Acorn Day Care Limited

Inspection of Acorn Day Care Limited 2 Roman Road, Luton LU3 2QT

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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 work as a team to provide a welcoming environment for the children. Children are happy and greeted by friendly staff. Staff know children well and have good knowledge of their backgrounds, families, and individual experiences. Staff provide children with opportunities to develop their physical skills. Babies cruise around furniture and pull themselves up to access activities that interest them. Staff celebrate with young children as they take their steps. Older children develop their core muscles and hand-eye coordination as they scoop and pour water down the water wall. Children delight in selecting different drainpipes, exploring, and investigating how the water flow changes. Children know the steeper the slope, the faster the water flows.

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The provision is good

Children are curious and motivated to learn. Staff support children to focus on activities and give praise when they learn new skills. Staff are positive role models. They show respect to the children as they ask permission before they wipe their noses, or before they change their nappies. They are calm and help children to understand how they might be feeling. They guide children's behaviour through gentle reminders and diverting their attention elsewhere. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff are ambitious about what all children can achieve, and they support all children to make good progress in their learning. Staff plan activities based on children's interests and what they see as children play. Children practise their dexterity threading laces through cotton reels and pasta shapes. Children, in the main, remain engaged and focused during these activities and experiences. However, some staff do not always know what they intend children to learn when taking part. Therefore, some planned activities do not consistently build on what children know and need to know next. n Staff help children build secure attachments. Babies lift their arms to be picked up by staff they feel comfortable with. Older children seek out familiar staff to talk about their painting designs. n Transitions for children are planned throughout the nursery. Staff help children to be emotionally ready for the next stage in their learning, including their move

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need to do better?

to school. Staff invite teaching staff into the nursery to visit children before they start school and provide information about their development to help them move on. n Staff teach children to be independent and use their self-care skills well. They help children to manage packaging in their packed lunches. Children put their rubbish in the bin when they have finished eating. Staff encourage older children to manage the stairs independently. Children recognise that holding onto the

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need to do better?

2 June 2025 banisters as they use the stairs helps to keep them safe. n Staff organise adult-guided groups that help children to listen and follow instructions. Older children remember previous learning about the life cycle of a caterpillar. Younger children respond to questions about the weather and about what day of the week it is. However, when planning large-group activities, staff do not always consider the organisation of these activities. As a result, not all children remain interested or benefit from the learning experiences. n Staff recognise the importance of developing children's communication and language. They engage children in meaningful conversations. They value what they say and leave gaps to allow children thinking time. Staff support children who speak English as an additional language well. They understand the importance of the use of children's home language to support their language

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need to do better?

skills and sense of self. Staff greet children in their home language each morning and use keywords to support their understanding throughout the day. Children become confident communicators. n Parents share that all staff are approachable and supportive. Staff keep them well-informed of their child's development and how they can support learning at home. Parents comment that they particularly enjoy the workshops that help them to develop their parenting skills.

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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 help staff to clearly identify what they intend for children to learn from the activities they provide n support staff to deliver large-group activities more effectively, so all children benefit from the learning experiences and maintain engagement

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2721420 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10402059 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 69 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Acorn Day Care Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01582 574390 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Acorn Day Care Limited registered in 2023. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualification at level 2 and above. The nursery is open from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, term time only. The nursery provides funded early education places for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The leadership team joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the leadership team about the management of the nursery. 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 inspector carried out joint observations with the provider. n Parents spoke to the inspector during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

2 June 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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