Little Acorns Pre-School

Inspection of Little Acorns Pre-School The Globe Primary Academy, Community Room, Irene Avenue, LANCING, West Sussex BN15 9NZ

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children arrive at the setting excited to see their friends. They wave goodbye to their parents and are full of enthusiasm for the day ahead. Children are beginning to manage their own feelings and behaviour. They share resources with each other and wait patiently for their turn. When minor disagreements occur, staff respond sensitively and provide children with solutions to help them resolve the situation. Children achieve well and make good progress in their development. They access a variety of opportunities to support their learning across the curriculum.

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The provision is good

Children use their imaginations to act out storylines with the energetic, engaging staff. For example, they hide in the book corner as they pretend there is a pirate outside who is looking for them. Children demonstrate good literacy skills and suggest how the story should evolve. They are engaged and enthusiastic in the learning experiences available. Children develop good listening and attention skills during group activities. They giggle with delight as staff show them different objects of interest that have been hidden in a bucket. In the garden, children build their gross motor skills pushing the wheeled toys up the slope before whizzing back down.

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need to do better?

n Staff work in partnership with parents. They share information on children's development and how parents can support learning at home. Parents praise the setting and say that they are happy with the progress their children are making. Staff work well with other early education settings that the children attend. n Staff teach children about festivals and other cultures that are relevant to the children who attend. This helps children to learn about people and families outside of their own. Staff plan activities to support children's understanding of the world. For example, they teach them how to grow plants and flowers from seeds. n Children are kept safe. They are reminded of the rules and staff ensure good supervision of the children. However, staff have not considered fully how to include teaching about the safe use of technology in the curriculum to further enhance children's understanding of personal safety.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children well. The manager ensures that a robust key-person system is in place. Staff identify when children are not making progress in their learning and seek support from outside agencies. They implement strategies to support children's communication and language, such as sign language. Children are making good progress in their expressive language. n Children wash their hands after painting and before snack time. They are making steps towards becoming independent. However, at times, staff do use opportunities for children to do even more for themselves, to help them make

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need to do better?

9 May 2022 even more progress in their learning and independence. For example, when children make play dough, staff do not give them opportunities to pour and measure the ingredients. n The manager provides the staff with regular supervision sessions. She ensures there are adequate opportunities for professional development and training. The manager attends local networking meetings to share good practice with other managers and obtains updated information. n The manager has worked hard to improve the setting. She has developed new areas of interest. For example, she has introduced a mud kitchen and a sensory corner and has attached guttering to the wall for the children to pour water down. This has led to improved opportunities for children to experiment and learn through their senses. The manager has plans to further improve the setting by introducing a playhouse in the garden to provide even more opportunity for imaginative play.

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need to do better?

n Children are curious learners. They show high levels of motivation and sustained focus when taking part in activities they have chosen. For example, children mix together sand and water and explore what happens as more sand is added. Staff introduce children to new words such as 'absorbing' to describe what is happening. Staff support children's communication and language through their interactions. They repeat words back to children to help them with their clarity.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff and managers fully understand the importance of keeping children safe. They are aware of what to look out for that could indicate a child may be at risk from harm. Staff ensure they keep their safeguarding training up to date. They know who to contact if there are any concerns about a child's welfare. The manager has a robust recruitment system and monitors the ongoing suitability of staff. Staff are aware of a wide range of safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation. They ensure the environment allows children to take risks in a safe way. For example, staff place soft mats around the climbing structures.

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should:

n provide opportunities for children to do even more for themselves during planned activities and everyday experiences, to further develop their independence and extend their learning n incorporate teaching about the safe use of technology into the curriculum in an age-appropriate way.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY385887 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10228059 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 32 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Hughes, Patricia Rose

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reference number

Telephone number 07770884860 Date of previous inspection 24 November 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Pre-School registered in 2008. It operates from the community room in The Globe Primary School, in Lancing, West Sussex. The pre-school opens five days a week during school term times, from 9am to midday every weekday. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years old. The pre-school employs five members of staff, three of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the lead practitioner.

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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

9 May 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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