Opening hours
Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round
Little Acorns in Bristol
Ofsted: Outstanding
(Sept 2022)
Number of places
24 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2022
Local authority
South Gloucestershire
About this day nursery
Achieving an Outstanding rating from Ofsted in its most recent inspection on 23rd September 2022, Little Acorns is noted for children's happiness and their thriving development within an exceptional environment. Children explore with enthusiasm and form wonderful relationships with staff, making rapid progress from their individual starting points.
The provision places strong emphasis on physical skills, with children confidently engaging in outdoor activities like climbing and jumping, learning about personal risk management. The curriculum is ambitious and covers all areas of learning.
The nursery provides exceptional support for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). The manager and staff effectively utilise additional funding, ensuring excellent outcomes and progress for all children, including those with SEND.
The Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) collaborates closely with the local authority, staff, parents, and external professionals, using detailed assessments to implement individual education plans. There is a strong focus on a language-rich environment, where staff model language exceptionally well, fostering high levels of engagement from children.
Leaders and staff use observations effectively to plan learning experiences that build on existing knowledge. Children are encouraged to be independent, for instance, by serving and chopping their own fruit during enjoyable snack times.
What it's like
Children are happy and thrive at this exceptional setting, developing wonderful relationships with staff and exploring their environment with enthusiasm. They make rapid progress from their individual starting points, gaining confidence in physical skills and learning about personal risk management. Children's behaviour is exceptional, being kind and considerate towards each other and showing high levels of enjoyment in play and learning.
Warm and nurturing relationshipsLanguage-rich environmentStrong SEND supportAmbitious curriculumPromotes independenceStimulating outdoor play
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2005
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Little Acorns
Last inspected 23 September 2022 · Rosie Pool
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
What it's like to attend
Children are happy and thrive at this exceptional setting, developing wonderful relationships with staff and exploring their environment with enthusiasm. They make rapid progress from their individual starting points, gaining confidence in physical skills and learning about personal risk management. Children's behaviour is exceptional, being kind and considerate towards each other and showing high levels of enjoyment in play and learning.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders are ambitious and value staff, using robust procedures to support their well-being.
- Staff develop warm and nurturing relationships with children, using effective settling-in sessions to know children's interests.
- This is a language-rich environment where staff model language exceptionally well, leading to high levels of engagement from children.
- Leaders and staff effectively use observations to plan learning experiences that build on children's existing knowledge and skills.
- Children are very independent and are encouraged to serve and chop their own fruit during social and enjoyable snack times.
Inspection #10234920 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) exceptionally well. The manager and staff use additional funding to ensure children achieve the very best possible outcomes, and all children, including those with SEND, make exceptional progress. The special educational needs coordinator works closely with the local authority, staff, parents and external professionals, using detailed assessments of individual needs and skilfully implementing individual education plans.
Outdoor space
Children gain confidence in their physical skills and learn about personal risk management by climbing the outdoor equipment and jumping with confidence. Babies and the youngest children have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the stimulating outdoor environment.
Parent Reviews of Little Acorns
4.2
(10)
Stacey Martin
8 years ago
By far the best Nursery in Bristol!! I can’t recommend this Nursery enough. The staff are all so warm, welcoming and friendly, they always greet you at the door with happy smiling faces. Nothing is ever too much trouble, you feel like you are dropping you child off to a second home and your made to feel like part of the Nursery family. They put on fantastic Christmas plays, summer parties, Easter bonnet competitions, whatever the occasion, they are always dressed up and participating in it. All the staff put 100% into anything and everything!!! I have been going to the Nursery for over 4 years and the exact same members of staff are still there. I know a lot of other nursery’s have a high turnover of staff, all the children have consistency here. You can tell the staff are all very happy very in their jobs which reflects in all the children they look after. My daughter has fantastic manners, I’m often told how polite she is, whilst I encourage her manners this has all steamed from Little Acorns. Before she could talk they taught her to sign please and thank you. She always asks to leave the table when she has finished eating and is far ahead of her friends with her learning knowledge. The early years are the most important, Thank you Little Acorns for bringing out the best in my daughter and making me such a proud mother.
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andy campbell
8 years ago
I drop off and collect my Granddaughter from Little Acorns Nursery and I cannot praise the staff enough. They are so welcoming and friendly and nothing ever seems to be too much trouble.My Granddaughter started at this nursery at 9 months and is now 4 years old so will be leaving in August. I have watched her progress during her time there and a lot of the qualities she has today are down to the staff at Little Acorns who have created such a wonderful happy environment for the children. I would not hesitate to recommend this nursery to anyone.
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Ella Vickery
2 years ago
My daughter goes here and loves it. The staff are all lovely, friendly and welcoming and take such good care of her. There's a website where I get regular updates and photos of her day while she's there. The nursery itself is cute and homely, I like that it's a smaller nursery with smaller groups of babies/kids.
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Kate Durrant
8 years ago
Absolutely love this nursery, would not trust anyone else to look after my children. I tried three different nurseries for my now 11 year old, and years later my 2 and 3 year olds attend, despite not being local! They are welcoming, friendly and genuinely care about your children in a safe and happy environment. The best thing is that the majority of staff (Aunties and Uncles) have been there for many years - the same staff care for my 2 year old that did for my eldest! Highly recommended.
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Elmedina Selimi
a year ago
A big thank you to all nursery teachers who have contributed to my child's growth and curiosity for learning. I value your work and commitment so much! ❤️
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Little Acorns. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Good → Outstanding in 2022
Date: September 2013
- September 2022Outstanding
- November 2016Good
- September 2013Good
Frequently asked about Little Acorns
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