Acorn Day Nursery, Burton Latimer

An allotment that supplies ingredients for meals, a workshop for woodwork and a garden with a substantial climbing frame give Acorn Day Nursery, Burton Latimer a practical, outdoors-led character. Children have things to grow, tools to explore and space to move. This is a purpose-built setting at Burton Park, with underfloor heating and outdoor space designed for both younger and older children.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding at its 24 January 2025 inspection. It has capacity for 93 children, accepting babies from four months through to children aged four. Full-time and part-time care run within a weekday opening window of 7.15am to 6.15pm.

Rooms and Ages

Acorns is the nursery's name for children under 18 months; Squirrels and Oaks cover children over 18 months. Outdoor space is designed for both age groups. Indoors, the rooms are spacious, with underfloor heating.

In January 2025, babies investigated dough, water and sand, with adults joining their play. One example involved bubbles and water poured into babies' hands, prompting them to imitate actions. These are concrete experiences for children still exploring through touch and movement. The adult's involvement matters as much as the material: play becomes an exchange rather than simply access to a resource.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: children develop communication, understanding of feelings and independence through play and everyday experiences. In January 2025, these areas came together through stories and songs, staff helping children express feelings, and children preparing food and pouring drinks. Here, the current offer adds woodwork, growing food, music and dance. The on-site workshop introduces tools and the processes involved in working with wood, giving children opportunities to investigate how materials and equipment work.

Music sessions sit alongside dance sessions with Let’s Dance with Bowie, an outside provider delivering dance activities.

In January 2025, staff used books in different activity areas and brought songs and stories into the day. Children joined familiar passages as adults shared stories. Windy weather also became a practical investigation: children made kites and attempted to fly them, with adults demonstrating how to start. This connected an observable change in the weather with something children could make and test themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

The half-acre site sits beside a football club and sports field. Within the nursery grounds, the climbing frame and slide provide physical challenges, while the allotment gives children a different kind of outdoor task: planting vegetables, caring for the crop and harvesting ingredients for meals.

Forest School, an approach to learning through experiences in a natural environment, takes preschool children into designated garden areas and the local pocket park. Sessions are led by an in-house leader. Daily outdoor activities continue across different weather conditions, making outdoor play part of the routine rather than an occasional addition.

Local walks and litter picking extend that experience beyond the grounds. In January 2025, children also took part in an eco-committee, discussing ways to reduce energy use and care for the planet. Learning about rubbish discarded in the ocean gave these discussions a tangible subject.

Relationships and Communication

In January 2025, a key-person system organised children's relationships with staff, and work with parents began when children started. Families received detailed updates and opportunities to talk with their child's key person about progress. Parents were also invited to spend time in the nursery. For families, that gives the relationship a continuing role beyond the initial settling period.

Adults helped children put feelings into words and demonstrated respectful ways to interact. During the same month, everyday routines also gave children opportunities to act for themselves: they prepared food, served lunch, cleared plates and poured drinks. Independence was practised in ordinary tasks.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described prompt support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with staff and parents working together to support progress. The nursery manager also holds the Designated Safeguarding Lead role, providing a specific contact within the setting for safeguarding concerns.

A chef makes snacks and meals at the nursery each day, using seasonal menus. The allotment connects this food provision with children's own growing activities, allowing produce they have cared for to become part of a meal.

Sessions and Attendance

Full-time and part-time care are offered throughout the year. Opening hours are 7.15am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday, giving families an early start and an evening collection window. The nursery closes for bank holidays, the period between Christmas and New Year, and four annual staff training days.

Fees are calculated across a 49-week period, with those standard closures excluded from charges. Additional closure days beyond the standard eight bank holidays may attract fees when circumstances are outside the nursery's control. That distinction matters when comparing the annual cost with a setting using a different charging calendar.

Getting There

The address is Burton Park, Polwell Lane, Burton Latimer, NN15 5PS, beside the football club and sports field. Direct enquiries go to the nursery on 01536 726700.

Funding and Paid Extras

In January 2025, the nursery received early education funding for children from nine months up to four years. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation, using their intended attendance pattern as the basis for the cost.

• Your attendance pattern. Full-time and part-time care share the 7.15am to 6.15pm opening window. At a visit, ask which booking pattern and funded-hours arrangement fit your week, including how meals and non-food consumables are charged.
• Outdoor participation. Daily outdoor play, Forest School and local litter picking are part of the offer. Discuss the clothing your child will need and how staff support their participation in different weather.
• The charging calendar. Standard closures are excluded from the 49-week fee calculation, but additional closures outside the nursery's control may attract charges. Read that distinction alongside the quotation when planning your childcare budget.

Acorn suits families seeking either full-time or part-time care with substantial opportunities for outdoor play and practical learning. The allotment, workshop and Forest School give its character substance: children can grow ingredients, investigate tools and explore beyond the indoor rooms. The January 2025 Outstanding judgement adds weight to that offer.