Acorn Community Nursery

Acorn Community Nursery Kingshead Close, Castlefields, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2JE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 October 2017 13 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

 Staff have created a well-planned and resourced learning environment that successfully facilitates children's decision making, independence and self-care skills.  Staff are knowledgeable and understand how to promote different areas of learning. They accurately assess children's development and provide learning experiences to support their overall progress.  Children settle well and develop good relationships with staff. They get to know children well and promote positive behaviour. Children demonstrate good social skills and a developing understanding of turn taking.  Children's progress is regularly monitored and evaluated by leaders. They quickly seek interventions for children who require additional support. Partnership working with parents and other agencies is effective to support continuity of care.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The manager's systems to supervise and support staff do not focus sharply enough on evaluating and enhancing their teaching skills.  Staff do not always make effective use of opportunities to follow children's emerging interests during focused activities.

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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

 evaluate the quality and impact of teaching more incisively to further improve outcomes for children  make more effective use of children's emerging interests during adult-led activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the premises used for childcare purposes.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times. She observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas. The inspector evaluated the impact of teaching on children's learning.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to on the day.  The inspector met with the manager to review and discuss relevant documentation including evidence of staff qualifications and the nursery's self-evaluation form.  The inspector jointly evaluated practice with the nursery manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Leaders aspire to provide a high-quality service for children and their families. They regularly devise action plans to enhance and improve the nursery. The established staff team is well qualified. They benefit from opportunities to engage in training and professional development that refresh their existing skills. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff understand how to identify and report concerns relating to children's welfare. Staff communicate with parents effectively and use a variety of strategies to engage parents in their children's learning. Parents provide positive feedback about staff's relationships with their children and how welcoming and supportive they find the nursery.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a clear understanding of how children learn. They support children to engage in a range of activities that supports children's development in all areas of learning. Staff regularly observe children and make good use of what they know from observation to assess children's current stage of development. They use this, and information from parents, to provide developmentally appropriate and stimulating activities. Babies, for example, explore cause and effect using pop-up toys, or by knocking down towers of blocks. Young children guess or recall what happens next in familiar stories and contribute to group discussions. Older children enthusiastically engage in imaginative play as they pretend to cook food for staff in the outdoor area.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle quickly into the nursery and develop good bonds with their key person and other staff. Staff are positive role models and help children to understand good behaviour. They provide opportunities for children to learn about difference, diversity and the wider world. Children enjoy engaging in physical exercise. For example, they pretend to be aeroplanes in the outdoor area and go on holidays to different parts of the garden. Children are encouraged to make healthy choices and hygiene routines are well embedded. Staff use risk assessment to minimise and remove hazards. Children show a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they willingly hold hands with other children as they move through the nursery.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are progressing well from their individual starting points. Children who require additional support are quickly identified and effective interventions are implemented. Children are developing independence. Older children listen to adults and willingly follow instructions. Staff make good use of opportunities to increase children's early mathematical skills, for example, as they talk about quantity and weight. Staff work well with other settings to support children as they prepare to move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 303430 Local authority Halton Inspection number 1090564 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 - 10 Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Astmoor Community Project

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 May 2015 Telephone number 01928 576 369

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reference number

Acorn Community Nursery registered in 2000. The nursery employs 18 members of childcare staff, of these all hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks each year, excluding bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm, including out of school provision. The nursery 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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