Acorn Academy Day Nursery

Acorn Academy Day Nursery 211 Lincoln Road, PETERBOROUGH PE1 2PL

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Inspection date 21 May 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Not applicable 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 The extremely strong staff team is led by an experienced and knowledgeable manager and two new deputy managers. The manager encourages staff to take on responsibilities and under her guidance they begin to flourish. All staff are excellent role models for the children they care for and are dedicated to their roles. n The support given to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is exceptional. As a result, this group of children make significant progress from their starting points on entry to the nursery. n Parents speak extremely highly of the care provided to their children. They work very closely with staff to ensure the best outcomes for their children. n Children develop a fundamental love of learning. Staff use every opportunity to extend and support children's learning and engage them in a wealth of activities. Staff's excellent knowledge of the children underpins all that they do.

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This provision is outstanding

n The planning of activities wholeheartedly reflects each child's learning needs and interests. It is a simple process yet highly effective. Assessments are accurate and monitored to swiftly identify and address any emerging gaps in children's learning. n Children's behaviour is superb. They are kind and courteous as well as friendly and confident. Children rise to challenges and are very proud to share their many achievements with others. n Support for children and their families who speak English as an additional language is exceptional. Staff speak many of the children's home languages and use these skills to reassure children, develop their understanding and use of English, and to communicate with parents. The promotion of inclusion and celebration of diversity is at the heart of everything staff do. n The manager has high expectations as she continues to drive improvement. Staff are given full ownership of development plans and they are wholly committed to their own

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This provision is outstanding

professional development and the future of the nursery.

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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 prioritise staff supervisions as the journey continues to maintain and further build on the already outstanding practice.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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 at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

The management team and staff demonstrate an uncompromising pursuit of excellence. Plans for the development of the provision focus wholly on the needs of the children attending and the needs of the local community. Every child is given excellent support to reach their full potential and this is robustly monitored. This means that any gaps in learning are swiftly identified and addressed. The special educational needs coordinator is completely dedicated to ensuring that no child gets left behind. She is highly organised and seeks as much support from outside professionals as children need. Safeguarding is effective. The manager responds to potential safeguarding issues with rigour to ensure that children are protected. Staff have a deep understanding of their responsibility to report concerns, as well as wider safeguarding issues. The manager has high expectations of her staff, which they respect and strive to fulfil. Therefore, children

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

benefit from exceptionally high-quality care and education. The manager knows that continuing to prioritise ongoing supervision meetings for staff is key to maintaining this.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Teaching is of a consistently high quality. Staff intuitively know when to step in to support and extend children's learning and when to sit back and observe as children explore activities for themselves. Children's learning needs and interests are always at the forefront of staff's minds when planning the wealth of activities they offer. As a result, children show high levels of motivation and engagement in their learning. Babies see staff open their arms wide as they encourage them to take steps towards them. The embrace they receive promotes their confidence and self-esteem. Toddlers are challenged to count in sequence from one to five as they explore dry pasta. Outdoor learning is given as high a priority as indoors. Children thrive as they demonstrate their impressive physical skills while using large and small tools to dig and plant and peg out washing. Pre-school children are very confident in their use of number; they add or take

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

away and work out how many of something is required.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children have wonderful relationships with staff. This gives the children the confidence, for example, to try activities for the first time. Staff know all the children so well and this enables them to get the best from them. For example, they know that some children like to observe activities from a particular place of comfort until they feel ready to participate. Staff work very closely with parents to promote each child's welfare at the highest level. Nappy-changing procedures meet children's needs. Children are fully encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle; they enjoy a wealth of physical activities, are consistently reminded about healthy food choices and clean their teeth after lunch.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children make high rates of progress. This includes children who speak English as an additional language, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children in receipt of additional funding. Children are very articulate and confident. They have high levels of self-esteem and many say they love being at the nursery. This lays a fantastic foundation to support their future learning as they move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY546492 Local authority Peterborough Inspection number 10104324 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 80 Number of children on roll 103 Name of registered person Acorn Academy Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01733890911

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reference number

Acorn Academy Day Nursery registered in June 2017 under its present ownership. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, one is a nursery teacher; one holds an early years qualifications at level 6; two hold a qualification at level 2; 10 hold a qualification at level 3 and one is unqualified. The manager holds an early years qualification at level 4. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm, all year round, apart from one week over Christmas. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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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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