Acorn Day Nursery Brafield On The Green

Acorn Day Nursery Brafield On The Green Church Lane, Northampton NN7 1BA

p.1

Inspection date 25 March 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

p.1

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

p.1

This provision is good

n Staff identify any gaps in children's learning swiftly. They provide individual intervention to help children to narrow any gaps in their development. All children make good progress from their respective starting points. n Staff provide children with a stimulating learning environment both indoors and outdoors. This helps to motivate children's curiosity to explore, play and learn. n Staff promote children's sense of belonging and support their emotional security effectively. Children flourish and thrive as they form strong bonds with the caring and friendly staff. n Staff support children's speech and language skills exceptionally well. They implement a range of methods to encourage children's communication. For example, children respond well to sign language, to help promote their emerging speech. Staff engage older children in meaningful discussions and encourage them to express their own ideas.

p.1

This provision is good

n Leaders and managers place a strong focus on working with other professionals to promote children's welfare and education. Additional government funding is used well to provide children with tailored support and one-to-one teaching when appropriate. n Staff develop positive relationships with parents. They value their involvement in their children's learning. Staff regularly share children's learning with parents through daily conversations, progress evenings and online systems. This partnership working helps to support a shared and consistent approach to children's care and learning. n Staff do not always maximise opportunities that arise during children's play to extend and challenge their understanding of early mathematics to the highest level. n Leaders and managers monitoring of staff practice is not yet focused sharply enough on raising the quality of individual staff's teaching 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 build on staff's teaching practice, to help challenge children's mathematical skills even further during activities n strengthen the monitoring of staff performance and focus even more precisely on identifying what individual staff need to do to raise the quality of their teaching to the highest level.

p.2

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 had a tour of the premises with the manager. n The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the manager and spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and senior early years manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Leaders and managers implement robust recruitment, vetting and induction procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. All staff undertake regular child protection training to help keep their knowledge and skills up to date. They are aware of how to respond should they have a concern about a child's welfare. Staff carry out regular risk assessments and daily checks to help ensure that all areas of the nursery are safe and secure for children. They deploy themselves effectively and provide children with appropriate supervision. Overall, leaders and managers create a culture of self-reflection and evaluation. They seek feedback from parents and staff to help them identify areas for improvement. Parents are highly complimentary about the nursery. For example, they describe the support they receive from staff as 'fabulous'.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are well qualified and enthusiastic about their work. They know the children well and can talk knowledgeably about children's achievements. Staff use children's interest and their next steps in learning to plan a range of exciting activities and experiences. For example, staff help children to learn about how plants grow from seeds. When children show an interest in cooking, staff add real food into their role play. They extend children's understanding of healthy eating as they talk to them about the different types of foods. Younger children enjoy listening to songs and staff encourage them to sing along and join in with the actions. Leaders and managers monitor the progress made by individual and groups of children. They evaluate the information and use this to help identify any gaps in provision.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's health and well-being is promoted well. Staff take time to help children to settle and gain their confidence. For example, they carry out home visits to help them get to know the children and their families before they start. Staff promote children's physical skills well. All children benefit from spending extended periods of time playing and exploring in the exciting outdoor area. Staff encourage children to develop their coordination and balance skills, as they independently access a range of resources. Staff teach children about keeping themselves safe. Staff provide good opportunities for children to play and mix with different ages. They support children to share, take turns and follow instructions.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children reach the milestones typical for their actual age or stage of development and some children exceed these. This includes those children who receive government funding. All children are active learners and display a positive disposition to learn. They develop the necessary skills to help prepare them for their future learning, including their move on to school. Children demonstrate their growing independence as they initiate their own play. They behave well and develop good social skills. Children establish lasting friendships. Older children act as positive role models for younger children.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY542270 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 10090162 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 68 Name of registered person Acorn Early Years Foundation

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01604 891788

p.4

reference number

Acorn Day Nursery Brafield On The Green located in Northampton, re-registered in 2017. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff, eight of whom hold early years qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 7. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays. Opening hours are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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