About Acorns Nursery

Acorns Nursery was registered in 2007.  Operating from St John's Centre in Oakley, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. The nursery uses the recently refurbished main hall as a playroom with a separate area for 2-3 year olds and there is a large secure outdoor play area, with a large canopy for wet weather.  24 children aged between two years and five years may attend the nursery at any one time.

 

Children may attend for a variety of sessions. The nursery supports children with special educational needs and children who speak English as an additional language.

 

Acorns Nursery is registered with Ofsted.  Our staff ratios are 1 member of staff to 4 children for 2 year olds and 1 member of staff to 8 children for 3+ year olds; however, we often have a ratio of 1:5 or less depending on numbers.

 

Acorns Nursery has been inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted.) and a copy of their report is available on request or on the Internet.

 

Read our latest Ofsted report here. 

 

Here are some Highlights of our last report:

 

"Children are provided with exceptional levels of care and make significant progress in their learning and development."

 

"Parents speak very highly about the setting and state that the key strength is the well-established experienced staff team and the wonderful outdoor facilities."

 

"From the time they arrive, the children are eager to explore whatever is available to them and they meet every new challenge with a real enthusiasm."

 

 

Aims of Acorns Nursery

 

We aim to provide a safe and secure environment where each child will be encouraged to progress at their own pace, through a wide range of activities and experiences, supported by experienced staff. We adopt a free-flow approach enabling children to benefit from a range of activities both inside and outside.

 

Our main objective is to provide a happy nursery where children gain confidence, build self-esteem and learn to value their environment and their peers through child-centred learning.

 

We aim to help children to develop their skills through first hand experience in  all areas including fine and gross motor skills, language and social interaction. Children will be encouraged to investigate mathematical development, knowledge and understanding in the world, creativity and musical ideas.  They will sometimes work individually with a member of staff at their own level or take part in group games or activities of their own choosing. Their progress will be carefully monitored during their time at Acorns and shared with parents on a termly basis.

 

Our environment will aim to be: 

Stimulating and interesting

Reassuring and secure

Physically safe and comfortable

Meet any special needs

Encourage independence

 

Staffing  

 

Trained professionals and experienced assistants staff our pre-school, with all staff holding either a NVQ Level 3, a teaching certificate or other appropriate child care qualification.  All our staff have attended courses to update their skills and undertake further training as required.  There is always at least two first aid trained members of staff at the pre-school.