Little Acorns Bersted Green

Inspection of Little Acorns Bersted Green Bersted Green Primary School, Laburnum Grove, BOGNOR REGIS, West Sussex PO22 9HT

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are very happy and thoroughly enjoy their time at the nurturing and inclusive pre-school. The caring manager and staff are passionate about building children's confidence and self-esteem, and this is at the heart of their practice. For example, children's efforts and achievements are warmly rewarded through 'Star of the week' certificates and consistent praise. As a result, children are secure, confident in their abilities and are eager to try new things. They are very sociable, well behaved and form strong bonds with each other and with staff.

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The provision is good

Overall, staff have high expectations for all children, particularly for those who speak English as an additional language or receive additional funding. Staff quickly get to know any gaps in children's learning, and they work hard to ensure all children achieve. For example, they have recently added more bilingual books to the 'lending library', helping to ignite all children's love of reading at home. Parents are thrilled with this support and at how well their children are progressing. Children's language development is given high priority, and they are learning to communicate well. They learn new words quickly, and the older children express themselves confidently, using full sentences. Children with gaps in their development are catching up quickly due to the strong and consistent support of the dedicated staff.

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need to do better?

n The manager and the staff are supported very well by a strong and dedicated senior management team, led by the headteacher of the adjoining primary school. Together, they have a strong vision for the pre-school and reflect continuously on how they can improve. For example, staff are currently working towards qualifications in 'wild beach school' to help broaden children's experiences of nature and wildlife. Leaders monitor practice closely, offering targeted training, guidance and coaching to all staff. They are aware of the need to focus staff's upcoming professional development on further extending older- and most-able children's learning. For example, during the inspection, staff did not consistently make the most of their interactions to encourage problem- solving and offer higher levels of challenge. n Leaders and staff implement a focused and well-planned curriculum, based on closing gaps in children's knowledge and preparing them for school. The pre-

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need to do better?

school caters for a high proportion of children who speak English as an additional language and receives additional funding and meets their needs particularly well. There is a strong focus on language and literacy, behaviour, social skills and physical development. All children make good progress and are well prepared for the next stage in their education. They recognise letters and their sounds, write their names and use tools, such as scissors and knives

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need to do better?

27 May 2021 skilfully. Children are particularly physically active and show strong skills, coordination and balance as they confidently explore the stimulating garden. Children's move to the adjoining primary school is handled with the utmost care and consideration, giving them every opportunity to flourish. n Staff support children's behaviour consistently well and children respond positively to their high expectations. Children are very kind, considerate and respectful of one another and spend a lot of time developing their play in groups. For example, children delight in cooking each other pretend meals, driving others around the garden on ride-along cars and searching for insects. They are very aware of the pre-school rules and confidently keep themselves safe as they climb, cut fruit and ride around the garden. n The experienced and well-qualified staff know the children very well. They fully understand what children know and can do and use this to plan effectively for

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need to do better?

children's learning. For example, children enthusiastically discuss healthy food as they cut out pictures to stick on paper plates, making 'healthy meals'. They confidently know what is and is not good for their health, and staff introduce new words, such as 'kale', to broaden children's knowledge further. Overall, staff are very supportive and attentive to children's needs. However, at times, the manager and the staff do not deploy themselves in the best way to consistently give children the highest levels of support in their learning. For example, at times, during the inspection, although most of the children were in the garden, more staff than necessary remained inside. This impacted their ability to fully support some children's learning outdoors.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure that all staff have a thorough understanding of how to identify potential signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures they would follow to report any concerns. This helps to fully support the welfare of children. Leaders use vigilant recruitment processes to guarantee the suitability of staff who work directly with the children. Staff receive consistent training and opportunities to update their knowledge of wider and changing safeguarding issues, such as protecting children from extreme views and behaviour. They work hard to provide a safe and secure environment for children.

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should:

n focus staff professional development on giving older- and most-able children more opportunities to problem-solve and attempt challenges n encourage staff to move more effectively throughout the setting to ensure they are in the right place to fully support children's learning at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY549361 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10123485 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Little Acorns Bersted Green Pre-School

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reference number

Telephone number 01243 822885 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Bersted Green Pre-School registered in 2017. It operates from a building in the grounds of Bersted Green Primary School in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and level 4. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8.50am to 3pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The Inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in his evaluation of the provider. n The inspector was given a tour of the pre-school by the manager and carried out a learning walk to discuss the curriculum. n The manager and the inspector discussed the play activities and children's learning during the inspection and undertook a joint observation of an activity. n The views and opinions of the staff, children and parents were taken into account during the inspection. n The inspector observed children's play, indoors and outside, and assessed the impact of staff teaching. n The inspector sampled some of the setting's documentation, including staff suitability records.

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Inspection activities

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

27 May 2021 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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