Acorn Day Nursery

Acorn Day Nursery 2 Roman Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 2QT

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 20 February 2017 26 November 2013

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The provider's inspirational leadership encourages the staff team to drive forward improvements. Staff feel valued and motivated by the personalised professional development they receive. Focused responsibilities are shared between the staff, which they carry out with passion and commitment.  Staff know children exceedingly well. A robust key-person system fully supports children's emotional well-being and helps them to develop secure and trusting relationships. Children are exceptionally happy, settled and confident. Key persons make highly effective use of information about children's development to plan meticulously for their individual needs and interests.  Staff's support and care for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is superb. Highly effective strategies engage parents and external agencies in supporting children's sustained progress.  The cultural diversity of the children is also reflected in the staff team. Staff are

p.1

This provision is outstanding

wonderful role models to children as they openly show respect and appreciation for each other. Staff describe the nursery as, 'One big family'.  Children are developing a deep understanding of the world. They know how to gain knowledge from books. Children recall facts and information about sea creatures and animals with immense detail. Staff are teaching children how to discuss and debate with their peers in small groups.  Staff have high expectations of children to be independent and this helps them learn to do things for themselves. Children are very well supported to form close bonds that enable them to feel safe and secure. Staff use all opportunities to praise children's efforts, raising their self-confidence.

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

 continue to enhance the already excellent learning opportunities for those children who prefer to learn outdoors.

p.2

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 carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider and deputy manager and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. She also spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including the nursery safeguarding procedures, complaints, attendance records and children's observation and assessment records.  The inspector reviewed the nursery's evaluation documents and discussed other methods of reflective practice.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Children's welfare and safety underpin everything that staff do. Staff are extremely secure in their knowledge of what action to take should they have a concern about a child's welfare. Children's progress is tracked meticulously. The managers and staff provide swift, targeted support for individuals and groups of children. This helps to close gaps in learning and ensure that all children make the best progress possible. The provider uses her doctorate in neuroscience to teach her staff how to support children's brain development. All staff are passionate to embed new ways of teaching as they can see the impact this has on children's development. Managers and staff are highly reflective on every aspect of the nursery. For example, information received from parent questionnaires is analysed and parents are quickly informed about what changes will be made, such as enhancing communication.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff provide wonderful opportunities for children to choose their own play and learning. Babies enjoy sensory experiences as they explore freezing ice, warm noodles and crunchy cereal. Staff use clear descriptive language with the babies to help them hear and practise new words. Staff provide toddlers with many opportunities for imaginative play. Children engross themselves in playing with dolls. They show care and concern as they handle them and gently lay them down to sleep. Older children are encouraged to follow plans as they use construction toys. They carefully look at what size blocks they need and make precise models. At other times, children show high levels of creativity as they mix paints together. Staff encourage them to talk about the different shades of colour they make.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff's support and care for the high number of children who speak English as an additional language are superb. They quickly learn key words in children's home languages to support communication, helping them to settle. Staff are learning how to use sign language in order to support children and parents further. The outside learning environment is a wonderful place for children to explore and have fun. Staff recognise that they could offer children even more opportunities to play and learn outdoors. Children have opportunities to collect eggs from the chicken coop and grow fruit and vegetables. They have many opportunities to run, climb and explore. These activities help children to develop a positive attitude to healthy lifestyles. Staff help children learn to respect the views of others. They use voting systems during group activities and children make agreements, such as not to shout out while others are talking.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make excellent progress relative to their starting points. They thrive in this stimulating and wholly inclusive environment. They have very good general knowledge and develop exceptional thinking skills. Literacy and mathematical opportunities are incorporated into a wide range of activities, such as in messy activities and outside play. Children are competently developing valuable skills that they need for their next stage of learning and at school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY233564 Local authority Luton Inspection number 1064337 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 85 Name of registered person Christiane Elisabeth Fisher

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 November 2013 Telephone number 01582 574390

p.4

reference number

Acorn Day Nursery was registered in 2002. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm all year round. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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