The Acorn Nursery School

The Acorn Nursery School 2 Lansdowne Crescent, London, W11 2NH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 June 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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 Relationships between staff, parents and children are very respectful. Children make friends and play happily. Their behaviour is excellent.  Staff know children remarkably well and help them settle quickly into daily routines. Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points and capabilities. They are well prepared for the next stages in their learning or for starting school.  Older children have wonderful opportunities to learn letters and the sounds they represent. They recognise simple words and develop their early writing skills.  Children thoroughly enjoy their learning in the nursery. For example, during assembly, they engage very well in multicultural songs and rhymes with their friends, parents and staff, and learn about the wider world around them.  Staff work well with parents and outside professionals to ensure a joined-up approach to supporting children's learning and development.

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This provision is good

 Managers continually assess and evaluate the quality of the provision to ensure that children achieve well and reach their potential.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not provide a high level of challenge in activities to fully support children's language development and stretch their thinking 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

 provide a high level of challenge in activities to aid children's language and thinking further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in all parts of the nursery, including the outdoor provision.  The inspector spoke to some members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held meetings with the nursery management team.  The inspector conducted joint observations with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection and reviewed parents' written comments and suggestions.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation and the nursery's policies and procedures, including those related to the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider undertakes robust recruitment and induction procedures to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding requirements. For example, they update their safeguarding training regularly and know about the correct procedures to follow if they have any welfare concerns. Managers observe staff regularly and give them constructive feedback to help them improve. Staff attend training and share their good practice with colleagues to benefit children's learning. Managers take into account the views and comments of staff, parents, children and outside professionals to provide a good service.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff collate relevant information from parents, such as during settling-in visits and through their ongoing observations of children's play. They provide a range of stimulating activities and resources to motivate children to learn. Children are very excited to try new activities and tools. For example, they experiment with different paint colours, create colourful pictures of spider webs and spiders, and talk about their shapes and colours. They use straws to blow bubbles, and make good comments on their sizes and movements. Children enjoy sharing books with their friends and talk about their favourite pictures and characters.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

The calm learning environment and exceptional arrangements to care for children fully support their personal development and well-being. Staff are excellent examples for children. For instance, they encourage positive and safe behaviour among children. Children form happy friendships, share resources fairly and take turns. They are courteous to each other, staff and visitors, and support each other. Children have an excellent knowledge of healthy living. For instance, they know that fruit and milk are good for them and are aware of the impact of food allergies on health and well-being. They learn to care for the environment, such as recycling resources. Children become increasingly independent, for example, they help themselves to resources, serve their own snacks and attend to their personal hygiene. Staff conduct thorough regular checks on the premises and resources to help children manage risks appropriate to their age.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress and any gaps in learning are closing rapidly. For example, they listen attentively and respond well to instructions. Older children learn to count objects, recognise numerals and develop the necessary skills to solve problems. They climb apparatus, slide or jump safely. Children experiment by mixing water with sugar and observe the changes that happen to sugar when it dissolves in water.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY489155 Local authority Kensington & Chelsea Inspection number 1014122 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 56 Number of children on roll 102 Name of registered person Notting Hill Preparatory School Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 020 7727 2122

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reference number

Acorn Nursery School registered in 2015. It is situated in the Notting Hill area, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The nursery is open each weekday from 9am to 4pm and operates during school term time only. There are 19 members of staff, 15 of whom hold relevant early years qualifications ranging from levels 3 to level 7.

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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

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