Acorn Academy Day Nursery

Inspection of Acorn Academy Day Nursery 211 Lincoln Road, PETERBOROUGH PE1 2PL

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy attending the nursery. They benefit from the calm, inclusive and welcoming environment that staff provide. Children form strong bonds with staff and show that they feel safe and secure. Staff take time to get to know each child and tailor settling-in sessions to meet individual needs. Children quickly build confidence to attend the nursery. They engage with staff and are keen to explore, showing increasing levels of attention. Children show respect towards staff and their peers. They learn to share and take turns as they play. Children are familiar with the nursery routine and what is expected.

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The provision is good

There is a true sense of community at this nursery, where staff celebrate children's cultural identities. The majority of children speak English as an additional language or are bi-lingual. Staff use a range of strategies that help children understand and speak English. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive good support to help them enjoy and participate in nursery life. Children enjoy looking at books and listening to stories that staff read to them. They remember words and phrases from the stories and often use them as they play. When children explore the garden for bugs, they talk about the food the caterpillar ate before transforming into a butterfly and start to sing a song that they learned about the story.

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need to do better?

n The provider has made a number of changes since the last inspection, working closely with the local authority. They have managed staff changes well to ensure children receive as much consistency as possible. The provider has established a clear curriculum that helps children build on what they know and reflects the needs of the community that the nursery serves. n Staff receive appropriate training and support to ensure that children's individual needs are met and to continue to develop and improve practice. They say that they are well supported in their roles and that they feel valued by leaders. Good consideration is given by leaders to staff's well-being. Staff work well together as a team and have children at the heart of all that they do. n Staff working with children with SEND are well trained. They take time to understand children's specific needs and are meticulous in documenting their learning journey. They work closely with parents and other professionals to

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need to do better?

deliver targeted interventions. Staff provide parents with guidance and support to navigate and access professional support for their child. n Parents are very positive about the staff and the nursery. They say that their children enjoy coming to the nursery. Parents say that they are well informed about their child's progress in learning and what they need to learn next. They add that staff are approachable and welcoming.

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need to do better?

20 June 2025 n Leaders ensure that any additional funds children receive, such as early years pupil premium, is used in a considered way to give the individual child receiving it the best start in life. n Leaders are mindful of local published statistics about young children and adapt the curriculum to give children the best start. This includes teaching children about healthy lifestyles. Staff ensure children are physically active and learn about healthy food choices. They teach children about good oral health practices that are informed from professional training through the NHS. Staff provide information to parents about the importance of online safety and introduce this concept with children in age-appropriate ways, such as through stories. n Staff understand the importance of books and how this supports and inspires children's learning. They provide plenty of books for children to self-select. Books

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need to do better?

are purposely chosen to teach children specific vocabulary and supporting activities are planned to help embed new learning. This includes books about children's faiths and cultures. Staff encourage children to share information about special celebrations and festivals. This helps children to feel valued and promotes a sense of belonging for all. n Staff talk to children throughout the day, placing priority on children's communication and language development. However, sometimes staff working with older children tend to ask lots of questions in succession. Although this helps staff to check what children have remembered, it reduces opportunities for children to share more of what they know or to broaden their knowledge through conversation.

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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 build on staff interactions with older children to help broaden children's knowledge and conversation skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY546492 Local authority Peterborough Inspection number 10376659 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 80 Number of children on roll 77 Name of registered person Acorn Academy Day Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01733890911 Date of previous inspection 18 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Acorn Academy Day Nursery registered in June 2017. The nursery employs 11 members of staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The manager holds early years qualifications at level 6. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm, all year round, apart from one week over Christmas. The nursery provides government funded early education places to all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views, together with those provided in written feedback. 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

20 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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