Acorn at Oakley Vale

Acorn at Oakley Vale Oakley Vale Primary School, Cheltenham Road, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN18 8RH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 November 2017 31 March 2014

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Not applicable

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The manager does not monitor closely enough to identify where individual staff require support and coaching to raise their practice and understanding to a consistently good level.  Staff do not always consider how activities can be reshaped to improve them. As a result, children sometimes lose interest in the activities on offer.  Staff do not always promptly reshape activities to engage children effectively.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and settled at club. They enjoy their play. Children have good relationships with staff, some of whom they know from school.  Parents comment that they are very happy with the care provided. They say that children enjoy their time at club and that staff keep them safe and look after them.  Children enjoy plenty of time outdoors. They benefit from fresh air and exercise after a long day at school.  Staff act as good role models. They teach children to share resources and to be kind to each other. Children are building strong friendships within the club.  Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks and foods while they are at the club.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve arrangements to identify where individual staff require support and coaching to improve their practice. 31/12/2017

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Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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Due Date

 enhance the two-way flow of information with school staff so that experiences provided complement individual children's learning  help staff to improve their understanding of how activities can be reshaped to engage children effectively.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a suitable understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse, and they know who to contact if they are concerned about a child's welfare. The manager supports staff generally well, through ongoing staff meetings and appraisals. However, she does not fully target some individual staff practice or knowledge to ensure that they increase their expertise in all areas of their professional development. For example, although all staff have completed recent training on the 'Prevent' duty, some staff knowledge is not good enough. The manager ensures that the premises are safe and secure for children. She ensures that staff are deployed effectively throughout the setting. The manager checks staff suitability to ensure all staff working with the children are suitable to do so. The manager uses self-evaluation to improve practice. For example, she has recently introduced new resources to promote children's

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff provide activities which generally interest children. However, at times staff do not always reshape activities to maintain children's interest and focus for longer periods of time. Staff get regular updates from school teachers about topics which are being covered in class. However, they do not always obtain information about individual children's learning at school so that they can enhance the activities on offer at the club. Even so, children are warmly welcomed into a large relaxed classroom, where they can independently choose where they want to play. Children have recently shown an interest in puppets. Staff have helped them to build a puppet theatre so that they can put on shows for their friends. Staff provide children with opportunities to go outdoors and play games, run freely and create their own play. Children are able to use equipment, such as balls, hoops and beanbags, to promote their physical skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The weakness in some staff's knowledge and skills has a negative impact on the overall effectiveness of how children's welfare is promoted. Nonetheless, children are happy and settled at the club. Staff know the children very well and chat happily to them about their day when they arrive in the club. Children follow good hygiene practices with minimal support and manage their personal needs well. Children learn about keeping themselves safe and know they must inform a member of staff if they wish to leave the room to visit the toilet and make them aware of their return. Snack time is a positive social experience for children. They sit together with their friends and exchange news about their day at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY462332 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 1088147 Type of provision Out of school provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 4 - 5 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 7 Name of registered person Acorn Early Years Foundation

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 31 March 2014 Telephone number 07714133327

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reference number

Acorn at Oakley Vale re-registered in 2013. It operates from a classroom on school premises and is managed by Acorn Childcare 2. The club operates during term time, Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 8.45am and from 3.30pm to 6pm.

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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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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