Acorn Grove Nursery

Acorn Grove Nursery Woodville Children's Centre, Shirley Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M8 0NE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 January 2018 4 August 2017

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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 new manager and experienced leadership team are passionate about providing children and families with the best possible early years provision. They reflect well on their practice and have worked hard to raise standards. There has been a significant improvement since the last inspection.  The key-person system is highly effective. Transitions are very well planned for. Caring staff take time to get to know all children and families. Children settle well in the homely environment. They display strong emotional well-being, confidence and are very happy.  Children are keen and curious learners. They enjoy interesting activities and experiences. Overall, all children make good progress from their starting points.  Staff work well with external agencies. Together they provide excellent support for children who have special educational needs/and or disabilities. Staff work closely with the children's centre. They encourage parents to access the many services on offer.

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This provision is good

 Bilingual staff talk to children, who speak English as an additional language, in their home language and English. All children, including those in receipt of additional funding develop good speaking skills and they communicate well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff fail to adapt teaching and fully challenge and extend children's learning to help them to achieve the very best progress possible.  The system for staff support and mentoring is not yet fully embedded to help staff to achieve outstanding, rather than good teaching.  There is scope to communicate with and engage parents even more fully in their children's 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

 focus more closely on supporting the individual skills and capabilities of all children to help them to make the very best progress possible  embed the newly introduced systems for staff support that help them to strengthen their already good teaching skills  strengthen communication with parents and fully promote their involvement in children's learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector toured all areas of the nursery. She observed the quality of teaching and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector held a meeting with the children's service manager, nursery manager and deputy manager and carried out an evaluation of teaching with the deputy manager.  The inspector spoke to the head of the children's centre and the nursery's special educational needs coordinator, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as policies and procedures, risk assessments, children's records, reviewed the nursery's self-evaluation and checked evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector took account of the views of parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Leaders ensure that all staff are trained in child protection procedures and know what to do should they have concerns about children's welfare. Robust policies and procedures are embedded and understood by all staff. Children are well protected. For example, daily risk assessments are completed. This helps staff to identify and minimise any potential hazards and allows children to play and explore safely. The new manager provides good support and regular training for staff. Overall, this helps them to enhance their knowledge and skills. For example, they have recently completed training designed to support children's communication and language skills. This has helped staff to continue to meet children's needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Well-qualified staff understand how young children learn through play. They use their skills and knowledge generally well, to plan experiences that ignite children's enthusiasm and thirst for learning. Children develop mathematical awareness, staff encourage this by introducing mathematical language. Staff use words, such as 'more', 'big' and 'small' as children make dough. Younger children repeat the words and count scoops of flour and bottles of food colouring. Older children use mathematical terms as they talk about adding more water from the heavy jug. Children have many opportunities to explore using their senses. For example, they delight in feeling the texture of glittery jelly, manipulate dough and experiment using paint. Furthermore, they visit the sensory room in the children's centre and experience a stimulating range of lights and sounds.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff help to support children's physical health and well-being. Children have daily opportunities to explore outdoors in the fresh air. They capably put on wellies to go outside and they are physically active in all weathers. Staff reinforce positive hygiene routines. They teach children the benefits of making healthy food choices. For example, during the weekly outing to the local shop, staff and children buy nutritious snacks. Staff are positive role models who reinforce the nursery's golden rules. Children's efforts are praised and behaviour is very good. Even children who are non-verbal understand the behavioural expectations and what will happen next. For example, staff use pictures and visual clues to inform children of any changes in routine.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children demonstrate a strong sense of belonging and self-esteem. They arrive happy and quickly find their name cards on a self-registration board. Younger children interact positively with their older peers. Children are confident and lead their own play. For example, resources are all accessible and they make independent choices. Children develop good literacy skills. For example, staff encourage children to form letters and they practise writing their name. Furthermore, children choose books from the library to read at home. This helps them to be well prepared for future learning in school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY280214 Local authority Manchester Inspection number 1111410 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 65 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 August 2017 Telephone number 0161 740 5687

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reference number

Acorn Grove Nursery registered in 2005 and is operated by the Pre-School Learning Alliance. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and level 3, including the manager who holds a qualification at level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8.30am until 5pm. 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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