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Acorn Montessori School

Ofsted: Strong standard·
5.0(31 parent reviews)
·Gerrards Cross Youth Centre, East Common, Gerrards Cross, SL9 7AD · Buckinghamshire
Number of places
25 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2025
Local authority
Buckinghamshire

About this day nursery

Acorn Montessori School, established in 1994, is a childcare on non-domestic premises setting in Gerrards Cross for children aged 2 to 4 years old. The school maintains a strong culture of inclusion, ensuring that every child's needs are recognised and supported from their starting points.

The dedicated staff effectively identify and address any learning gaps, adapting their teaching to suit individual needs. Leaders actively seek specialist input from external agencies to remove barriers to learning, providing tailored support for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged children.

The curriculum at Acorn Montessori School is ambitious and creative, with staff passionately delivering engaging learning experiences, such as writing original songs to connect with children's interests. Communication and language development are central to the curriculum, employing language-rich interactions where staff model ambitious vocabulary.

Children who speak English as an additional language receive dedicated support through familiar words and songs from their home languages, helping them to feel valued and confident while developing effective communication skills. The school fosters a positive environment with a strong emphasis on kindness, care, and respect, where children thrive and build positive friendships.

Children are warmly welcomed, feeling safe and secure as they engage in purposeful learning and develop independence, respect, and courtesy, preparing them for future learning and life endeavours. Leaders are committed to meeting statutory requirements and continuously improving the lives of all children, demonstrating a clear understanding of the setting's strengths and a proactive approach to development.

Our ethos

At Acorn, we create a calm, supportive environment where children learn to play, work and cooperate with others, helping them grow in confidence beyond the family setting. We place great importance on children’s personal, social and emotional development, encouraging kindness, respect and an understanding of themselves and those around them. From the very beginning, our focus is on nurturing each child’s emotional wellbeing and social skills, helping them feel secure, valued and confident as they become part of the Acorn community and prepare for their next steps in learning.

What it's like

Children are warmly and enthusiastically welcomed into this nurturing setting, starting their day with clear purpose and opportunities to develop and grow. They feel safe, secure, and ready to learn, thriving emotionally and socially due to strong adult attentiveness and support. Learning is seamlessly integrated, joyful, and engaging, with staff reducing barriers to ensure all children make progress and develop independence, respect, and courtesy, preparing them for future learning and life.

Strong inclusionAmbitious curriculumTailored EAL supportThoughtful careEnriching experiences

Pricing & funding

Fees are calculated using an hourly rate for unfunded hours, which includes all consumables and extra activities. For funded sessions, separate charges are applied per half day for consumables and extra activities.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Unfunded hourly rate includes all consumables and extra activities.
  • Funded hours are free of charge.
  • Funded half day sessions incur separate charges for consumables and extra activities.

Key facts

Opening hours

Morning 9:15 am - 12:15am; Morning Session with lunch - 9:15am - 1:00pm; Afternoon session - 13:15pm - 15:15pm; Afternoon session with lunch - 12:15pm - 15:15pm; ALL DAY session - 9:15am - 15 :15pm

Age range

2+ years

Session types

half day, full day

Established

1994

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected Dec 2025

Headline: Strong standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
2 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Acorn Montessori School

Last inspected 12 December 2025

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

Children are warmly and enthusiastically welcomed into this nurturing setting, starting their day with clear purpose and opportunities to develop and grow. They feel safe, secure, and ready to learn, thriving emotionally and socially due to strong adult attentiveness and support. Learning is seamlessly integrated, joyful, and engaging, with staff reducing barriers to ensure all children make progress and develop independence, respect, and courtesy, preparing them for future learning and life.

Inspector highlights

  • Children achieve consistently well across the carefully sequenced curriculum.
  • Physical development improves continuously through a well-planned programme.
  • Children who speak English as an additional language are supported to develop their communication skills.
  • Children's welfare and wellbeing are promoted consistently through thoughtful care practices.
  • Leaders enrich children's experiences by embedding opportunities that broaden their opportunities and strengthen their sense of belonging.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders should ensure that all staff consistently implement agreed rules and routines so that children have a clear and secure understanding of expectations at all times.
Inspection #10108393 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Acorn Montessori School has a strong culture of inclusion where every child's needs are recognised, valued, and acted upon. From the earliest stages, staff identify and support children's starting points with care and precision, ensuring that those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, disadvantaged children, and those known to social care receive tailored support. Practitioners quickly identify any gaps in learning, using assessment to adapt teaching to individual needs, and leaders seek support from external agencies to provide specialist input where needed, reducing barriers to learning.

EAL / language support

Children who speak English as an additional language are supported to develop their communication skills through the use of familiar words and songs from home languages. Staff learn key words, phrases, and songs in children's home languages to ensure they feel valued and confident while strengthening their ability to communicate effectively.

Parent Reviews of Acorn Montessori School

5.0
(31)
Edward Page
2 months ago

We have been part of Acorn Montessori School for the past four years, and I honestly couldn’t recommend it highly enough. My eldest attended for two years and has now moved on to school feeling completely prepared, confident, independent, and so well nurtured and educated. The foundations Acorn has given her have made such a difference. Our youngest is now attending and is absolutely thriving. It’s wonderful to see the same care, attention and thoughtful teaching continuing. The team are simply the best, warm, approachable, and genuinely invested in every child. I truly wouldn’t send my child anywhere else.

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Holly Oades
5 months ago

Acorn is a lovely pre school. My three children all came here and it is a brilliant foundation before starting primary school. We found the variety of activities amazing, with favourites including Forest school, the chick project, sports day and of course who could forget the nativities? A charming pre school with caring and nurturing teachers and lasting friendships for the children. Highly recommend

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Mikael Khah
2 months ago

I am delighted that we have found Acorn Nursery. Our son Adrian is super happy and excited whenever he goes. Juliet & her team are extremely warm and kind to the children, helping them flourish. I am very grateful thank you all.

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Preeti Kulkarni
7 months ago

I would highly recommend Acorn to any parents looking for a nurturing environment for their child. My daughter absolutely loved it here, the teachers genuinely care and work hard and put a lot of thought and love into all that they do, giving your child a head start before school. As my daughter was one of the eldest in her school year, this was the perfect place to practice being in a ‘school’ setting, she thoroughly enjoyed learning phonics and tricky words from a very young age and enjoyed building her numerical skills, and has gone into reception with so much confidence and that is down to Acorn for giving her those key skills and to actually enjoy learning, which I’m sure will help her life long. She has enjoyed the other experiences provided, such as the summer school trip, live eggs project and has brought home many things she has cooked during her time there! She also enjoyed being given the opportunity to perform in the nativity (twice!), Easter concert and take part in Sports day, experiences which not a lot of other nurseries offer so she will really treasure these special moments. My only regret was not sending my eldest there, as I didn’t know about Acorn at that time. Thank you again to all the staff, my daughter has made some fantastic memories and fondly looks through her leavers folder as to how far she has come with all your support xxx

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Alex Barclay
10 months ago

We feel so lucky to have found Acorn Montessori School. Our two eldest children have thrived there, and our youngest is starting soon - we wouldn’t consider sending them anywhere else. The staff are truly exceptional: warm, nurturing, and deeply committed to each child’s development. Acorn creates such a special environment, full of hands-on learning and memorable experiences. Our daughter still talks about watching chicks hatch, riding in a fire engine, and the trip to Willow’s Farm. Since moving to Gerrards Cross, finding Acorn has been one of the best things to happen to our family. If you’re considering it - don’t hesitate. It’s an amazing place that gives children the best possible start.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Acorn Montessori School. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2011

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Good). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • January 2020Outstanding
  • June 2015Outstanding
  • November 2011Good

Frequently asked about Acorn Montessori School

About the setting

Acorn Montessori School was registered with Ofsted on 01/01/1994, operating from Gerrards Cross Youth Centre, East Common, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 7AD. It is open Monday to Friday from 09:15 to 15:15. The registered person is Dowman, Juliet Maria. The setting accepts children aged 2 to 4.

URN
107974
Registered person
Dowman, Juliet Maria
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more