Little Acorns Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Acorns Day Nursery Prestwood House, Drummond Road, London SE16 4BX

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Given children's starting points and the impact that lockdowns have had on their development, children are making good progress. Children are happy, settled and arrive eager to start their learning. Children excitedly talk with staff about events with their families at the weekend. Younger children respond well to staff's questions that help them to recall past events and develop language skills, which for the majority are slightly delayed. Older children confidently recite spells in a book, learning about rhythm and rhyming. Babies are highly confident and respond well to carrying out tasks at mealtimes, such as handing out water to their less- mobile friends. This helps to build on children's personal and social development as well as physical skills that have all been slightly delayed.

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The provision is good

Children have consistent support to develop their small muscles. For example, throughout the nursery, children learn to peel their oranges for snack and pour their drinks, among other activities. Children develop skills, such as being able to put their coats and shoes on. They respond extremely well to praise, which helps them to challenge themselves further to develop their skills. Children thoroughly enjoy exploring and experimenting with the mud kitchen. They skilfully use a range of utensils to mix and transport the mixture to different places. This further helps to support children's physical development.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of the community children live in. They effectively use this information to help staff plan highly tailored activities to meet children's individual needs. For example, they make sure anxious children have safe places to learn, and staff use simple sentences for children to understand and learn from. With the most-capable children, staff use more-complex language, helping to provide challenge to aid children's progress. n Staff are highly skilled in teaching children respect for adults and each other. Children are extremely alert to the feelings of their friends and how their actions can impact others. Staff are very consistent in their approach to behaviour management. Children behave exceptionally well. n The care and support of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is a key strength. Staff work closely with parents and other agencies

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need to do better?

to set targets for children to work towards. Staff are fully aware of the positive impact the sensory room has on the children's development. They effectively use these resources to support children's language development as well as their personal and social development. n At times, staff are not fully mindful of others carrying out activities with children. For example, they will not wait until staff have finished an activity before they

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need to do better?

17 January 2022 interrupt to ask a question. This, at times, causes staff to lose focus and not provide the best learning experience they can for children. n The manager is fully aware of the importance of staff well-being and personal development. Recent training has helped staff to support children with autism. Staff work with the special educational needs coordinator to provide high-quality activities to help progress children's learning. n Staff are highly mindful of children's differing needs. They plan activities that support both the most- and less-able children, allowing all abilities of children to progress with their learning and development. The quality of education is good. n Parents say they are very happy with the care their children are getting. They can see the children are making good progress. Parents also comment that staff are highly diligent with regards to safeguarding and keeping children safe.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have a clear vision for the setting. They are all fully aware of their roles in meeting children's individual needs and progressing their learning and development. They are highly conscious of the impact that lockdowns have had on children's learning and development, and plan activities to help them to catch up with their learning. n Staff carry out regular risk assessments to help to keep children safe. Staff worked closely with pest control to remove risks to children. Staff also work closely with Public Health to keep children and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. n Leaders have recently used community funding to make improvements to the outside play spaces. They are fully aware of how children learn in different ways and how some children may not have direct access to outside learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a high regard for safeguarding and child protection. Staff are all fully aware of signs and symptoms of child protection concerns. They all work together to identify changes to children's behaviour and make referrals to relevant agencies to protect children. Staff attend regular meetings with other agencies, sharing children's progress and any changes to behaviour that they all need to be aware of. Staff are all fully aware of contextual safeguarding and how it can affect not just children but also their families. The manager is fully aware of her role in making sure that referrals are completed to help keep children safe.

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should:

n reduce interruptions of staff who are engaged in teaching activities to enhance children's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY449725 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 10213093 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

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inspection

Total number of places 104 Number of children on roll 88 Name of registered person Little Acorns The Next Generation Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02072522300 Date of previous inspection 24 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Day Nursery registered in 2012. It is located in Bermondsey, in the London Borough of Southwark. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6.30pm throughout the year, with the exception of public holidays. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 17 staff who work directly with children. Of these, 13 staff, including the manager, hold an early years qualification ranging from level 2 to level 6. The nursery also employs administrative staff and a cook.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in the evaluation of the setting. n The lead inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The lead inspector gathered the views of the parents. n The inspectors spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspectors observed children in the rooms to gather information on the quality of teaching. n The inspectors sampled documents, including safeguarding, pest control and hygiene procedures.

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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

17 January 2022 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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