Little Acorns Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children have great fun, indoors and outside, at this warm and friendly nursery. Babies and children settle very quickly. They are very happy and content.

Staff place a strong focus on outdoor play. Children thoroughly enjoy their time outside in the fresh air. The nursery is situated within a working farm, which means children have daily opportunities to get involved with and observe farm life.

Babies and younger children enjoy feeding the ducks. Staff introduce and model words during the activity and children begin to copy words such as 'duck' and 'quack'. This helps children to develop their early language and speak...ing skills.

Children enjoy a wide range of activities and resources. They develop strong small-muscle skills. They delight in the array of messy and exploratory activities provided.

Children immerse their hands in jelly, oats and cereal mixes. They use tools and utensils to explore, roll and create with different media and materials. Staff are good role models.

They teach children how to share and take turns. Children are kind to each other and play cooperatively. Older children negotiate between themselves to agree roles in their play as they pretend to be shopkeepers.

Children behave well.

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

The manager and staff are committed to providing high-quality care. Staff benefit from ongoing supervision and training to enhance their skills.

Staff are happy in their roles and morale is high. They feel well supported and benefit from time out to complete any paperwork tasks. This means they can maximise the time spent on improving outcomes for children.

Children develop independence from an early age. Staff encourage them to get their own boots, coats and hats on before they go outside. Older children lay the table, serve their own meals and pour their own drinks.

Staff encourage children to take responsibility. For example, staff choose 'special helpers' to assist with simple tasks during the day. Children readily tidy away toys and develop confidence in managing personal care routines.

Staff know children well. They make regular and detailed observations of children's achievements. Staff know what children need to learn next and focus on their individual learning throughout the day.

Children's emotional security is promoted as they spend time in their 'key family groups'. However, adult-led activities are not always planned effectively enough to fully motivate and engage children in their learning.Children become confident communicators.

Babies babble in response to staff, while toddlers use newly acquired words to point out objects in picture books. Staff skilfully introduce mathematical language and concepts as children play.Younger children begin to identify shapes as they use shape sorters.

Older children match, sort and count objects.Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff share regular information to keep parents well informed about their child's learning.

Parents are very happy with the provision. They comment on how much their children enjoy attending and the progress they are making.Children develop good literacy skills.

Staff share books and stories with children, bringing the stories to life with the use of props and other resources. Children act out a story about three little pigs. They use sticks, straw and bricks to build the pigs' houses.

Children choose to look at books independently and ask staff to help them to act out stories on the farm. They enjoy hunting for bears and collecting 'treasure', such as sticks and leaves to create their own crowns.Staff help children to develop an awareness of difference and diversity.

They plan activities that focus on different celebrations and cultures. Children learn about life in the local community. For example, staff arrange for visits from people working in the community, including a vicar, doctor and the police.

Children learn a great deal about life, growth and food. Staff support them to grow pumpkins, beans and a variety of different fruit.The organisation is not fully effective during transition times, such as between activities or before meals.

Occasionally, children spend too long waiting and become restless.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff are vigilant about children's safety and well-being.

They attend meetings and complete training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. This ensures they understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. Staff know the indicators that may suggest a child is at risk of harm or neglect.

They demonstrate a clear understanding of how to obtain additional help from other professionals to help safeguard children. Daily risk assessments and environment checks are carried out to minimise any hazards or accidents, and to ensure the nursery is safe and secure.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nincrease children's concentration and attention during focused, adult-led activities review the organisation of time between activities and routines to maximise the time for children to engage in enjoyable, purposeful play.