Acorn at Hedgerows

Inspection of Acorn at Hedgerows Netherfield Playzone, Langland Road, Netherfield, Milton Keynes MK6 4NP

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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

Staff offer children a warm welcome into this nurturing and caring nursery. Children are happy and settle well. New children receive close and sensitive support from their key person to help them settle into nursery. Staff provide home visits to new children. This enables them to start building relationships and gather information about children's home lives. Staff know children incredibly well and understand their individual needs. This ensures all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are included, and their needs are met. The manager and staff access and use any additional funding well. They provide additional resources and fund extra sessions for children who they know would benefit from this.

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The provision is good

The new manager and staff are really passionate about what they do and how they can provide the best for the children in their care. Children are very inquisitive and imaginative. They love exploring the outdoor space and their environment, looking for bugs, caring for plants and hiding in recycled boxes. Children behave well; they listen carefully to staff instructions and follow these. Staff offer reminders of expectations as needed, such as not to eat play dough. Staff support children to cooperate with their peers and they play well with their friends. Children demonstrate sustained engagement and concentration, for example when they are cutting ribbons to decorate crowns.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff team have developed an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum for children. This focuses on the individual cohort of children and their knowledge of families and the local community. They ensure children experience nature and the natural environment. In addition, they prioritise helping children to understand emotions so they can begin to self-regulate and show empathy. n On arrival, staff encourage parents to support their children to use self- registration. Children select their name and photo from the tree and stick it to a peg with their belongings. This supports a sense of belonging as well as helping children to develop a sense of self and early literacy in recognising their own names in print. n Staff talk to children and help them learn new vocabulary. They also read stories and sing songs, so children hear lots of language. Staff have recently learned basic signs to support children to communicate, especially those who find this

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need to do better?

more difficult. However, staff do not always use this consistently to enable all children to communicate their wants and needs. n Staff encourage children to develop healthy habits and independence skills. They offer nose wiping and drinking stations. Even the youngest children delight in

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need to do better?

1 August 2024 getting themselves a drink of water. Staff also share oral health information with parents and encourage them to register with a dentist. The nursery has developed a recipe book so children can enjoy all their favourite healthy nursery meals at home. This enables parents to also support the development of healthy routines at home. n The manager and her deputy have a very clear vision of what they want to achieve for the children and their families. They have a good understanding of the setting's strengths and weaknesses and what needs to be improved. They ensure staff access regular training, both internally and through an online platform, to develop their knowledge and skills. However, the arrangements to provide coaching and mentoring for staff are not yet fully effective to raise their practice to the highest level. n Partnerships with parents and other agencies are highly effective. Staff have a

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need to do better?

really clear understanding of the community families live in. The manager and staff support families to access what they need, such as using the local food bank or children's centre services. They also share any leftover fruit and food with families so they can enjoy this at home. Staff provide a lending library and story bags to help support parents to read with their children at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n embed staff's support for children's communication and language development, to ensure this is consistent and gaps close quickly n provide further coaching, mentoring and support for staff to raise the quality of interactions and teaching to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2679438 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10350677 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 42 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person Acorn Early Years Foundation

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reference number

Telephone number 01908 394996 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Acorn at Hedgerows registered in 2022. The nursery is situated in Netherfield, Milton Keynes. The nursery is open all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year. The nursery employs 12 members of staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications. The setting 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 provider. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with 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, 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 during lunchtime. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability

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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

1 August 2024 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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