Acorns Day Nursery

Inspection of Acorns Day Nursery Acorns Nursery/Sevenoaks Primary School, Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3LB

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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 are happy at this nursery. They form positive relationships with caring and kind staff and show that they feel safe in their care. Children of all ages appreciate having books read or songs sung to them. This helps prepare children for learning to read. Staff encourage children to problem-solve and seek how to overcome barriers. For example, when children struggle to remove their shoes or hang up their coats, staff ask how they can help them. Children are encouraged to be independent in all rooms. Leaders recognise this helps to equip children with skills for their future life.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy food prepared in the setting. They sit together and learn to use their cutlery to feed themselves. Older children strengthen their independence skills by serving their own meal and pouring their own drinks. Children are exposed to exciting and engaging activities throughout the day. They demonstrate positive attitudes to learning and relish in the activities they partake in. Staff skilfully develop children's language development by asking questions and commenting on the children's learning. Children then use words and phrases in their play later in the day. They are therefore beginning to communicate well.

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The provision is good

Parents did not enter the building during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the staff found new ways to communicate with families. Parents enjoy looking at photos online that staff share with them. This helps to keep parents informed of the activities completed in the setting.

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need to do better?

n Leaders communicate their ethos for the nursery well. They have high expectations to meet the needs of the children and their families in their care. Staff can explain and celebrate the children's progress and achievements. This creates a welcoming and positive environment for all. n Leaders regularly evaluate practice in the nursery and use this to coach and train staff. Staff have frequent meetings to discuss concerns for children and receive training to improve their skills. n Leaders work together with staff to assess the children's progress and needs. This helps them to identify any children who may have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The nursery special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) uses support from other agencies and follows their guidance to monitor children in the setting. n Staff communicate with parents regularly. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the nursery and its staff. Despite partnerships being strong, at times, staff

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need to do better?

do not keep parents fully informed about their child's progress. They also do not share consistent information to help parents support their children's learning at

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need to do better?

25 October 2022 home. Without this, children do not achieve the highest possible outcomes. n Children behave well. They are respectful to peers and staff. They take turns and share out construction blocks with other children. When interacting with adults, children wait their turn and answer courteously, adding 'please' and 'thank you'. When children's behaviour impacts on others, staff swiftly intercept and support children to resolve the situation. n Children experience and learn with a variety of engaging and interesting resources. Staff prepare the indoor and outdoor environments so that they spark children's curiosity. For example, older children excavate in the mud area and exclaim, 'I wonder what's under here,' and younger children squeal with delight when their key person hides under fabric. Children all engage in activities and demonstrate a love of learning. n Children have good relationships with their key person. However, some do not

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need to do better?

benefit from the same high-quality interactions with them. Therefore, some children are less confident to communicate. n Staff carefully consider what they wish children to know and do. They work collaboratively so that children are ready for their next stage. For example, young children are taught to walk and climb and form strong relationships. Older children are taught to manage their self-care and look after the environment around them. This enables children to develop the skills needed in later life and to become successful learners.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager, deputy and staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe. They are able to demonstrate what they would do to safeguard children and families. All staff recognise the signs that could indicate harm to children and their families. Staff know how to report concerns or record accidents. The leaders of the nursery are aware of other risks within the wider community. Leaders identify and minimise risks to ensure children are safe inside the nursery setting. There are robust systems in place to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n build further on the existing partnerships with parents to share more information about children's progress and how to support their learning at home n strengthen staff's skills to create a more consistent approach to supporting all children's communication and language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 126962 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10233552 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 39 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person Company Child Care Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01732 459162 Date of previous inspection 9 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Acorns Day Nursery registered in 1990. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free education to children aged three and four years. The nursery deputy holds early years professional status.

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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 Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The SENCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n Parents spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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Inspection activities

25 October 2022 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

25 October 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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