Acorn Playgroup

Acorn Playgroup Neston Primary School, Burton Road, Little Neston, NESTON, CH64 9RE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 November 2017 13 November 2014

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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 are friendly, welcoming and respectful. Children settle quickly into the playgroup and have positive relationships with their key person and other staff. Children confidently seek staff out for support, when required.  Staff provide a range of experiences that successfully engages and motivates children. They ask to join in with children's play, follow their interests and ask them thought- provoking questions.  Children benefit from consistent, interesting discussions about how to look after their bodies and make healthy choices.  Staff are well qualified and benefit from professional development that supports and extends their knowledge and skills. The provider regularly observes staff's teaching and gives them feedback to help coach them and improve their practice.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The provider's self-evaluation does not focus sharply enough on evaluating the overall quality of the provision to more specifically target areas for further enhancement.  Leaders do not focus sharply enough on evaluating the progress that children make in the specific areas of learning.

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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 overall quality of the setting incisively to better focus on areas for development  build on the existing procedures for monitoring children's progress to focus more sharply on specific areas of learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the areas of the premises used by the playgroup.  The inspector met with parents to discuss their feedback.  The inspector spoke with the provider to discuss matters relating to leadership and management. She jointly evaluated practice with the provider.  The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas. She spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of staff's suitability, policies and children's records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a good understanding of how to identify concerns relating to children's welfare or the conduct of an adult. They understand how to report such concerns to the correct local agencies to protect children from harm. Staff make good use of risk assessment and discussions with children to help keep them safe. Parents are engaged and involved in children's learning. They have a variety of opportunities to attend sessions, borrow resources and to contribute to children's learning records. Staff make very good use of this information to provide continuity of care and extend children's experiences from home.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Teaching is good. Staff are knowledgeable about how to successfully promote children's learning and development. They provide a good range of adult-led and child-initiated activities that allows children to follow their interests. Staff confidently extend children's thinking skills through effective questioning. Children enjoy engaging in group activities. They sing, copy actions and move their bodies in different ways. Younger children use their senses and creativity to explore malleable dough, paint and foam. Older children play imaginatively, experimenting by constructing with different materials. They are encouraged to discuss and recall stories. They join in excitedly when staff read stories to them in a den. In the outdoor area, children enjoy using large-scale construction toys and developing their physical skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children behave well. Staff make their expectations clear and children respond well to instructions and rules. Children feel secure attending the playgroup and know what to expect from the daily routine. They thoroughly enjoy sitting with their key person at snack times, talking about what they are eating and how this will affect their bodies. Staff make good use of hygiene procedures and incidental opportunities to help children understand how to look after their bodies and manage risks. Children engage in physical exercise in a variety of ways. They enjoy running, dancing and climbing. Children develop positive social relationships. Staff make good use of opportunities for children to explore and understand diversity and difference. Children's own backgrounds and cultures are acknowledged and celebrated.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children progress well from their starting points. Leaders use additional funding effectively to improve outcomes for children. Staff's assessments of children's progress enable them to identify where children require additional support. Children are polite and well mannered. They make independent decisions, such as where they would like to play or the resources they would like to use. Children are willing to try new things and engage in more challenging learning experiences. They are well prepared for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY361455 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 1104665 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Linda Margaret Pritchard

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 13 November 2014 Telephone number 07752 870 607 or 01513382500 ext 4

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reference number

Acorn Playgroup registered at this premises in 2007. The playgroup employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The provider and deputy manager hold qualified teacher status and the provider also holds early years professional status. The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions from Monday to Thursday are from 9am until 3.30pm. On Fridays, sessions are from 9am until midday. The playgroup 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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