Acre Wood Day Nursery (Arlesey) Ltd

Inspection of Acre Wood Day Nursery (Arlesey) Ltd Acre Wood Day Nursery, 47 Hospital Road, Arlesey SG15 6RH

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

Children are happy to come into the setting. They happily leave their parents and are eager to see what activities are available. Staff take the time to get to know children and work closely with parents to gain information. They adapt the settling- in process and work closely with parents to gain information about the children's next steps. However, this is not consistent for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff do not always share adequate information with each other. Due to this, children with SEND do not always have the same opportunities as others to make progress in their learning and development.

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The provision requires improvement

Children generally behave well. Some children happily share and take turns with their friends. However, staff do not always provide children with clear and consistent messages about the expectations of their behaviour. This includes a lack of reinforcement of the rules and boundaries. Therefore, children do not fully understand what behaviour is not appropriate, such as throwing objects.

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The provision requires improvement

The manager has designed a curriculum that helps children thrive. However, not all staff have the knowledge and skills to be able to differentiate planned activities for children at different ages and stages of development.

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need to do better?

n The manager and leadership team have a clear plan for taking the setting forward and are positive and proactive in their approach to the challenges and changes that the setting has faced. They are making improvements and supporting practice and provision. More recently, they have engaged in support from the local authority early years team. However, changes are yet to be fully embedded to impact on the quality of teaching and learning that children receive. n The special educational needs coordinator works to identify children with SEND. However, staff working with these children do not provide the support they need. They let them, at times, remain at the same activity with no interaction. Consequently, children appear bored. They simply look through a favourite book or wander around the room without purpose. Staff do not meet their individual needs or extend their learning. n Children make independent choices and follow their interests. They enjoy

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need to do better?

squashing and molding faces out of play dough. However, the quality of teaching across the nursery does not support children to make the best possible progress. While staff plan activities, they do not extend and challenge children enough to ensure they gain the most from the experiences available to them. n Staff encourage children to have healthy lifestyles. They remind children to drink water to keep hydrated. Older children develop their physical skills as they run,

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need to do better?

20 July 2023 jump and balance in the garden. Babies explore the low-level step and ramp as they attempt to pull themselves up to a standing position. n Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about early mathematical concepts. For example, children recall the names of shapes and count the blocks they add to the tower. Staff introduce some mathematical language as children fill empty containers during water play. Older children recognise that a satsuma is a 'round' shape. n Staff provide a range of experiences for children to develop their communication and language skills. Children enjoy song time, listening to staff sing songs and joining in with the parts they know. In the garden, staff talk to children about the sounds they can hear. They listen out for the trains. Staff talk to children during activities and narrate what they are doing. n Children learn about the world around them. They explore the digging area,

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need to do better?

using a variety of tools to create different ways of moving the soil around. Staff talk to children about different plants and vegetables they are growing. n Parents spoken to on the day of the inspection are complimentary about staff and comment on their kind and caring nature. They feel informed about the children's daily experiences, as staff talk to them at drop-off and collection time.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge of what to do if they have concerns regarding a child's well-being. They have regular meetings with the manager and share any concerns. They attend training, ensuring they keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. The manager tests the staff's knowledge of child protection policies and procedures. Children are closely supervised, and staff monitor babies when they are sleeping to ensure they are safe. Staff complete checks of the nursery premises to identify and take action to minimise any hazards. The manager uses effective systems to recruit staff and to ensure their ongoing suitability.

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Due date

provide support for children with SEND, to meet their individual needs and extend their learning 04/09/2023

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Due date

20 July 2023 improve staff's understanding of behaviour management strategies so that they have a consistent approach to better support children's understanding of positive behaviour. 04/09/2023

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should:

n improve the monitoring of staff practice to develop their knowledge and understanding of how to adapt activities to suit children at different ages and stages of development, ensuring that all children benefit from consistently good- quality teaching.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498678 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10300495 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 51 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Acre Wood Day Nursery (Arlesey) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07908924566 Date of previous inspection 16 May 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Acre Wood Day Nursery (Arlesey) Ltd registered in 2016, having previously been registered since 2003. The nursery employs 11 members of staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am to 6.15pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery 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 A joint observation of practice was carried out by the manager and the inspector. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

20 July 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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