Acorn Nursery

Inspection of Acorn Nursery Wimbledon Chase Middle School, Merton Hall Road, LONDON SW19 3QB

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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 extremely happy in this nurturing, inclusive environment. Staff work as a team to carefully plan sessions for children. They use daily observations to ensure activities meet the needs of all children, allowing them to become confident and independent learners. Targeted interventions are in place to support children's language and social and emotional development, ensuring all children make good progress.

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The provision is good

The key-person system is highly effective, and children quickly form secure bonds with staff. Staff sing to children, follow their interests and work closely with parents. This helps children feel safe and secure. Parents receive daily communication from staff and feel fully involved in their children's learning. Parents know their children's targets and are given ideas as to how to help at home. Parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities feel particularly supported with the area of speech and language development.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and approach activities with curiosity and excitement. For example, children were enthusiastic to go on a nature walk. They explored their natural environment, discussed the season and collected different-coloured leaves which they later used in a craft activity. This further develops their knowledge and understanding of the world and their skills in expressive arts and design.

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need to do better?

n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They use visual timetables to ensure all children can follow nursery routines. When the bell rings, children know it is time to move to the next activity. Staff begin circle times by modelling the tapping of parts of their body. Children quickly want to join in, following the sequence and demonstrating they are listening. Children share with their friends what they have enjoyed at nursery that morning. This provides a lovely opportunity for further developing children's language skills. n Staff enjoy sharing stories with children. Children join in with repeated phrases, lift flaps and make predictions about what will happen next. A small library at the front gate allows children to choose a book to take home to share with their parents or carers. This promotes children's language development and enjoyment of books. There are a range of photo books of the children

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need to do better?

celebrating a variety of religious festivals at nursery. Children enjoy looking at these and remembering the different festivals and traditions. This helps them to further embed their learning of diversity and respect for different people. n Staff make purposeful interactions with children during activities, and they model language and extend children's vocabulary as they play. For example, as children push dolls in pushchairs, staff engage in conversations with children

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need to do better?

5 October 2022 about caring for babies, discussing what they might want and need and joining in with the imaginative play. n Opportunities for mark making are in all areas of the nursery. Children enjoy using paintbrushes and glue sticks to make collages from the leaves they have collected on their nature walk. This provides opportunities for fine and gross motor development and supports children's next steps in writing. n There is a strong focus on being healthy and making healthy choices. Children grow vegetables in their vegetable patch, and they water and take care of them. They enjoy tasting, feeling and smelling the produce. This further develops children's understanding of healthy eating and where their food comes from. Children brush their teeth after lunch, promoting the importance of oral health. n Children enjoy mealtimes and staff sit with children, making this a social experience. However, children are not given opportunities to further develop

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need to do better?

their independence and fine motor skills, such as being able to help themselves to drinks and peel and serve themselves fruits. n Children enjoy participating in a range of group-time sessions. However, some staff need further support to ensure that the pace of these sessions is age appropriate, so that all children learn what the staff intend them to from the planned activity. n The manager is hands-on and works directly with children and parents daily. She has high expectations of staff. She identifies where staff need support and takes appropriate action to address this by providing specific training opportunities. Staff are well mentored and have regular supervision meetings, allowing them to reflect on their practice. Staff enjoy working at this nursery as they are part of a fully supportive team.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There are effective procedures in place for dealing with and reporting on accidents and incidents. Regular risk assessments are carried out. Parents and children are educated about staying safe online. All staff understand the signs of when a child may be at risk and understand their responsibilities in reporting any concerns they may have. Staff are aware of how to report an allegation against a member of staff. Safeguarding is discussed regularly, and staff complete regular training to ensure their knowledge is kept up to date.

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should:

n further promote the development of independence around mealtimes n further support staff in planning activities with age-appropriate pace to ensure all children can access the learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY405936 Local authority Merton Inspection number 10233762 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 13 Name of registered person Nathan, Radhika

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reference number

Telephone number 07963 528845 Date of previous inspection 7 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Acorn Nursery registered in 2010. The nursery operates from a self-contained and purpose-built building in the grounds of Wimbledon Chase Primary School, in the London Borough of Merton. The nursery is open each weekday, from 9am to 3pm, with sessions from 9am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 3pm, during term time only. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two and three years. There are five members of staff, including the provider/manager. The manager has an early years qualification at level 4, and four members of staff have qualifications at level 3.

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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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The manager and inspector conducted a learning walk together and discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. 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 observed the interactions between the staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to a range of staff and the manager about how the setting

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Inspection activities

meets the needs of all children. n The inspector spoke to staff about safeguarding policies and procedures. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

5 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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