Growing Places @ Little Acorns

Inspection of Growing Places @ Little Acorns Little Acorns, Mayles Lane, Wickham, Hants PO17 5AG

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children flourish at this welcoming nursery. They are confident, happy and curious. Children have a rich variety of opportunities to be independent thinkers. They are captivated by the exciting and well-thought-out activities that staff provide. For example, children enjoy learning about minibeasts and their habitats. They use magnifying glasses to find creatures and identify them using books. Children are kind and respectful to each other and work harmoniously together. They initiate conversation and share ideas. Children learn the meaning of new words, such as 'stag beetle' and 'environment'. Older children offer support and guidance to younger children. They help them to lift natural resources, initiate conversation and share ideas. This supports children to develop positive relationships.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of all children. They are good role models and sensitively teach children how to follow rules and procedures. Children behave very well and have good manners. They take turns and share resources. For instance, children wait patiently to use the spades to help dig holes in the soil, and say 'please' and 'thank you' regularly during interactions with others. Staff and children are treated as equals. For example, during 'morning proposal', they discuss what they would like to do during the day. Everyone has an opportunity to share their ideas. This ensures that all children feel included and valued.

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need to do better?

n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Staff are attentive to children's individual needs. Leaders signpost parents to support from other professionals and implement tailored teaching and care routines. This helps to improve outcomes for children. n Leaders have established close links with local schools. Children are prepared for the next stage of their education and supported to make a seamless transition through teacher visits and good communication between settings. This ensures continuity for children. n The quality of education is good. Staff are passionate about ensuring that children have rich learning opportunities. They plan a wide range of interesting activities to support children's individual needs and interests. For example, children use dough to create pizza using flowers, herbs, sticks and leaves. Staff extend children's learning by encouraging them to think of how plants grow.

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need to do better?

However, not all staff encourage children to participate in activities. This means that there are occasions when children are not engaged in meaningful play and learning. n Children make good progress in all areas of their development. Staff know children well. They find out what children know and can do when they start attending, and monitor their development through observations. This enables

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need to do better?

31 May 2023 any gaps in children's learning and development to be identified quickly. Staff plan activities to further extend their learning based on children's interests and ages and stages of development. n Staff plan the environment effectively. Children benefit greatly from playing outdoors. Staff teach them how to interact safely and look after animals, such as goats, sheep, ducks, chickens and rabbits. Children learn how to grow their own food, which they help to prepare and consume. This helps them to respect nature and enhances their developing independence skills. n The curriculum is well thought out. Staff provide a good balance of adult-led and child-led activities. They thoughtfully plan fun activities that sequence children's learning to build on what children know and can do. For instance, during music and song time, children take turns to call out the names of wild animals. Staff extend their learning by encouraging children to make animal sounds and move

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need to do better?

like animals. This results in all children being engaged and motivated to learn. n Children are confident communicators. Staff talk to children, ask them questions and introduce them to new words. For instance, during story time, children repeat words and phrases. They discuss characters and predict what happens next. This helps to support their communication and language skills. n Parent partnerships are strong. Parents highly praise leaders and staff. They comment that they feel 'supported', and that 'staff are open and honest'. Parents form good relationships with each other through volunteering at the setting and through celebrations organised by the nursery. This means that children have opportunities to interact with people from their local community and helps them to understand diversity. n Staff morale is very high. Staff have regular opportunities to evaluate and discuss their practice. Leaders provide rich learning opportunities for staff. For

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need to do better?

example, staff attend specialist training in Italy, funded by the nursery. This helps staff to improve their knowledge and understanding of different teaching styles.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a clear understanding of how to keep children safe from harm. They know the signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow if they are concerned for children's safety. The manager has robust systems in place to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. All staff who work at the nursery have been appropriately checked and their continued suitability is monitored regularly. Leaders ensure that staff have access to training to refresh their knowledge of safeguarding. Staff help children to manage risks. For instance, staff teach children about the dangers of extreme weather. Children put on their hats and help apply sun cream. This helps children understand how to stay safe in the sun.

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should:

n improve the support for less qualified or experienced staff to develop their teaching skills, so that all children consistently benefit from high-quality learning experiences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2631346 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10285481 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 25 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Community Childcare Centres

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reference number

Telephone number 07794744947 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Growing Places @ Little Acorns registered in 2021. It operates from premises near the village of Wickham, near Portsmouth, Hampshire. The setting operates all day Monday to Friday and is open throughout the year. It offers care to children aged two and over and also provides out-of-school care. The setting has an outdoor learning approach. The manager holds a relevant level 3 qualification. Staff qualifications range between level 6 to level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 setting. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children and staff spoke with the inspector during the inspection. 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 an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

31 May 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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