Little Acorns Nursery

Little Acorns Nursery Skirbeck Road, BOSTON, Lincolnshire PE21 6DA

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Inspection date 4 February 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable 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 Good 2

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This provision is good

n The entire senior management team demonstrates a commitment to the nursery and the staff. Staff well-being is given high priority through, for example, offering regular one-to-one support meetings. This helps to foster a good team spirit. The nursery has a happy and caring ambience where staff nurture children so that they thrive and flourish. n Children make good progress from their developmental starting points, taking into account their individual abilities and capabilities. This includes children who are learning English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Staff take time to get to know each individual family and they understand that every family is different. Staff work successfully with parents and provide regular verbal and online updates on children's progress, which helps to keep them informed of their development. n Staff receive good support to gain higher-level qualifications. The management team is

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This provision is good

focused on identifying any gaps in children's learning. For example, staff attend training in delivering mathematics to help develop their teaching and improve outcomes for children. n The environment indoors and outdoors is superb. There is a wealth of well-organised resources, including items that children are likely to see in their own homes. This helps to provide children with play and learning experiences that inspire their interests and motivate them to lead their own learning. n Children's language development is supported well. Staff make good use of visual aids and gestures to support children's understanding. For example, children can choose an 'emotion face' to represent how they feel that day. n At times, staff do not make the best use of opportunities to challenge children and extend their learning even further.

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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 build on opportunities to challenge the children further, to help accelerate their 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 nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and the management team, including the provider and the operations manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to protect children, and the procedures to follow if they have a concern. The management team follow stringent recruitment and vetting processes when employing new staff. This ensures that all staff are suitable to work with children. The manager has a secure picture of the nursery's strengths. She identifies areas for improvement, to continually bring the standard of the nursery up to a higher level. The manager uses additional funding to good effect to help improve outcomes for individual children. For example, children receive extra sessions in the nursery to include meals and snacks.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Qualified staff make observations of children and assess their level of development through ongoing monitoring. They use this information to effectively plan the next steps in children's learning. Staff sit alongside and support children as they learn to thread objects. The children focus well and this activity helps to promote their hand-to-eye coordination. Staff respond quickly to children's emerging interests. During role-play children make pretend pancakes. Staff quickly act on this and encourage children to make real pancakes, there and then. Staff seize opportunities to help children to learn about people in the community. While listening to a pile-driver working nearby, children asked what the noise was. Staff took them to the nursery door to watch the workmen. Children imaginatively commented, 'I think it's going to smash the clouds'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

All children, especially babies, form strong emotional attachments to their key persons. Staff give gentle cuddles to babies when they wake from a nap until they are ready to go off and play. From a young age, children learn to understand and manage their self-care needs. Staff support babies to wash their hands in preparation for mealtimes. Older children wipe their nose while checking their face in the mirror. They know to follow this up by washing their hands to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Children eat nutritious, tasty food that is cooked fresh on-site. Children behave well and learn good social skills. Staff teach them how to manage their own behaviours and how to understand the needs of others. Staff acknowledge and manage children's allergies and food preferences exceptionally well. This helps to ensure their health and well-being. Staff provide good opportunities for children to play outside in the fresh air and develop their physical skills.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn to care for living things when they look after the nursery guinea pigs. Babies thoroughly enjoy sensory play. They explore cereals with their hands and on occasions have a taste of the edible mixture. Older children demonstrate their growing independence. They collect and manage their coats in readiness for outdoor play and serve themselves at mealtimes. Children of all ages know the routines well. They engage in catchy songs used to gain their attention and then tidy up eagerly. Children gain the important skills that are needed for the next stage in their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY543408 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10090198 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 59 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person Head Start Ramsey Nursery Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01205360556

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reference number

Little Acorns Nursery registered in 2017. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery 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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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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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