ACE Early Years

Inspection of The Ace Children's Centre Burford Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5DZ

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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 Outstanding

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The provision requires improvement

The provider is developing the current curriculum to provide children with more consistency in their learning. Staff focus on supporting children's communication and language development and do so well. For example, staff read to children and introduce them to new words. During activities, staff explain ideas to children and ask them questions that encourage them to think and respond. This is especially beneficial for children who speak English as an additional language, who quickly begin to use English fluently. Overall, staff support children's learning well. They recognise when children's progress does meet expectations and take action to focus their support on these areas. This helps to close any gaps in their development. All children make steady progress at the setting.

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The provision requires improvement

However, there are weaknesses in the arrangement to ensure that staff have a secure knowledge of all policies, including aspects of the behaviour management policy. Despite this, staff support children effectively to enjoy their time spent at the setting and supervise them closely. Children learn to behave well, and staff intervene when needed to give children gentle guidance and to help them to learn about the feelings of others. Staff successfully encourage all children to get along. Children play together well, and staff understand the benefits of older children playing alongside younger ones as they learn from each other.

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need to do better?

n All staff recognise signs that children might be at risk of harm and take swift action to refer any concerns to safeguarding partners. There are robust procedures for checking staff's suitability to work with children, and staff receive regular training to support their safeguarding knowledge. Therefore, overall, the provider demonstrates a suitable capacity to safeguard children. A lack of clarity of understanding around the arrangements for managing allegations against staff was suitably addressed during the inspection. n Although, generally, staff encourage children to behave well, they are not provided with sufficient guidance about using physical restraint, for example, to prevent children from harming themselves and others. The provider does not ensure that records are kept of any such instances where staff need to physically move and handle children. They do not ensure that parents are informed of any

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need to do better?

such instances. This is a breach in requirements. n There is a good focus on developing children's early literacy skills. Stories and books are integral to children's learning. Staff engage children in lively, animated story times. Stories provide inspirations for other activities, such as when children play with dough. Staff create family books. Children enjoy looking at the photos of their families and that of others as they begin to understand about differences between themselves and others.

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need to do better?

3 February 2025 n Leaders and managers are in process of developing a new early years curriculum across the provision. This is because staff do not consistently implement the current curriculum as well as possible. Despite this, children enjoy activities, and staff track the progress children make effectively. n Staff know their local community well and actively encourage children's attendance at the setting. The provider offers flexible care to help meet the needs of local families. Staff engage with families well, and relationships with parents are strong. Staff share information with parents about children's progress effectively but do not share as much information about the curriculum. Therefore, parents are less aware of how they can complement children's learning at home. n Staff gather information from parents to help children to settle in at the setting. This is particularly detailed for babies. Staff have extensive information about

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need to do better?

children's home routines, comfort items and the ways they like to play. Children form close relationships with the staff who care for them. Staff are attentive, kind and caring, and this contributes towards children feeling safe and secure at the setting. n Staff encourage children to learn about being healthy. At mealtimes, staff talk with children about healthy eating and looking after their teeth. Staff promote children's independence. Children enjoy outdoor play where staff praise them as they climb, balance and slide on equipment as they strengthen their muscles and increase their physical skills. These activities contribute towards children being fit, active and learning about how to look after their bodies.

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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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Due date

implement clear guidance for staff about when physical intervention might be needed and ensure that records of any such incidents are shared with parents as soon as practically possible. 28/02/2025

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should:

3 February 2025 n develop the new curriculum and support staff to implement it consistently across the provision n enhance support for parents to better understand the curriculum that children follow to enable them to support children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 133481 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10382997 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 40 Number of children on roll 39

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Name of registered person

The Activities, Childcare and Education Centre Limited

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Telephone number

Date of previous inspection 18 September 2019

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Information about this early years setting

The Ace Children's Centre in Chipping Norton registered in 1998. The setting is open on weekdays from 8am until 6pm, all year round. The pre-school part of the provision opens from 9am until 2pm and runs term-time only. The setting employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of whom, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The setting offers government funded places for children aged from nine months to two years and children in receipt of funding for disadvantage. There is a local authority nursery school on the same site.

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Inspection activities

n This inspection was prioritised following a risk assessment process. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with one of the managers. n During the inspection, the inspector held a meeting with the managers and the trustees. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times throughout the inspection. n Parents were invited to share their views with the inspector. Several parents discussed their views during the inspection, and the inspector took account of all feedback received. n The inspector discussed the intent of the curriculum and observed its implementation during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.

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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

3 February 2025 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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