Little Acorns Childcare

Inspection of Little Acorns Childcare St. Georges Church, 8 Audley Road, Folkestone CT20 3QA

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements have a significant impact on children's safety and well-being. Older children are not adequately supervised when they are eating. In addition, children are put down to sleep on shared bedding that is not washed regularly and is unclean. Furthermore, the changing facilities for young children are poor, with unhygienic, torn changing mats.

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The provision is inadequate

The quality of teaching is variable across the nursery and, on occasion, poor. Children do not benefit from consistent support to develop their communication and language. At times, children show high levels of interest and enjoyment when a clear learning intention is planned for activities and when staff are engaged. For example, babies enjoy exploring a sensory tuff tray and older children focus on pouring and measuring water with different containers. However, some staff sit alongside children, but do not interact well. This does not help children to develop positive attitudes to learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite these weaknesses, most children behave well and are often happily engaged in play. Babies actively and independently explore the resources and form bonds with their key person. They enjoy throwing balls in the ball pit and listening to stories. They often babble and smile as staff play with them sensitively and encouragingly. Older children come in with a smile and are content as they occupy themselves happily with the resources on offer.

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need to do better?

n The provider does not adequately ensure that there are effective arrangements to promote children's safety. Staff do not supervise children adequately and staff deployment is often weak. Staff too often prioritise carrying out routine tasks, like tidying and setting up resources, and have their backs to children. As a result, children's safety and development are compromised. This is particularly relevant at mealtimes, where there is the potential for choking. n Staff do not adequately promote children's health. The changing mats used for nappies are torn and dirty and the inner sponge is exposed. Bedding is dirty and the same bedding is used for all children, with infrequent washing. This poor practice does not adequately prevent the spread of infection. Staff place sufficient focus on ensuring the toilets and other areas of the bathrooms are clean. n Staff supervision is not fully effective in identifying and addressing all areas of

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need to do better?

need. The provider has taken steps to begin to identify weaknesses in her staff's knowledge. She has identified some training to support in addressing these weaknesses. However, this has not been quick enough to ensure there is continuous improvement to the quality of children's care and learning.

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need to do better?

8 March 2023 n Staff demonstrate an understanding of the curriculum and what children need to learn. They plan together to provide activities that cover different areas of learning. For example, stories are read to develop literacy skills, play dough activities support hand muscle development and jigsaws and other games support turn taking. However, staff do not have a good understanding of how to use their interactions to support children and extend their learning. n Babies benefit from learning new vocabulary when staff speak with them throughout activities and daily routines. Staff speak clearly and often repeat language, such as 'sprinkle' and 'squish', when investigating cereal and textures. Staff working with older children sometimes introduce them to new language, including 'heaviest' and 'lightest' when weighing. However, too often their interactions are simplistic and the quality of communication is inconsistent

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need to do better?

across the staff team. n Staff effectively use a range of methods to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, they set individual targets and use visual aids. Children engage positively in activities that are planned to reflect their individual learning needs. The provider recognises the importance of working with other agencies to meet children's individual needs. n Staff provide many small-group times for children, to support them to build their listening and focus skills, in preparation for moving on to school. Younger children enjoy looking at photos and talking about their home life, while older children enjoying answering questions about a familiar story. n Parents report that they are happy with the contact and information that the staff provide about their child. They know who their child's key person is and the targets that they are working towards. They are happy with the progress their

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need to do better?

child makes, both academically and socially.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The weaknesses in the supervision of children and the arrangements to promote their health, compromises their safety and well-being. However, all staff are able to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They understand the referral process to follow if they have a concern about a child's safety. All staff undertake regular training to keep their knowledge up to date, and discuss safeguarding matters during supervisions and staff meetings.

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Due date

8 March 2023 ensure that children are adequately supervised at all times, and that staff are deployed effectively to keep children safe, particularly at snack and mealtimes 09/03/2023

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Due date

improve the arrangements to promote children's health, with particular regard to providing clean bedding and ensuring nappy changing practices are hygienic 09/03/2023

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Due date

improve arrangements to identify and address gaps in staff knowledge and inconsistencies in practice, to improve the implementation of activities and more effectively promote children's learning. 05/04/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2619233 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10275999 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 39 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Little Acorns Childcare 2020 Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07375971370 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Childcare registered in 2020. It operates in Folkestone, Kent. They offer care Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 4pm. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are eight members of staff, including the owner. Of whom, five hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 2 or above.

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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 provider and inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The provider and inspector carried out a joint observation and spoke with staff. n Parents shared their views on the nursery with the inspector.

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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

8 March 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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