qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 5. The club opens from Monday to Friday, during term times from 7.45am until 8.45am and from 3.15pm until 6pm, and during school holidays from 8am until 6pm.

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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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