Little Acorns Pre-School

Little Acorns Pre-School Whitby Methodist Church, Bridge Meadow, Great Sutton, ELLESMERE PORT, CH66 2LF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 February 2018 19 April 2017

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision is inadequate

 The provider has not ensured that staff have a good enough understanding of their responsibilities with regard to the 'Prevent' duty guidance.  The provider's supervision of staff is not rigorous enough to ensure that teaching is fully effective.  Staff do not ensure that activities are suitably challenging enough. They do not make the best use of opportunities to extend what children already know and can do.  Leaders do not monitor the quality of staff's assessments of children's progress rigorously enough.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff have positive relationships with children and know them well. Children enter the pre-school happily and select the resources they would like to play with.  Children play well alongside one another. Staff help them to understand right from wrong and take turns with popular resources.

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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

 ensure that staff have a good awareness of the 'Prevent' duty guidance 13/03/2018

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Due Date

 develop effective supervision procedures to promote the continual development of staff's knowledge and skills, to improve the quality of teaching 03/04/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that all children are provided with challenging learning experiences to promote their good progress. 24/04/2018

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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

 monitor staff's assessments of children's progress more rigorously.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector reviewed parents' written comments and feedback.  The inspector met with the provider to discuss matters relating to leadership, including the pre-school's self-evaluation form, their policies and evidence of professional development for staff.  The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas. She carried out a joint evaluation the quality of practice with the provider.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She reviewed children's records and other documentation, including evidence of staff's suitability and their qualifications.  The inspector had a tour of the areas of the premises used for childcare purposes.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. Staff do not demonstrate a good level of understanding of how to identify if a child is at risk of being exposed to extreme views. This compromises children's welfare. That said, staff use risk assessment appropriately to promote children's physical safety. Leaders are suitably qualified, and the provider has ensured there is at least one member of staff on the premises at all times with a valid paediatric first-aid qualification. Staff have had access to some training, for example, food safety and behaviour management. However, leaders' procedures for supervising staff are not effective enough to help continuously develop staff's knowledge and skills to a good level. Leaders also do not monitor the quality of staff's assessment of children's learning closely enough to ensure this information is accurate and can be used effectively. Parents feel that staff's care and attention have had a positive impact on children's self-confidence.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff are suitably experienced for their roles and demonstrate an appropriate understanding of how children learn. However, they do not make best use of what they know about children's development to provide suitably challenging learning experiences that effectively promote their progress. Nevertheless, children generally enjoy planned learning experiences as staff often use what they know about children's interests to involve them in activities. For example, younger children enjoy exploring play dough, using tools to make shapes and mix different colours. Older children match written numbers with number cards adorned with their favourite characters on the wall as they prepare to line up to use the bathroom. Staff work well in partnership with parents and other agencies to share information about children and promote continuity of care.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Children's safety is not assured due to weaknesses in staff's safeguarding knowledge. Nevertheless, children who are new to the pre-school quickly develop bonds with their key person and other staff. Staff get to know children well as they seek appropriate information from parents prior to children starting at the pre-school. Children are encouraged to follow appropriate hygiene procedures during the day, such as washing their hands before having a snack or after playing in the sand pit. Staff provide opportunities for children to participate in dance sessions and other exercise in the indoor and outdoor areas, to promote their good physical health. Staff help children understand the diversity of the wider world.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Weaknesses in teaching mean that children do not make the best possible progress. Despite this, they are gaining the basic skills that help to prepare them for their future learning. For example, older children begin to recognise written letters and numbers. They use good manners and can ask for help from adults. Older children play well alongside others and have appropriate social skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 305155 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 1097397 Type of provision Sessional 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 30 Number of children on roll 21 Name of registered person Christine Shane Bellis

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 April 2017 Telephone number 07801 332 497

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reference number

Little Acorns Pre-School registered in 1964. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions on Monday and Friday are from 9am until midday. Sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are from 9am until 3.30pm. The pre-school 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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