Acorns Day Nursery

Acorns Day Nursery Acorns Nursery/Sevenoaks Primary School, Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3LB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 March 2017 18 February 2015

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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

 Parents welcome the frequent opportunities they have to contribute to, and discuss, their child's assessment records. They value the detailed information they receive about their child's progress and development.  Children have strong and secure relationships with their key worker and this helps to support their self-confidence and sense of emotional well-being.  When children start at the nursery, staff work with parents to establish what children know and can do. From this point, staff make regular observations, identify next steps and plan appropriate activities to enable children to make good progress in their learning.  Children freely and confidently choose toys and activities from the wide range available.  The manager provides good support to staff. For example, there are frequent meetings to discuss their practice and training needs. Staff are encouraged to extend their knowledge and teaching skills to improve outcomes for children. They routinely observe

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not make the most of all opportunities to consistently challenge children to extend their learning even further.  Sometimes, children do not have a wide enough range of opportunities to recognise that print carries meaning, to help them develop their early reading skills even further.

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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

 extend children's learning even further by making the most of all opportunities to consistently challenge them  develop more opportunities for children to recognise that print carries meaning to extend further children's early reading skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of all members of staff.  The inspector carried out joint observations of children’s activities with the deputy manager and discussed the learning that took place.  The inspector held discussions about safeguarding procedures with the manager and with other members of staff.  The inspector read the comments of parents and took account of their views.  The inspector held a meeting with the management team.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff know how to keep children safe from harm. They know who to contact if they have concerns about a child's safety or welfare. Self-evaluation is accurate and includes the views of parents, children and staff. For example, parents have made suggestions about improvements to the outside area, such as using technology to observe birds hatch. The premises are checked daily and prompt actions are taken to minimise risks to children. For instance, an adult always supervises the climbing frame. Children's progress is monitored regularly. Any potential delays in their development are highlighted and swift action taken to enable children to catch up with their peers.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children's physical development is well supported. They climb the steps to the slide, roll and catch balls and enjoy woodland walks in the fresh air to explore the natural environment. Children's creative skills are effectively developed as they create their own rhythms in a music session. Staff help to support children's understanding of mathematical ideas and vocabulary. Children learn to create charts of their favourite pets, begin to compare objects by their size and count accurately. There is effective communication with other settings that children attend, including schools. Information about children's achievements is shared with other professionals and this helps to support continuity in children's learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well and follow established routines. At lunchtime, children wait for everyone to serve themselves before they start eating. They have a thorough understanding of good hygiene practice. They know they must have clean hands before they help to prepare the salad for tea. Children are encouraged to be independent. For example, staff effectively help and support them to successfully fasten buttons and zips. Children have a wide range of opportunities to recognise the differences and similarities between themselves and others. They learn about guide dogs for the deaf and blind, practise writing messages using Chinese symbols and enjoy Chinese food as part of their celebrations of Chinese New Year.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn the skills they need to make a smooth transfer to the next stage of their education, including school. Children develop the skills they need for early writing. The older children can write their own names and use tools safely and effectively. They learn to recognise common, basic shapes and independently manage their own personal care. Children learn to communicate effectively. For instance, staff repeat words and phrases back to children to encourage good pronunciation.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 126962 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1085725 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 39 Number of children on roll 61 Name of registered person Company Child Care Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 February 2015 Telephone number 01732 459162

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reference number

Acorns Nursery registered in 1990. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free education to children aged three and four years. There are 14 members of staff qualified to level 3. The nursery practice leader holds a first class honours degree in early education, with early years professional status.

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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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