Little Acorns

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children demonstrate that they feel safe and are happy at the nursery. They are warmly welcomed by kind and nurturing staff, who are on hand to help them settle quickly.

Children show that they are motivated to learn as they relax to activities that provide them with a good range of learning experiences. For example, pre-school children enjoy mark-making activities, which support them in letter recognition for preparation to write their own names. Staff engage well with the children and provide an environment which is rich in language.

For instance, all staff read books to the children with great expression and enthusi...asm. This helps to captivate children and maintain their attention. Children show they have secure relationships with each other and the staff.

For example, babies and younger children show that staff are important to them as they cuddle them for comfort as needed. Children in the pre-toddler and toddler room are beginning to form good relationships and play well together. For instance, staff remind children to be kind and they help them to develop negotiation skills as they take turns when riding on bicycles.

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in their learning

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

The management team have taken positive steps since the last inspection to improve the quality of the curriculum within the nursery. Staff have received good support to develop their practice. The curriculum is well implemented through planned and purposeful activities.

Staff communicate well with the children and maintain a consistent dialogue with them to help develop their language effectively.The management team have a clear vision for the nursery and have been working with the local authority to improve practice. There have been many positive changes made.

However, there are some inconsistencies where monitoring of staff practice is not yet fully effective. Staff comment that they are happy at the nursery, feel supported and explain that the manager is approachable.Staff know the children well and understand what they need to learn next.

For example, babies are supported in their physical skills, as staff provide and encourage them to use the walkers to help them to master the skills to walk. The pre-school children are supported in their persistence for developing coordination skills, as they catch and throw a ball.Children are learning the importance of following a healthy lifestyle.

For instance, they learn the importance of washing their hands before meals, and older children are taught the technique of using the tissues to wipe their noses.Children benefit from healthy and nutritious snacks and meals. Staff know children's individual dietary needs well and cater for these accordingly.

Staff sit with the children during mealtimes and make this a social occasion. All staff show a secure awareness of ensuring food is cut to a suitable size to help reduce the risks of choking.Children behave well, and older children understand what is expected of them.

Staff provide clear and consistent expectations to children from a young age. Children's self-esteem is enhanced effectively by staff, as they provide children with a good amount of praise and encouragement.Parents comment that they are happy about the care and education their children receive.

They remark that the staff are 'amazing', 'very supportive' and that 'the facilities are wonderful'. Parents explain that they receive daily feedback about the activities their children have enjoyed and care routines at the end of the day. At times, staff do not keep parents fully up to date on how their children are developing to help them support learning at home.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff working with the children have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. They are confident in the signs and indicators of abuse, and are aware of the referral procedures to follow should the need arise.

Leaders provide regular safeguarding training to the staff, and they check their knowledge through regular meetings and quizzes. The premises are safe and secure and suitable risk assessments are undertaken. All staff are effectively deployed to meet the needs of the children.

Recruitment procedures are robust. This helps to ensure that all adults working with children are suitable.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen the monitoring of staff practice to focus more sharply on developing staff's knowledge and skills build on the information shared with parents even further to help them support their children's learning even more consistently at home.