Little Acorns Royston Limited

Inspection of Little Acorns Royston Limited Icknield Walk First School, Poplar Drive, Royston SG8 7EZ

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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 enjoy their time at this welcoming and interesting pre-school. They settle in quickly and follow the routine to put their belongings away. This helps them gain confidence and be ready to learn. When younger children struggle to manage their behaviour, staff calmly and effectively support them to understand their feelings. This helps young children to learn how to behave. Children enjoy music. They sing welcome songs and nursery rhymes. Staff energetically dance and children join in, moving their bodies in creative ways. Older children dress up and become characters from their favourite films. This helps children to develop their imaginations.

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The provision is good

Children are developing a love of books and stories. They re-enact the plot from familiar stories, explaining which part comes first. Staff join in play, pretending to be the wolf chasing the little pigs. Staff then follow children's interest and retell the story. They include the children's names and children instinctively call out the familiar phrases at the right time in the story. This helps children to develop their listening skills. Children explore the outdoors with energy and curiosity. They balance on tyres and planks, which helps them to build their core strength. Children lift long planks and arrange them to create dens. This helps them to gain an awareness of the space around them as they move safely, avoiding others.

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need to do better?

n The entire staff team is motivated and committed to their work. Leaders support them very well. They work together closely and actively seek out ways to develop staff skills. For example, when staff express an interest in becoming trained in teaching sign language, the leaders clearly encourage this. As a result, staff feel happy to work here and improvements to benefit children and families are continuous. n Staff have a good understanding of child development and how activities help children learn. They thoughtfully select the resources that children can choose from, knowing they will experience essential learning as they play. For example, the rope swing is to help children gain awareness of how to consider risks. However, when planning adult-led experiences, they do not focus precisely enough on learning intentions that help children make very good progress. n The staff team help children to progress in their language skills. They sign

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need to do better?

words, so that children of all abilities can communicate their needs clearly. Children look at picture cards to understand what is going to happen and can be ready for the next part of the day's routine. Staff gain children's attention first then speak to them while looking at them. This helps children to pick up social cues needed for conversations. n Staff note children's curiosities and support them to find out more and have a

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need to do better?

28 March 2022 go. For example, when looking for insects, staff encourage children to use a magnifying glass to search for the creatures in the 'bug hotel'. This helps children stay interested in their self-chosen activities. However, they do not fully extend the most-able children's learning, so they are fully challenged during their pre-school sessions. n Parents are very happy with the care at the pre-school. They value the relationship with their child's key person and say they receive a lot of information about their child's day through the online learning journal. Parents tell the inspector their children have 'come on in leaps and bounds'. They have noticed their speech and hand control has developed quickly since attending pre-school. n The provider has a wealth of knowledge and experience to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. She guides the staff, parents and children through the processes needed to ensure that there is appropriate

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need to do better?

support in place. There is a clear vision that all children should reach their potential. The leadership team monitor children's learning successfully to help ensure they make good progress from their starting points. n Children have a range of opportunities to explore mathematical concepts. Young children fill and pour sand as staff label the quantities 'full' and 'empty'. Staff help children to count accurately, such as when building a tower of bricks.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have good knowledge of the signs that show when a child may be at risk of harm, including the factors that make families more vulnerable. They know how to report any concerns to the relevant agencies, so that families receive help swiftly. This helps to keep children safe. The designated safeguarding leaders understand their responsibilities to liaise with other professionals, including when an allegation is made about staff or the provider.

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should:

n help staff refine the planning of adult-led experiences to focus more precisely on the learning intentions that will benefit children n help staff strengthen teaching, so that they further extend the learning of the most-able children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2603028 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10230351 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 24 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Little Acorns Royston Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07769646072 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Royston Limited registered in 2020. It employs nine members of staff. Six of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, as well as the providers who are qualified to level 6, one with early years professional status and one is a qualified teacher. The pre-school is open from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 4pm.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school 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 their evaluation of the pre-school. n The deputy manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The provider and the inspector carried out two joint observations of planned activities. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and read written testimonials of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n Children talked with the inspector during the inspection.

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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

28 March 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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