Little Acorns Nursery

Inspection of Little Acorns Nursery Oak Farm, Drayton Lane, Drayton Bassett, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3EF

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children have great fun, indoors and outside, at this warm and friendly nursery. Babies and children settle very quickly. They are very happy and content. Staff place a strong focus on outdoor play. Children thoroughly enjoy their time outside in the fresh air. The nursery is situated within a working farm, which means children have daily opportunities to get involved with and observe farm life. Babies and younger children enjoy feeding the ducks. Staff introduce and model words during the activity and children begin to copy words such as 'duck' and 'quack'. This helps children to develop their early language and speaking skills.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities and resources. They develop strong small- muscle skills. They delight in the array of messy and exploratory activities provided. Children immerse their hands in jelly, oats and cereal mixes. They use tools and utensils to explore, roll and create with different media and materials.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models. They teach children how to share and take turns. Children are kind to each other and play cooperatively. Older children negotiate between themselves to agree roles in their play as they pretend to be shopkeepers. Children behave well.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff are committed to providing high-quality care. Staff benefit from ongoing supervision and training to enhance their skills. Staff are happy in their roles and morale is high. They feel well supported and benefit from time out to complete any paperwork tasks. This means they can maximise the time spent on improving outcomes for children. n Children develop independence from an early age. Staff encourage them to get their own boots, coats and hats on before they go outside. Older children lay the table, serve their own meals and pour their own drinks. Staff encourage children to take responsibility. For example, staff choose 'special helpers' to assist with simple tasks during the day. Children readily tidy away toys and develop confidence in managing personal care routines. n Staff know children well. They make regular and detailed observations of children's achievements. Staff know what children need to learn next and focus

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need to do better?

on their individual learning throughout the day. Children's emotional security is promoted as they spend time in their 'key family groups'. However, adult-led activities are not always planned effectively enough to fully motivate and engage children in their learning. n Children become confident communicators. Babies babble in response to staff, while toddlers use newly acquired words to point out objects in picture books. Staff skilfully introduce mathematical language and concepts as children play.

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need to do better?

4 February 2020 Younger children begin to identify shapes as they use shape sorters. Older children match, sort and count objects. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff share regular information to keep parents well informed about their child's learning. Parents are very happy with the provision. They comment on how much their children enjoy attending and the progress they are making. n Children develop good literacy skills. Staff share books and stories with children, bringing the stories to life with the use of props and other resources. Children act out a story about three little pigs. They use sticks, straw and bricks to build the pigs' houses. Children choose to look at books independently and ask staff to help them to act out stories on the farm. They enjoy hunting for bears and collecting 'treasure', such as sticks and leaves to create their own crowns. n Staff help children to develop an awareness of difference and diversity. They

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need to do better?

plan activities that focus on different celebrations and cultures. Children learn about life in the local community. For example, staff arrange for visits from people working in the community, including a vicar, doctor and the police. Children learn a great deal about life, growth and food. Staff support them to grow pumpkins, beans and a variety of different fruit. n The organisation is not fully effective during transition times, such as between activities or before meals. Occasionally, children spend too long waiting and become restless.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are vigilant about children's safety and well-being. They attend meetings and complete training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. This ensures they understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff know the indicators that may suggest a child is at risk of harm or neglect. They demonstrate a clear understanding of how to obtain additional help from other professionals to help safeguard children. Daily risk assessments and environment checks are carried out to minimise any hazards or accidents, and to ensure the nursery is safe and secure.

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should:

n increase children's concentration and attention during focused, adult-led activities n review the organisation of time between activities and routines to maximise the time for children to engage in enjoyable, purposeful play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY257600 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10116274 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 to 4 Total number of places 79 Number of children on roll 105 Name of registered person Little Acorns (Drayton Bassett) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01827 289537 Date of previous inspection 4 September 2013

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Nursery registered in 2003. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 2 to level 6. One member of staff holds qualified teacher status, and the manager holds early years teacher status. The nursery is open 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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Inspection activities

n The inspector and the manager completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed joint observations with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

4 February 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.

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Inspection activities

4 February 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.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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