Acorn Childcare Centre

Acorn Childcare Centre MALCOLM SARGENT PRIMARY SCHOOL, Empingham Road, Stamford, PE9 2SR

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 May 2018 3 April 2014

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Children are confident, motivated and enjoy exploring the environment, indoors and outdoors. They select resources to support their interests, demonstrating their independence.  The quality of teaching is consistently good and children are supported well. Children make good progress in their learning and development.  The manager and staff continually evaluate the practice in the nursery. They accurately identify aspects for improvement to support the ongoing development of the nursery. Recent changes enable children to enjoy more learning opportunities.  Partnerships with parents are good. Staff invite parents to access information about their children's learning on the electronic program used by the nursery. This helps parents to continue to support their children's learning at home.  Staff support children who have a special educational needs (SEN) and/or disability very well. They include them in all activities and work well with other professionals to

p.1

This provision is good

support children's developing communication and language skills.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss opportunities during activities to challenge and extend children's learning.  Staff do not make the most of all opportunities to help older children to gain a deeper understanding of online safety when using technology.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 make the best use of all opportunities to provide high-quality teaching to challenge and extend children's learning  increase opportunities for older children to develop a greater understanding of online safety.

p.2

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 with children and staff during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager effectively monitors the progress made by individual and groups of children. This helps her to support key persons with their key children's individual learning needs. She identifies improvements to the environment to help extend children's understanding of electronic toys. Safeguarding is effective. Staff know the possible signs that a child is potentially at risk of harm. The manager supports staff well through supervisory meetings. Staff attend training to give them the skills and knowledge to use sign language with all children to support their good communication and language skills. Staff work well with the host school. They take children to use their facilities, such as the garden and school hall, helping children to be ready for their eventual move on to school.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are well-qualified and have a good understanding of how children learn through play. Observation and assessment are used well to identify what children need to learn next. Staff help babies to learn about what plants need to grow. Children help staff to plant and water flowers. Older children have plenty of opportunities to develop their creative skills. Staff provide opportunities for them to paint using a wide range of tools. Children learn about how colours can be mixed and recognise that blue and red make purple. Staff encourage older children to develop their mathematical skills. They use language, such as 'one more' and 'how many'. Children count the number of beads they thread onto a lace and recognise how many more they need to make five.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Settling-in arrangements are adapted to meet children's individual needs and parents' wishes. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and are emotionally secure. Staff gather information from parents about children's individual care routines and prior abilities when they start. Children behave well. Staff give children gentle reminders, such as to use 'walking feet inside', to promote positive behaviour. Staff encourage children to share and take turns when they play alongside them. Children develop an awareness of the wider world. Staff arrange for visitors to help older children learn different languages, such as Italian, French and Mandarin. Children begin to say single words in other languages.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children of all abilities make good progress from their starting points in learning and some make better than good progress. This includes children who receive funded sessions. Children are confident communicators, follow instructions and learn key skills in readiness for future learning. They climb on planks of wood to develop their balance and coordination. Children learn about how to care for animals. Children pet the nursery rabbit and help staff to feed it. Younger children demonstrate good hand-to-eye coordination. They put pegs into a board, showing great concentration and perseverance.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY466379 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 1088183 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 - 11 Total number of places 96 Number of children on roll 293 Name of registered person Acorn Childcare Centre Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 April 2014 Telephone number 01780766493

p.4

reference number

Acorn Childcare Centre registered in 2013. The nursery employs 24 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It offers out-of-school provision during the holidays and before- and after-school clubs during term time.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5