Acorn Nursery

Babies communicating with signs, children investigating uncooked rice over lunch, and friendships that make room for different needs: Acorn Nursery’s December 2023 picture combines ambitious learning with careful attention to individuals. At its 18 December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding overall.

Based on The Rise in Portslade, Brighton, Acorn has capacity for 60 children and accepts ages from 3 to 60 months. Its strongest inspection-era detail is the way ordinary play, conversation and meals become opportunities to learn.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care: play and everyday routines help children build communication, movement and independence. In December 2023, learning followed a planned sequence, with challenges that encouraged children to keep trying rather than abandon a new skill.

Conversation took many forms. Adults answered babies’ sounds with words, while signs helped babies express themselves. Children encountered vocabulary about weight and balance through exploration; visual cues gave children another way to express what they wanted. Language work reached beyond children already speaking confidently.

Physical play equipment supported crawling, pulling up and early climbing. Older children practised climbing and sliding, while chalk marks and squeezing play dough developed control for later writing. These December 2023 activities connected large movements with finer hand skills.

Mealtimes also invited investigation. In December 2023, babies explored whole fruit alongside their prepared snacks, and older children compared uncooked rice with their lunch. Choosing fruit and pouring drinks gave children practical tasks of their own.

At the December 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that personalised strategies, special educational needs coordinators and collaboration with other professionals supported children with SEND exceptionally well, and that safeguarding arrangements were effective.

In December 2023, care took account of home routines, personalities and family circumstances. Adults modelled sharing turns and kindness, and children recognised when a friend needed more time or help. This made inclusion part of daily interaction rather than a separate activity.

Support extended to parents through individual guidance and advice. Staff also received mentoring, tailored training and opportunities to learn from other settings, sharing that learning with colleagues. These were features of the December 2023 provision, alongside supervision at meals and risk assessments addressing allergies and medical needs.

The address is The Rise, Portslade, Brighton, BN41 2PY. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In December 2023, Acorn formed part of the local authority Family Hub in Portslade and received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four. That funding description belongs to that period.

• Attendance and costs. The weekday opening window spans the working day. Which booking patterns and current funded arrangements would fit your routine, and how would meals and consumables be handled in a written quotation?
• Communication support. Signs and visual cues were part of the December 2023 practice. On a visit, discuss how those methods would connect with your child’s communication at home.

Acorn merits consideration for families seeking care across the year, especially those who value communication and individual support. Its Outstanding December 2023 judgement is backed by concrete examples: adults extending babies’ communication, practical independence at meals and personalised SEND strategies. The opening window is useful for working families; the inspection-era account gives a clear picture of the learning and care to explore on a visit.