Little Acorns

Little Acorns Baptist Church, South Street, BRIERLEY HILL, West Midlands DY5 2RR

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Inspection date 9 October 2018 Previous inspection date 9 July 2014

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3

Effectiveness of leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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The provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

n Staff do not provide a daily record of children's attendance that includes children's hours of attendance. n Staff do not consider the opportunities that arise to encourage parents to support their children's learning at home or to regularly share what they know about their children's achievements.

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It has the following strengths

n Children build secure attachments with staff. They seek out staff for help and reassurance when needed. Staff respond positively to children. They are kind and show that they respect children's wishes and feelings. n The environment is welcoming. Children can select a variety of resources for themselves so that they can direct their own play. Children enjoy their time at the playgroup and behave well. n Staff encourage children's communication and language development well. For example, they use strategies such as questioning and repetition to promote this. n Staff plan a range of interesting and challenging activities that covers the different areas of learning effectively and meets the needs of all children.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date update attendance records to include details of children's arrival and departure times. 10/10/2018

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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

n find more ways to encourage parents to support and extend their children's learning at home and to share their observations of their children's achievements in order to enhance children's progress.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the playgroup manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the playgroup manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup. n The inspector viewed written feedback from parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. There are robust recruitment and vetting systems to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff have a secure knowledge of the possible signs of abuse and neglect and know the procedures to follow if they have a concern. However, attendance records do not meet requirements. They do not include hours of attendance to show when children arrive late or leave early, to fully promote their welfare. The managers monitor staff performance through working alongside them and through supervisory sessions to identify areas for improvement and training needs. Self-evaluation involves the staff team and helps to identify areas for development. The management team tracks children's progress. This enables it to identify any particular needs and gaps in children's learning so that these areas can be targeted. Partnerships with parents are mostly effective, as staff share information about children's progress

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Effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement

with them and develop good relationships.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are well qualified and understand how children learn. They observe and assess children's development and use the information gathered to plan activities and support children's next steps in learning. Staff ensure that the playgroup environment is well organised and that activities are interesting for children. Children enjoy and are absorbed in both free-choice and planned activities. Staff effectively use their knowledge of how children learn in their ongoing interactions. They introduce resources, make suggestions, provide simple explanations and skilfully question children. For example, staff help children to count objects, use new vocabulary and share stories. Staff help younger children to explore the textures of autumnal objects, adapting play to meet individual needs.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

The weakness in record-keeping does not fully support children's welfare. That said, staff are deployed well to supervise children to help keep them safe. Children are encouraged to eat healthily and to develop good hygiene habits. Staff are good role models for children. They consistently implement the playgroup's rules and boundaries. Children learn from staff. They share resources and are kind to their friends. Children quickly become confident and develop good self-esteem. They enjoy performing familiar songs at group time. Children learn about diversity and the wider world. Staff ensure that children's backgrounds and cultures are respected. They work in partnership with parents to help children during important stages in their development, such as toilet- training and managing behaviour. This effectively promotes continuity of care.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points. They are eager to explore their environment and to develop their own ideas. Children like doing things for themselves, are curious learners and engage well in activities. They develop skills that are needed for the next stage in their learning, including their eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY455872 Local authority Dudley Inspection number 10069293 Type of provision Sessional day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 12 Name of registered person Little Acorns Playgroup Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 July 2014 Telephone number 07444009079

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reference number

Little Acorns registered in 2013. The playgroup employs three members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The playgroup opens from Monday to Wednesday during term times. Sessions are from 9.15am until 2.15pm. The playgroup 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.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.

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