Little Acorns Day Nursery and Montessori School

Little Acorns Day Nursery and Montessori School 208b Broadway, Yaxley, PETERBOROUGH PE7 3NT

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Inspection date 10 December 2018 Previous inspection date 7 April 2014

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive outstanding support from caring, knowledgeable and dedicated staff. Exceptional partnerships with parents and other agencies help children to achieve incredibly well, given their starting points. n Staff use their in-depth knowledge of each child's interests and aptitudes to plan successfully for what children need to learn next. Children are extremely well-prepared to move on to the next stage of their learning, including, eventually, school. n The leadership team gives partnerships with parents the highest priority. They provide many opportunities for parents to understand their children's learning and share in their experiences at nursery. Parents say they are impressed with their key person's knowledge of their children. They express delight in the warm and caring environment staff provide. Staff strive to engage even more successfully with every parent.

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This provision is outstanding

n Children learn to behave exceptionally well. Older children, in particular, work independently, share their games and play fairly with others. Throughout the nursery, children thrive and have enormous fun. n The owner is passionate in her pursuit of excellence. She and her leadership team monitor children's progress and the effectiveness of the provision extremely well. They have an accurate understanding of where further improvements could be made to secure even higher outcomes for children.

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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 continue to explore highly effective ways to engage more closely with those parents who are harder to reach.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed staff's teaching practice and their interactions with children to evaluate the impact these have on children's learning. She carried out a joint observation with the deputy. n The inspector looked at all areas of the nursery and the resources available to the children. She spoke to children and staff in the course of the inspection. n The inspector had meetings with the manager, who is also the owner, and the deputy manager to look at and discuss management processes. n The inspector sampled documents, such as evidence of the suitability of staff, children's records, attendance registers and some policies and procedures. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussion, telephone conversations and written feedback.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff have a thorough understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. All aspects of children's safety are considered very well. Adult-to-child ratios are consistently maintained, and staff deploy themselves effectively to support children and keep them safe. Staff demonstrate a confident understanding of how to deal with any concerns about a child's welfare. Managers provide exceptional support that helps staff to gain knowledge and confidence. As a result, staff have the skills they need to deliver high quality learning experiences for children. They have enthusiasm for training that is firmly focused on children's needs. For example, after recognising some older children lacked interest in mathematics they have researched how to have fun with numbers. Managers and staff monitor their teaching practice carefully. They routinely observe each other's teaching styles to learn from each other.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

This has helped to create highly consistent teamwork across the nursery. Partnerships with other settings children attend and local schools are very well-established.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff have exceptional skills in leading and extending children's learning. They expertly develop children's language through meaningful and engaging conversations. Staff foster children's love of books. They make story time exciting and give children time to explore the pictures and talk about what happens next. Children develop a broad knowledge of their own community. They frequently walk to shops, parks and local attractions. Visitors, such as exotic animals and their handlers, come into the nursery to expand children's understanding of the wider world. Staff skilfully introduce mathematical concepts into children's play as, for example, they count the stripes on a toy tiger.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff provide children with a wonderfully warm and welcoming environment. They greet children with obvious pleasure and positively reassure those who are settling in. Children form excellent relationships with their key person and other staff. They demonstrate high levels of confidence and self-assurance. They engage readily with visitors, ask questions and speak with assurance. Children thoroughly enjoy their outdoor play experiences. Staff encourage children to be active and engage them in cooperative play, such as ball games. They play alongside the children to motivate them to join in with activities, such as having fun with pretend snow. Children's independence is impressive. For example, they scrape their plates after dinner and are highly competent at putting away their toys.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Additional funding is spent well. Staff work closely with parents to agree the best possible strategies to help all children achieve well, given their starting points. Children of all ages demonstrate they are keen to learn. They enjoy small-group activities and join in with enthusiasm. Older children write their names on their artwork and access books with pleasure. They competently use a blackboard to draw out their ideas after a group session exploring toy animals. Young children independently find their coats and shoes for playing outside. Children of all ages become highly confident communicators and are eager for new challenges.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY409528 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10086381 Type of provision Full day care Registers Early Years Register

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Day care type

Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 64 Number of children on roll 135 Name of registered person Little Acorn Day Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 7 April 2014 Telephone number 01733 244000

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reference number

Little Acorns Day Nursery and Montessori School registered in 1995 and is privately owned. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7am until 6pm all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. The nursery provides funded early education places for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are currently 23 staff working directly with the children, including the owner who also manages the nursery. Of these, 20 hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 2 or 3. The owner is a qualified Montessori teacher. The nursery also has two cooks and domestic staff.

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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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