Little Acorns Nursery

Little Acorns Nursery Stubley Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire, S18 1LS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 1 May 2018 9 February 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 provides strong leadership and clear priorities for future improvements. She empowers her staff to take initiative and make a good contribution to the nursery's positive learning environment.  Staff accurately and precisely assess children's achievement. They use this information well to ensure children make good progress from their individual starting points and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning and development, including starting school.  Staff encourage children to be well behaved and considerate towards others. They provide stimulating activities to promote children's imaginations and inquisitiveness.  Staff help children to live active and healthy lifestyles. The nursery provides healthy and balanced snacks and meals. Children have many opportunities to be physically active.  Parents welcome the regular information and guidance they receive on children's daily

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This provision is good

routines and achievement. They appreciate the attention staff give to providing a safe environment for children to grow and develop in.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not consistently promote the development of children's organisational and independent learning skills.

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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

 strengthen opportunities for children to take responsibility in their play and develop their independent learning skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to the staff and children.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held discussions with the manager. He looked at relevant documentation, such as the evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. There are robust procedures to check staff are suitable to work with children. Staff are trained in child protection and their knowledge is robust and up to date. All staff are qualified in paediatric first aid. The manager consults closely with staff, parents and children to evaluate the nursery's effectiveness and plan further developments. There are good procedures to improve staff's performance. The nursery makes positive use of training opportunities to improve, for example, the effectiveness of assessments and planning and the development of children's mathematical skills. The nursery makes good links with other early years settings children attend. This supports their smooth transition on to school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff work well with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, to identify and address any gaps in children's learning. They promote children's listening and communication development well, including those children who speak English as an additional language. Staff help to strengthen children's vocabulary and sentence structure through skilful questioning and participation in children's role play. Staff encourage children to develop their thinking and problem-solving skills. For example, babies are helped to balance objects on top of each other to build towers with their construction toys. Children's early writing skills are promoted well.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff help children to understand the needs of others. For example, they encourage them to express their thoughts and ideas when they listen to stories or look at pictures. Children are helped to understand the importance of sharing and taking turns. Staff make good use of praise and encouragement to help children recognise their strengths and support them to overcome difficulties, such as a lack of self-confidence. Staff promote children's awareness of healthy lifestyles and good hygiene procedures. Children wash their hands with care and make sure they are dry before eating their lunch. They plant their own fruit and vegetables and tend them until they are ready to pick and eat.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their mathematical skills and vocabulary. For example, they identify a range of shapes and use them to create interesting printed patterns. They compare the heights of the models they build in their construction play. Children develop their communication and early language skills well. Their early reading and writing skills are promoted strongly. Children learn to follow instructions and engage in regular routines, such as registration and tidying and counting games. Older children make good progress in recognising the sounds different letters represent and identifying them in their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY332334 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 1092685 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 0 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Indra Kumari Athi

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 February 2015 Telephone number 01246 299750

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reference number

Little Acorns Nursery registered in 2006. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or higher, including one with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for 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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