Little Acorns Pre School

Inspection of Little Acorns Pre School Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire BS32 8HL

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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 and enjoy the time they spend at this bright and inviting pre- school. They are motivated to learn and eager to explore the well-resourced indoor and outdoor learning environments. Children are familiar with the daily routine. They self-register on arrival and enthusiastically greet their peers. Children excitedly move their bodies to music as they engage in a 'wake and shake' activity with staff. They stretch their arms, twirl and jump to the music.

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The provision is good

Children develop secure attachments with their key person and all staff who care for them. They display good social skills and caring early friendships. Children seek out their friends throughout the day. They share interests and clearly enjoy each other's company.

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The provision is good

Children learn about the world and living things as they hunt for insects in the garden. They take an interest in literacy. Children relax and lie back in the 'story boat', looking at books and discussing the illustrations with each other. Children develop a sense of responsibility. They take on roles, such as the 'daily helper', and choose a friend to assist them with tasks. Staff support children to complete a daily risk assessment checklist. Children tick the list to say they have checked the outdoor area for litter and checked that the gates are secure. This helps children to develop their understanding of keeping themselves safe.

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need to do better?

n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported very well. The manager works closely with parents and external professionals to make sure that children receive consistent levels of support to help them to make the best possible progress. The manager ensures that additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, is used appropriately to best support the children who receive it. n All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are confident communicators. Staff are effective role models and speak clearly to children. They ask them questions that give children time to think and respond. This helps to develop their conversational skills. Key persons learn key words in children's home language to support children's understanding at the pre-school. The manager effectively communicates with parents who do not speak English as their first language. She introduces them to other parents who speak the

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need to do better?

same language as them. This promotes a community ethos and helps parents to feel included and valued. n Staff get to know their key children well. They make regular observations and assessments to identify children's interests, as well as areas for development. Staff plan the curriculum with children's interests in mind. However, staff do not

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need to do better?

17 May 2023 always use their knowledge of children's individual learning needs to target their teaching and support children to make the best possible progress in their learning and development. n Children freely access the outdoor learning environment. They benefit from opportunities to develop their agility and core strength. Staff support children to swing and balance on equipment. However, staff do not provide enough opportunities for children to engage in more-energetic physical activities to promote their physical development and good health even further. n Partnerships with parents are a strength of the pre-school. Parent feedback is incredibly positive. They feel well informed about their children's learning and are supported to continue children's learning at home. Parents comment on how their children love the staff and how much they enjoy attending. They state that at the weekend, children proudly teach their family the pre-school's sign of the

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need to do better?

week. Parents also see the impact of their children's experiences at the pre- school in their behaviours at home. For example, they state that children are keen to help to prepare food at home as they are used to doing this at the pre- school. n The manager and staff share mutual feelings of gratitude and value for each other. The manager observes staff's practice and meets with them regularly to complete supervisions and identify any training needs. Staff appreciate the supportive nature of the manager. They regularly attend training and recently updated their knowledge and skills to promote the provision of mathematics across the pre-school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of their role to safeguard children. They attend regular child protection training. Staff are able to recognise the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. This includes signs that children or their family members are being subjected to extreme behaviours or views. Staff have a clear understanding of the procedures to follow should they need to report a concern. The manager meticulously monitors concerns and makes referrals to the relevant agencies. The use of robust recruitment and induction procedures ensure that staff are safe and suitable to care for children.

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should:

n support staff to use their knowledge of children's individual learning needs and adopt a more-focused approach to their teaching to support children to make even better progress in their learning and development n consider further ways to promote children's engagement in more-energetic

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should:

17 May 2023 physical activities to fully promote their physical development and good health.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY310695 Local authority South Gloucestershire Inspection number 10285747 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 30 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person LA Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07837707331 Date of previous inspection 17 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Pre School operates from a community building in the centre of Bradley Stoke, in South Gloucestershire. It registered in 2004. The pre-school opens every weekday during term time between the hours of 9am and 3pm. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. A team of eight staff work with the children. Six of the staff, including the manager, hold early years qualifications at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk of all areas of the pre- school and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the pre-school and sampled some key documentation.

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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

17 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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