Acorn Grove Nursery

Inspection of Acorn Grove Nursery Woodville Children's Centre, Shirley Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 0NE

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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 thoroughly enjoy spending time at this nursery. They are warmly welcomed by caring staff. Staff build positive relationships with all the children. They are attentive and nurturing in their approach. This helps children to feel safe and secure in the nursery. Children gain a good awareness of expected behaviours. Staff have high expectations for all children. They are positive role models and encourage children to show good manners and respect for each other. Staff provide children with clear instructions. This helps children understand the rules in the nursery, such as why they need to use 'kind hands'.

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The provision is good

Staff use books to help children recognise their own feelings. Children practise pulling faces in mirrors to represent different emotions. They are learning how to manage their own feelings effectively. Children's communication and language are promoted well. They hear repeated words as staff read books and sing nursery rhymes that they choose. Staff also introduce new words to children as they play. For example, they use the words 'sticky' and 'soft' as children make play dough. Staff use clear and well-pronounced speech. This helps all children, especially those who speak English as an additional language, develop their language skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide a broad curriculum for children that prepares them for the next stage in their learning. They plan activities that excite children into learning. Staff assess children's development and know what they want children to learn. However, staff do not always differentiate activities effectively. They do not consider enough challenge for the most able children. Consequently, children sometimes become disengaged. n Children have copious opportunities to enhance their physical development. They balance across tyres and planks of wood outside. Children confidently ride around the outside area on tricycles. This helps to develop children's large muscle movements. n Staff promote diversity well. Children look carefully in the mirror to identify their features as they make faces. They celebrate what makes each other unique. Children celebrate a range of festivals and learn about other cultures. This helps

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need to do better?

children learn about people and families that may be different to their own. n Parent partnerships are strong. Parents are invited in for stay-and-play sessions and they attend story times at the nursery. They are complimentary about the care the nursery provides. Parents praise the staff for the regular updates they provide about children's development. This helps to provide continuity in children's learning. n Children's independence is encouraged from an early age. They serve their own food at snack time and carry their plates to the table. Children hang their own

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need to do better?

14 December 2023 coats up when they come in from outside. This helps children feel proud of the activities they can complete by themselves. n Leaders carry out supervisions with staff. They are proactive in seeking training opportunities to enhance staff's professional development. Staff say that their well-being is considered. They comment on how well supported and valued they feel at the nursery. n Children behave well. They listen attentively to staff's instructions. Children play harmoniously together and take turns with the equipment. Staff provide children with an abundance of praise. This helps to build up children's self-esteem. n Overall, children's communication and language are promoted well. Staff hold meaningful conversations with children about the food they bake with their parents at home. The more confident children are keen to share their ideas in activities. However, staff do not always encourage the quieter children to join in

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need to do better?

with whole group activities. As a result, they do not always have opportunities to have their voice heard. n The special educational needs and disability coordinator makes timely referrals to outside agencies. She works closely with other professionals and staff to implement targeted learning plans when staff have developmental concerns about children. Managers use additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, wisely to enrich children's learning experiences. This helps to support the development of individual children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. They know the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to refer concerns about children's welfare. Staff attend regular safeguarding training to update their knowledge. Managers implement safe recruitment procedures to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. They ensure that staff are deployed effectively so that children are always supervised. Staff teach children simple rules, such as using their 'walking feet' inside, to help them learn how to keep themselves safe. Staff teach children about road safety. Children role play crossing roads in the outdoor area. They also practise crossing roads safely when they go on outings.

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should:

n support staff to provide high-quality interactions with quieter, less-confident children to engage them better in learning n develop the way staff differentiate activities, to help provide further challenge to the most able children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY280214 Local authority Manchester Inspection number 10301438 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 65 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Pre-School Learning Alliance

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reference number

Telephone number 0161 740 5687 Date of previous inspection 15 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Acorn Grove Nursery registered in 2005 and is situated in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3.30pm. 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views of the setting 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

14 December 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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