Acorns Pre School Limited

Inspection of Acorns Pre School Limited Church Road, Great Yeldham, Halstead, Essex CO9 4PT

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

p.1

The provision is good

Children really enjoy their time at the pre-school. They quickly develop warm and affectionate attachments with staff, who actively help them to feel safe and gain emotional security. Children enthusiastically explore the environment. They can easily select the toys they want to use from low-level shelving. This helps to promote independent play. Staff implement a consistent approach to managing behaviour. This helps children to understand boundaries, behave well and have good attitudes to learning.

p.2

The provision is good

Children have immense fun as they explore different textures and colours while creating a Chinese dragon. They show team spirit as they help each other decorate a large white sheet with paints and brightly coloured tissue paper. Children talk about how this will form the body of their dragon. They show pride in their previous creations when they talk about the large red dragon's head they helped to make.

p.2

The provision is good

Children's communication and language skills are promoted well. They enjoy listening to stories about Chinese lanterns and firecrackers and repeat new words that help to extend their vocabulary. Children are confident, independent learners. They happily leave their parents on arrival at the pre-school to quickly engage in play. Children are beginning to identify their name on the card they use for the registration display.

p.2

need to do better?

n There are effective procedures in place to help settle children into the setting. Staff obtain information from parents to establish children's starting points to help them plan initial learning opportunities. n The manager and staff have high expectations for children's learning and their readiness for school. They work with other professionals to provide consistent support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Staff observe children's play and make accurate assessments of children's development. They use this information to plan meaningful next steps for children's learning. n Children learn about healthy lifestyles. Staff provide nutritious snacks and remind children to wash their hands at pertinent times throughout the day. n Children have regular opportunities to play outdoors and engage in robust physical movement. They thoroughly enjoy creeping quietly upon 'Mr Wolf', or

p.2

need to do better?

stretch and dance collaboratively, wearing a red dragon costume. Quiet spaces are organised to provide areas for children to listen to stories or for specific small-group teaching. n Staff provide engaging opportunities for children to practise their mark making

p.2

need to do better?

20 January 2020 and develop early writing skills. Children comfortably learn how to use scissors to practise their cutting skills. They extend their physical development, helping to increase muscle strength in their fingers and hands. n Staff work well as a team and are supportive of each other. The manager uses effective strategies, such as regular supervision meetings, to promote the positive well-being of staff. Robust recruitment procedures ensure staff and committee members are suitable to work with children. There is a good induction process in place that helps staff to understand their roles and responsibilities. n Parent partnerships are strong. Parents speak highly of the pre-school staff and comment on how caring and nurturing the team is. Staff provide regular updates for parents about their child's ongoing progress. In addition, they share ideas with parents to enable them to build on their child's learning at home.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff complete regular risk assessments, such as daily checks of the premises, to identify and minimise hazards to children. Appropriate security systems are in place, which helps to ensure the environment is safe and secure. n Staff use assessment to observe what children know and can do. However, the current system for planning does not consistently ensure that all staff have a combined understanding of the curriculum.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The manager and staff complete regular safeguarding training. This ensures they understand their responsibilities to report concerns about a child's welfare. In addition, they know how to refer any inappropriate actions of adults working with children. The manager and staff implement effective procedures and place a good emphasis on ensuring children are cared for in a safe environment. This includes robust recruitment and selection procedures. Effective staff deployment means that all children are well supervised and cared for.

p.3

should:

n develop a shared understanding of the curriculum.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 508710 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10072965 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Acorns Pre-School Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01787 237684 Date of previous inspection 12 May 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Acorns Pre School Limited registered in 1998. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 8am to 1pm on Monday and Wednesday, and 8am to 3pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector reviewed records and the provider's suitability checks of staff. n The inspector observed staff practice and evaluated an activity with the manager. n The inspector sought the views of children and parents during this inspection. n The inspector reviewed information from other professionals the manager and staff liaise with. n The inspector discussed with the manager how she reflects on, and develops, future practice.

p.4

Inspection activities

20 January 2020 We carried out this inspection 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

Inspection activities

20 January 2020 regulates and inspects to 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.5

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6