Little Acers Pre School

Inspection of Little Acers Pre School Sure Start Centre, Bowsland Green Primary School, Ellicks Close, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 0ES

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children come into this happy, nurturing pre-school full of enthusiasm. They settle quickly and, after self-registering, they excitedly go off to play with their friends. They have very strong attachments to the staff and greet them with warmth, eagerly telling them their news.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff provide a broad and ambitious curriculum. Staff are extremely vigilant, watching what children are interested in and how they prefer to learn. For example, some children listen to stories more attentively in small, cosy areas, so staff create a draped area in the book corner. Key staff sensitively guide and support children through all areas of learning. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make very good progress.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have time to experiment, explore the excellent resources and pursue their own ideas. For example, children excitedly discover new ways to mix colours by brushing water over chalk marks and watching colours combine as they drip down. They competently use child-sized hammers, nails and wooden shapes to proudly create imaginative designs.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff consistently model respectful language, talk about emotions and have high expectations. As a result, children's behaviour is exemplary. Children share fairly, take turns, and can sort out any small differences of opinion quickly. They say 'quiet voices' and 'kind hands' to each other. Children delight in showing their friends how to cut out particular shapes in the play dough and confidently share the best building techniques.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's language and communication extremely well. When they read stories, staff consistently speak clearly with expressive intonation, which engages children's interest and keeps them focused as they join in anticipated rhymes. Staff use signing effectively. They play enthusiastically alongside children in the home corner, helping them to develop their imaginations and modelling new language. For example, children learn how to use particular words when asking a question and that 'orca' is another name for a killer whale. Children who are learning to speak English as an additional language, learn English quickly. n Staff have launched a 'language of the month' initiative to celebrate different languages and cultures. Children learn to understand and respect similarities and differences within their community and the wider world. Both staff and children have 'All About Me' books, which highly value each person's uniqueness.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy going for regular woodland walks, where they learn to respect

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need to do better?

3 February 2023 the natural environment. They listen to birds singing and make collections of natural materials. They have opportunities to climb on tree trunks and experience seasonal changes. Staff use opportunities to challenge children, for example, to think why a tree may have fallen down. n Staff constantly promote children's independence skills with a can-do attitude, helping develop children's self-esteem and confidence. For example, children delight in helping staff to check outside areas for hazards before they go out to play. Children proudly point to wall posters, such as the number line and the shapes display, to show and consolidate their previous learning. n Staff create story and interest bags that children can take home. These bags are beautifully made with considerable thought and care. They include rich learning activities inside, such as books, games, puppets and ideas for recipes or things

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need to do better?

to make. Staff continue to extend what is an exceedingly purposeful and effective resource to engage parents with children's learning at home. n Parents speak very highly of the commitment of managers and staff to the safety and well-being of their children. Parents appreciate the regular and various means of communication, particularly the 'window of the week' posted on the online platform. Parents are happy that their children make such good progress and will be ready to move on to their next stage of learning with such excellent foundations in place. n The inspirational manager and staff constantly strive to improve their already exceptional practice. They have highly effective processes for self-reflection, they cascade relevant training and share good practice with each other daily. The team works together extremely well, recognising and valuing their individual strengths. Staff attend regular supervisions, meetings and training opportunities

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need to do better?

to enhance their professional development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Knowledge of safeguarding is well embedded and reinforced by inclusion in regular staff meetings. New staff induction processes are thorough. All staff know the signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect, understand the wider importance of noticing changes in children's behaviour, what to do if they have a concern and how to refer to outside agencies. Staff conduct risk assessments of the premises, the woodland areas they visit and make sure the children are safe on the road when going for walks. All staff are trained in paediatric first aid. Staff promote healthy eating, fresh air and exercise to help children keep healthy.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY340875 Local authority South Gloucestershire Inspection number 10264011 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 34 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person LA Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07443 640027 Date of previous inspection 19 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acers Pre School registered in 2006 and operates from the previous Sure Start Centre in the grounds of Bowsland Green Primary School, in Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire. The setting is open each weekday from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. It is in receipt of government funding for children aged two, three and four years. The setting employs five members of staff. All staff hold appropriate early years 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 The 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 spoke to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interaction between staff and children and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents and took account of their views, including those in written feedback.

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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

3 February 2023 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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