Alderton Acorns Pre-school Toddler and Baby Groups

Alderton Acorns Pre- school Toddler and Baby Groups Alderton Village Hall, Dibden Lane, Alderton, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8NT

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 April 2018 18 March 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

 The manager effectively uses observations of staff practice and appraisals to identify training needs. For example, staff have attended training in managing behaviour and are now very confident in handling more-challenging behaviours.  Staff are skilled in supporting children's learning across the curriculum. For example, children learn about texture and shape as they model and paint with sand. Staff and older children use information books to learn about how sand is used around the world.  Staff frequently review practice and take swift action to address problems. For instance, lunchtime was previously confusing for younger children as some children went home. Children now share stories while others leave and staff state there is a calmer start to lunchtime.  Children readily join in shared activities and willingly take turns. For example, at singing time they listen to a hidden instrument and hear that it is a shaker, or bells. They take

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This provision is good

turns to play the instrument while others clap and sing.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 It is not clear when staff have made observations and assessments of children's progress, which can make it difficult to monitor individual children's progress as accurately as possible.

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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

 make it clearer when assessments have been made to improve the monitoring of children's progress.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed care and teaching practice, indoors and outdoors, including completing a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.  The inspector examined a range of documentation, including that relating to statutory requirements.  The inspector held leadership and management discussions with the manager, the pre- school committee chairperson and secretary.  The inspector spoke with children and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff know the signs that would alert them to have concerns for a child and the actions they should take. Staff provide a safe environment and teach children to think about risks. For example, they teach children to take care near stinging nettles or deep water, and when children notice that the slides are wet they quickly fetch cloths to dry them. The manager monitors provision continuously to drive development. For instance, she identified a need to include children's ideas in planning, and introduced effective strategies to support this. Staff now follow children's thinking, and the things which fascinate them, to provide interesting learning opportunities. For instance, children enjoyed pouring and mixing, and so staff created a mud kitchen for further exploration.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children have many opportunities to explore their understanding of the world around them. For example, they learn about where food comes from as they plant, grow and harvest fruit and vegetables, in the garden and on an allotment. Children and staff watch tadpoles as they grow and change into frogs, and then they read about tadpoles and frogs to extend their learning further. Staff carefully ensure that all children are able to follow their preferred way of learning. For example, when children play with small vehicles, staff know that some children want to make long lines for counting and so they provide lots of vehicles. They provide big boxes so that children who prefer more-physical play can readily explore their creativity, for instance, as they make cars and castles.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are very committed to supporting children in developing the independence they will need for school. For instance, they provide small jugs that children can use easily to pour their own drinks. They provide a washing line and pegs, and children take responsibility for hanging up their artwork. Staff develop effective partnerships with parents from the start, asking parents for information on children's likes, dislikes and special requirements. Staff speak frequently with parents, to help them to support children's interests, making links between learning at home and pre-school. Staff work very closely with other professionals, such as health visitors, to support individual children as needed.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children welcome visitors and talk animatedly about their learning. They are sociable and they enjoy sharing their play. For example, they readily divide play dough so that others can also play. Children especially enjoy sharing songs and stories, such as when older children excitedly tell a story from the pictures in a favourite book. Children understand what is expected from them and behave well. For instance, they quickly remember that they need to sit on the big bug mat when they hear the tambourine and see a bug sign.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101702 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1088865 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 12 Name of registered person Alderton Acorns Pre-school Toddler and Baby Groups Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 March 2015 Telephone number 07842 161 159

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reference number

Alderton Acorns Pre-school, Toddler and Baby Group registered in 1994. It is run by a voluntary committee. The group operates on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. The group employs three members of staff, one of whom holds a recognised early years qualification at level 6, one holds a recognised early years qualification at level 4 and one holds a recognised early years qualification at level 3. The group receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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