Little Acorns Nursery

Inspection of Little Acorns Nursery Oak Farm, Drayton Lane, Drayton Bassett, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3EF

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely happy and settled at this highly nurturing and caring nursery. The inspirational leaders and staff are dedicated to their roles. They work tirelessly to provide the very best care and education for all the children. Leaders and staff are passionate about their whole nursery community. They aim to do the very best they can for all children, families and staff.

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The provision is outstanding

Leaders work alongside staff to create a unique, ambitious and meticulously sequenced curriculum and learning environment, which inspires children's curiosity and promotes child-led learning. Daily discussions between leaders and staff about children's progress help to shape and evolve the learning experience for each child. This means all children, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are highly engaged with their play and make superb progress from their individual starting points.

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The provision is outstanding

There are consistently highly positive and warm relationships between staff and children. Staff and children clearly enjoy their time together, and there is lots of shared laughter throughout the day. Staff are excellent role models and treat children with kindness, patience and respect. Children reflect this behaviour in their relationships with each other. Children consistently work cooperatively with their peers. They independently organise resources and games, working together to create the environment they want. They are kind, friendly and polite towards others.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are exceptionally skilled and have a deep understanding of the children and families they support. They have a clear vision for the nursery that is eagerly shared and embedded by the whole staff team. Staff make the most of the nursery's location on a working farm to ensure that children learn first-hand about the natural world around them. Children enjoy visiting the animals on the farm and have an exceptional knowledge of how the environment changes throughout the year. For example, children explain the colour changes, animals and insects they see and the abundance of leaves and plants. n Leaders and staff are passionate about encouraging children to develop an early love of reading and books. They have developed a child and adult library that children are eager to use and share with parents. Children pick up books and share them throughout the day. They cuddle up with staff and enjoy listening to

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need to do better?

a variety of stories, building up on their own interests. This supports children to make the best possible progress with their early reading skills. n Staff have in-depth knowledge of each child. Every member of the team has an excellent understanding of each child's precise next steps in learning. This

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need to do better?

22 July 2025 means that every moment becomes an opportunity to enthuse and engage children in learning. For example, pre-school children use their interest in dinosaurs to dig for bones. They talk about how they carefully dust the bones with brushes, before removing the bones, measuring and comparing the sizes. They use tape measures to decide which bone is longer and shorter. They read the numbers, and compare them. Staff introduce new words and help children to remember previous words and learning, such as compare, environment and palaeontologist. They ask open-ended questions to aid the children's curiosity and learning. The quality of teaching is consistently exceptional. n Children's independence flourishes through thoughtfully designed routines. For instance, all children, even the very youngest pour their own drinks at meal time and children are encouraged to progress from using spoons to mastering knives

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need to do better?

and forks. These achievements instil pride and equip children with essential life skills. n Assessment is used exceptionally well, children are tracked on entry and at key points to ensure staff swiftly identify any emerging gaps. Interventions are then put into place to ensure children quickly catch up. Staff advocate for children in a determined manner and are relentless in their quest to secure the support that some children need to make the very best progress. n Parents speak incredibly highly of the support they receive. They value both formal and informal discussions with staff about their child's progress. Staff provide a wealth of advice and support parents to contribute consistently to their child's learning at home. n Staff are incredibly well supported. Leaders work alongside staff, coaching and mentoring them. The long-standing, experienced team of staff are encouraged to support and learn from each other. Professional development is identified for

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need to do better?

each member of the team. Staff say they can see the impact their training has on the learning experiences of each child. This support helps to ensure that the quality of teaching is consistently outstanding across the whole team.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY257600 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10410185 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 79 Number of children on roll 99 Name of registered person Little Acorns (Drayton Bassett) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01827 289537 Date of previous inspection 4 February 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Little Acorns Nursery registered in 2003 and operates in Tamworth, Staffordshire. There are currently 17 members of staff working directly with the children. Of these, 3 hold early years qualifications at level 6 and 13 at level 2 and above. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke 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 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 manager carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

22 July 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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