Little Acorns Nursery BB Ltd

Little Acorns Nursery BB Ltd Lower Whitehalgh Barn, Stockclough Lane, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 5JR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 February 2017 25 July 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

 Staff treat children fairly and show them kindness and respect. Children quickly form secure attachments and bonds with staff, who encourage them to share, take turns and use good manners. Children behave well, given their age and stage of development.  Staff plan a wide range of challenging and enjoyable experiences that is closely linked to children's individual interests. Children demonstrate good levels of curiosity and confidence and are gaining the key skills they need for future learning, including the move to school.  Staff help children to lead a healthy lifestyle. Children have many opportunities to be physically active. They have access to plenty of fresh air and an extensively resourced outdoor area. Staff encourage children to eat healthily and support them to learn about positive food choices and how to keep themselves safe.  Clear self-evaluation systems show there is a drive for continuous improvement to

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This provision is good

provide good quality care for all children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although overall, supervisions support staff to maintain their professional development, the manager does not yet provide enough opportunity for staff to share best practice across the team and raise the quality of teaching to the highest levels.  Staff do not maximise opportunities to share detailed information with parents about their child's ongoing learning and progress, supporting them to continue their children's learning at home.

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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

 embed staff supervision arrangements even further that give staff more frequent opportunities to share best practice across the team and raise the quality of teaching to the highest possible level  strengthen arrangements for sharing detailed information with parents so they are kept well informed about their children's ongoing achievements and are supported to continue their learning at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the nursery and observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outside and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager and the area manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and the early years area manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of 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. The management team and staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities to help keep children safe. Effective policies, procedures and risk assessments are in place, understood and implemented by all staff. This helps to ensure the setting is safe and secure. Recruitment and vetting are robustly managed. Systems for observation, assessment and planning are working well. The management team records all children's progress and uses this information robustly to check how well different groups of children are progressing. Prompt and effective steps are taken to make changes when needed. Staff are well qualified and overall, supported by the management team. They attend a variety of training courses to extend their knowledge and improve their teaching skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are inquisitive and active learners who explore the learning environment with ease. Children develop their literacy skills as they use tools, such as pens and brushes to make meaningful marks. For example, children enjoy looking at photographs of French buildings and recreate them as they paint and draw. Additionally, staff provide opportunities for children to consolidate their learning and test their ideas. For example, after they finish painting the buildings they move to the construction area and attempt to build them using bricks and blocks. Staff make the most of these opportunities to help children extend their vocabulary and language skills. Babies' attempts at communication are quickly and sensitively addressed by staff. For instance, when they become upset and hold out their arms, staff pick them up, cuddle them and gently talk to them.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children display high levels of confidence and self-esteem and are active learners. Flexible and individualised settling-in sessions are used well to ensure that there is a smooth move from home to the setting. This helps promote children's personal, social and emotional development. The key-person system is well established and overall, fosters effective partnerships with parents. Well-established care practices help children learn how to take care of their personal needs, according to their age and stage of development. Children play outside every day, which helps promote their physical development and awareness of how to manage risks safely. For example, during a weekly physical education class children follow simple instructions, such as stop and go and know to form a line and wait for staff before they go inside.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points. They have good independence and social skills. Children are supported by staff to develop their mathematical skills. Older children count during everyday routines and play. Additionally, younger children delight as they push pasta into malleable dough to make a hedgehog and then count the pasta spikes. These experiences also help children to develop their imaginations and critical thinking.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 301659 Local authority Blackburn Inspection number 1063897 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 42 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Little Acorns Nursery BB Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 July 2013 Telephone number 01254 207 261

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reference number

Little Acorns Nursery BB Ltd was registered in 2000. The setting employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 to 6. One member of staff holds qualified teacher status. The setting opens from, Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The setting 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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