Opening hours
9am to 2.45pm, Monday to Thursday
Acornwood Pre-School
Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2025)
Number of places
26 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Hampshire
About this day nursery
Acornwood Pre-School, located in Farnborough, offers a welcoming environment where children aged 2 to 4 years old thrive and build strong bonds with nurturing staff. The pre-school operates from Southwood Community Centre and is open Monday to Thursday during term time.
Following its most recent Ofsted inspection on 7th July 2025, the setting was rated as Good, having successfully addressed previous concerns and significantly improved since its last inspection which was rated Inadequate.
What it's like
Children enjoy their time at the pre-school and build strong bonds with nurturing and supportive staff. Staff recognise and respond well to the differing needs of children, fostering a welcoming environment where children quickly immerse themselves in self-chosen play with positive role models and high expectations for behaviour.
Good overall effectivenessNurturing staffStrong communication skills focusPhysical development focusEffective SEND supportHigh expectations for behaviour
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Acornwood Pre-School
Last inspected 7 July 2025
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Children enjoy their time at the pre-school and build strong bonds with nurturing and supportive staff. Staff recognise and respond well to the differing needs of children, fostering a welcoming environment where children quickly immerse themselves in self-chosen play with positive role models and high expectations for behaviour.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders and staff successfully addressed actions from the last inspection, improving staffing and internal processes to ensure a shared vision for high-quality care and learning.
- Staff prioritise children's welfare, ensuring individual dietary needs are met and implementing training for safe food preparation and supervision during mealtimes.
- Staff model positive behaviour and teach children about sharing and taking turns, with children listening carefully and following instructions confidently.
- Staff working with children with SEND have good knowledge of their key children and have improved collaboration with parents and other agencies to support children's needs effectively.
- Leaders plan a balanced curriculum tailored to individual needs and abilities, understanding how to sequence learning to build on existing skills and knowledge.
Areas to develop
- 1extend opportunities for children to learn to resolve conflicts for themselves to broaden their social skills
- 2continue to embed the curriculum to have a focus on clearer learning intentions, particularly around mathematics
- 3provide further opportunities for children to learn about equality, diversity and inclusion so that children know what makes them unique.
Inspection #10409410 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Where children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), need additional help with speaking and attention skills, staff work on these priorities. Swift intervention and a targeted focus on teaching helps gaps in children's learning and development to close quickly. Staff working with children with SEND have good knowledge of their key children and have improved how they work with parents and other agencies that can support children's needs.
Outdoor space
The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this is having on the children's learning.
Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2025
Date: February 2011
- July 2025Good
- March 2025Inadequate
- July 2019Good
- May 2016Good
- September 2013Requires improvement
- February 2011Good
Frequently asked about Acornwood Pre-School
About the setting
Acornwood Pre-School registered in 1987 and operates from Southwood Community Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire. The pre-school is open from 9am to 2.45pm, Monday to Thursday, during term time. There are seven members of childcare staff, with four holding relevant early years qualifications at level 2 or above, and one being a qualified teacher. The pre-school provides government-funded early education for eligible children.
- URN
- 109949
- Registered person
- Acornwood Pre-School Committee
- 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