Acorn to Oak Nursery and Preschool

Outdoor exploration gave Acorn to Oak Nursery and Preschool much of its character in June 2025. At that month's inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found that its curriculum encouraged discovery in nature, with older children developing curiosity and independence.

Based at Kingston Rugby Club in Chessington, the nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 100 places in total. That whole-setting capacity should not be read as the size of any child's group. Its strongest appeal is the combination of active play and attentive relationships seen in June 2025, although children's understanding of risk and individual identity needed more work.

Learning and Activities

The nursery follows the early years foundation stage: in June 2025, children practised communication through singing, listening and signing, while group games brought counting and an understanding of time into their play. These are concrete examples of learning woven into the nursery day.

Activities were adapted to children's ages in June 2025. Younger children investigated sand and water through their senses; older children enjoyed sports. This gave children different ways to participate, from handling materials to taking part in active games. Staff checked what children understood and used those assessments to spot gaps, making the next learning steps responsive to the child.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2025, forest school accreditation had prompted changes to outdoor learning, giving children opportunities to investigate their natural surroundings. Exploration was an identifiable part of the curriculum, with older children showing greater willingness to discover things for themselves. For families who value learning outdoors, this is a substantial part of the nursery's appeal.

The same month's activities introduced children to Eid, Diwali and Lunar New Year, helping them encounter cultural and religious celebrations. There was a limitation alongside this: staff sometimes missed chances to explore each child's own characteristics. Learning about celebrations and helping children understand themselves both matter; the latter needed more consistent attention.

Relationships and Communication

In June 2025, staff comforted very young children and those new to the nursery with physical affection and gentle reassurance. They also helped children recognise emotions and settle into routines. Praise supported children's confidence, giving the daily relationships a clear role in how children managed their feelings and joined in.

Communication with parents was regular in June 2025, and families contributed to the managers' evaluation of the nursery. One practical change was a broader selection of fruit at snack time. This provides a tangible example of parent involvement influencing children's daily experience.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that assessments and prompt referrals, including to speech and language therapists, helped children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress. This connects support to a specific mechanism: recognising a learning gap and involving the appropriate professional.

Current safeguarding responsibilities include designated safeguarding lead roles within the nursery's management structure. In June 2025, staff also made drinking water readily accessible during outdoor play in hot weather, an everyday example of attention to children's health.

Staffing at that visit comprised 29 people working directly with children; 11 held level 3 early years qualifications and five held level 2 qualifications. These are June 2025 staffing figures, separate from the nursery's overall capacity.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Kingston Rugby Club, King Edward Sports Ground, Hook Road, Chessington, KT9 1PL. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round opening and closure on bank holidays. The early start and evening finish are useful practical facts for parents planning work and childcare.

New enquiries can be made by telephone on 0208 050 8016 or by email to info@acorntooaknurseryandpreschool.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

In June 2025, the nursery offered government-funded childcare places for children aged from nine months to four years. This establishes participation at that date, rather than an entitlement for every family.

• Understanding outdoor risks. In June 2025, older children were often told how to use equipment without being helped to understand the reasons. During a visit, ask how staff now help children recognise hazards and decide how to play safely.
• Developing individual identity. June 2025 practice included Eid, Diwali and Lunar New Year, but opportunities to explore children's own similarities and differences were inconsistent. Ask for an example of how staff help a child talk about what makes them unique.
• Fitting care around work. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays and closes on bank holidays. Which booking pattern, funded-hours arrangement and associated meal or consumable terms would apply to your child?

Acorn to Oak suits families who value outdoor exploration, active play and communication with practitioners, alongside a weekday opening window that extends into the evening. Its June 2025 strengths included gentle care for very young children and practical support when learning gaps emerged.

The balance is clear: outdoor independence was developing, but children needed more help understanding risk, and work on individual identity needed greater consistency. Those two points give families useful, specific priorities for a visit.