Acorn at Oakley Vale

Acorn at Oakley Vale Oakley Vale Primary School, Cheltenham Road, CORBY, Northamptonshire NN18 8RH

p.1

Inspection date 25 September 2018 Previous inspection date 27 November 2017

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires improvement Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Not Applicable

p.1

The provision is good

n The new manager uses self-evaluation successfully to identify and make positive changes that enhance children's experiences at the club. For example, changes to how equipment is stored have increased opportunities for children to select resources themselves and make choices about what they want to use and play with. n Staff provide a welcoming, stimulating environment for children, with resources and activities that reflect the interests and needs of the various ages of children attending. Children are well motivated, purposefully engaged and enjoy their time at the club. n Children behave very well at the club. They understand the daily routines and the expectations for their behaviour. They form positive relationships with staff and one another. Older and younger children play together well. The atmosphere in the club is calm, happy and relaxed. n Staff use a range of successful strategies to enable a three-way sharing of information

p.1

The provision is good

between the club, school staff and parents about children's individual needs. These partnerships help to promote consistency in children's experiences, care and learning. Parents are very happy with the service the club provides.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

n At times, staff do not fully support children to think, reflect and express their thoughts and ideas. n Arrangements for the ongoing professional development of staff are not focused sharply on raising the quality of their interactions with children to the highest level.

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

n extend opportunities for children to reflect, describe and share their ideas, building further on their thinking and communication skills n build on current opportunities for the professional development of staff, focusing more sharply on continuing to raise the quality of their interactions with children.

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed activities and the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the club manager and discussed self- evaluation with her. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the club. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views. She spoke with staff and children during the inspection.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The new manager is very committed to making sure that the club runs as well as possible. Since taking up her post, she has worked hard to improve the service provided for children and their families. She gains the views of parents and children, using these to inform the decisions she makes about ways to continue developing the provision. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff understand their responsibility to monitor children's welfare and report any concerns that a child may be at risk of harm. Through supervision and staff meetings, the manager checks that staff understand training they have completed, for instance, relating to the wider aspects of safeguarding. She provides good support for all staff, particularly those who are new, and she nurtures a positive sense of team working within the staff.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff organise themselves effectively, sitting with children at activities and generally joining in well with their play. They understand that children benefit from and enjoy experiences that involve exploration and investigation. For example, they provide interesting resources for children to use to make potions. Children thoroughly enjoy mixing coloured water, glitter, shaving foam and herbs, such as mint and rosemary. They use syringes, spoons and jugs as they experiment, and staff encourage them to use their senses, for instance, to smell the various herbs. Children become engrossed for extended periods of time as they use brushes to carefully dust away soil as they hunt for toy fossils and bones buried in it. They decide to add some toy animals and delight in burying and uncovering them. Staff extend this play, providing clay so that children can make models of dinosaurs.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The effective key-person system contributes to the good relationships that are established between staff, children and their families. Staff take time to get to know children's interests, personalities and background. They support new children to settle in and help them to become familiar with the routines, feel safe and gain confidence at the club. Staff provide healthy snacks and light meals, and children have opportunities to play outdoors, contributing to a healthy lifestyle. Staff support children in continuing to gain skills that they need for their education. For example, children develop their dexterity and physical skills as they use a range of tools and equipment, inside and outdoors. They build on their social skills as they interact with peers and children of different ages. Staff make sure that children are happy and play in safety at the club.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY462332 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 10077452 Type of provision Out-of-school day care

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 4 - 11 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Acorn Early Years Foundation

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 27 November 2017 Telephone number 07714133327

p.4

reference number

Acorn at Oakley Vale re-registered in 2013. It operates from school premises and is one of a number of settings run by Acorn Early Years Foundation. The club employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate qualification at level 3 and two at level 2. The club opens Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 7.45am until 8.40am and from 3.30pm until 6pm.

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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

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 monthly newsletter for more information and updates: www.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5