Acorn Preschool

Acorn Preschool Holy Rood Church, Gosport Road, Stubbington, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14 2AS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 June 2017 12 May 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

 The manager and staff regularly share information and expertise with parents and other professionals to help provide children with consistent learning opportunities.  Children behave well. Staff support them to understand about fairness, how to share and be kind. For example, older children help their younger friends as they climb the slide and hold their hands when they reach the top.  Children who have special educational needs or those who speak English as an additional language are supported well through a range of helpful strategies by caring staff who develop partnerships with a range of professionals.  Staff engage young children effectively in a wide range of books and develop their early literacy skills well. For example, they enhance traditional nursery tales using props and puppets. Children are excited to join in and learn.  Children are happy and confident. Staff have good relationships with children and have

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This provision is good

a secure knowledge of their interests. This helps children settle quickly and supports their emotional well-being. Children are emotionally ready to learn and progress well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager does not monitor the effectiveness of staff performance rigorously and identify their professional development needs fully, particularly to help staff keep up to date with current best practice  The manager and staff do not consistently promote children's independence as much as possible. For example, they sometimes do things that older children could manage for themselves.

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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

 build on staff monitoring even further to help continually raise the quality of staff practice to the highest level, and particularly to help staff keep up to date with current best practice  provide children with more chances to develop their independence as far as possible before their move on to school.

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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 manager and they discussed their findings.  The inspector discussed planning and children's progress with the key persons and the manager. She discussed staff suitability, qualifications and the nursery's action plan with the manager.  The inspector spoke to staff about their knowledge of child protection and the procedures they follow to keep children safe.  The inspector spent time with and took account of the views of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff are well qualified. They demonstrate good teaching skills and consistently promote children's ongoing learning and progress. For example, additional funding has been used to implement a programme of focused activity groups using simple signs to better support language development for young children. The manager evaluates the strengths and areas of development for the nursery well. She seeks the views of others to continuously make improvements. Safeguarding is effective. Recruitment procedures are robust. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting children's welfare. They know how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to share any information correctly.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their observations to make assessments and plan for children's next steps in learning. They understand the different ways in which children learn, providing good resources, activities and support to meet their individual needs. For example, staff encourage children to count the dinosaurs they find hidden in the sand and promote their creativity through painting and chalk pictures. Staff gather detailed information from parents about children's interests and development at home. They use this well to help them build on children's learning experiences. Staff support children to learn and care about the world around them. For example, children excitedly build houses for bugs and chat about what insects may want to live in them.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff have created a well-resourced and motivating environment. Children independently choose from a good range of resources as they freely initiate their own play. Staff use an established system, such as different signs and symbols, to communicate with all the children. They ensure every child, regardless of age or ability, including those with additional needs, is able to express themselves to staff and each other. This supports their continued sense of security and well-being. Children enjoy the chance to be physically active and take risks in their play. For example, they learn to negotiate and balance on a bridge they make outside from crates and logs.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are motivated to learn and are encouraged to develop a wide range of skills in readiness for school. For example, they practise early writing skills and make marks using water and brushes outside. They happily describe what they have drawn to staff. Children gain a good awareness of themselves and of the similarities and differences between themselves and others. For example, they observe positive images of diversity and choose from a range of multicultural resources, such as books, dolls and puzzles. All children make good progress from when they first start at the setting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110050 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1089059 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Holy Rood Church Centre Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 May 2015 Telephone number 01329 661154 or 07961523738

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reference number

Acorn Preschool registered in 2000. It is located in Stubbington, Hampshire. There are 10 members of staff, of whom eight hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3 and above. The pre-school operates during school term times and opens from 9am to 3.30pm on each weekday except Wednesday, when it opens from 12pm to 3.30pm. The pre- school receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two-, three- and four-years-old.

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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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