Little Acorns Pre-School

Campfires with The Woodland School, a garden construction area and close links between home and nursery give Little Acorns Pre-School its character. Based in the grounds of Kennington Primary School in Fulwood, Preston, this is a setting where outdoor exploration sits alongside stories, conversation and preparation for school. Its charitable status and volunteer committee also give families a role beyond simply buying childcare.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated Little Acorns Outstanding and found that a carefully organised curriculum, centred on communication and language, supported exceptional progress. The practical detail behind that judgement matters: children connected sounds with pictures, used increasingly precise vocabulary in imaginary play and learned about animal care through a visit to a veterinary practice. Learning had a purpose beyond completing an activity.

There are 36 places in total, with the current age range running from 24 to 60 months. Explorers and Inventors organise the younger and older preschool stages respectively. Attendance is term-time, with morning, afternoon and full-day patterns, plus an After School Club for three- and four-year-olds on selected weekdays.

Rooms and Ages

Explorers serves two- and three-year-olds, combining learning through play with a predictable rhythm that includes snacks and quiet time. Inventors serves three- and four-year-olds, emphasising imagination, independence and readiness for the next stage. These are different developmental emphases, rather than interchangeable room descriptions.

The shared outdoor environment adds useful variety. In September 2025, improvements included fresh grass, a sandpit and a construction area, alongside refreshed indoor spaces and new resources. The sandpit and construction area give children different spaces for practical exploration.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning and development: here, children practise language, movement, relationships, early reading and number skills through play and everyday routines. Stories and songs sit alongside drawing, building, gardening and role play. This is the common early-years foundation, with the setting's practical additions giving the day its individual character.

Circle time, smaller groups and free play provide different ways to participate. Staff observe children's progress and adjust activities to their developmental needs, so the approach allows both shared experiences and individual next steps. The curriculum page explains these arrangements alongside the room stages.

In September 2024, traditional stories and daily name-registration activities connected spoken language with early literacy. Parents took regular reading slots in their home languages, while talking books introduced children to words from other languages. This brought family language into nursery life rather than treating it as something separate from learning.

Seasonal activities show how several areas of learning can meet in one task. During October 2025, children measured pumpkins, sorted and counted seeds, and experimented with hammers and nails. An outdoor mud kitchen supported recipe play with pumpkin soup. These examples give parents a concrete picture of number work, careful hand movements and conversation happening through practical exploration.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest School adds hands-on learning about nature, with sessions involving The Woodland School. In July 2025, experiences included den building, identifying wildlife and making small campfires under staff supervision, with fire-safety teaching and marshmallow toasting. The value is the practical encounter: children handle materials and learn how an activity works, rather than only hearing about it indoors.

Visitors bring unfamiliar subjects within reach. In November 2025, ZooLab used stories about habitats and seasons before children observed and handled animals, including frogs and snakes. That same month, trainee doctors and nurses from Royal Preston Hospital used children's teddy bears to explore heartbeats, temperatures and pretend X-rays. Medical equipment became something children could investigate through play.

Community involvement also extends to families. Breakfast with Father Christmas in December 2025 combined breakfast, crafts and cake decorating, with Christmas storytelling from Sharoe Green Library. This was a dated event, while regular stay-and-play sessions and invitations to end-of-year Forest School activities form part of the ongoing parent relationship. Local outings and library visits add further experiences beyond the nursery rooms.

Relationships and Communication

Parents have several routes into their child's learning. Termly meetings review progress and establish plans for the following term; Tapestry, WhatsApp and a weekly sharing book support contact between those conversations. The combination matters: families can discuss broader development at a meeting while keeping everyday exchanges going between terms.

A key worker maintains a portfolio using observations and photographs, which is handed to parents when completed. This gives families a record of experiences and achievements, alongside the ongoing communication. Regular stay-and-play sessions offer another way to take part, with parents also invited to celebrations and end-of-year outdoor activities.

In September 2024, staff began with detailed conversations about children's interests and existing knowledge. Familiar elements of home life and heritage were reflected in the nursery environment, and songs helped children recognise changes in the daily routine. Together, these practices connected the child's background with the structure of the day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well supported through early identification, in-house learning support and work with outside agencies. That is a dated judgement about practice, with specific mechanisms behind it rather than a general promise of support.

Staff have training in first aid, safeguarding and food hygiene. In September 2024, children themselves also explored first aid, including getting emergency help and practising the recovery position. Care was therefore accompanied by practical learning about responding when someone needs assistance.

Preparation for school had a physical dimension in September 2024: children used the school hall for physical education and ate lunch in the school dining room. Staff passed detailed learning information to school staff. Familiar routines and shared information supported the move, while attendance at a nursery on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place.

Sessions and Attendance

Little Acorns operates for 38 weeks each year during term time. Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am, afternoons from 12.15pm to 3.15pm, and full-day care from 8.30am to 3.15pm. These are separate booking patterns, allowing families to choose shorter attendance or a day spanning both morning and afternoon.

For children aged three and four, the After School Club runs from 3.15pm to 5.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The age condition and weekday pattern matter when fitting childcare around work: the later finish is attached to this particular club arrangement.

Enquiries can be made by telephone or email.

Getting There

The setting is based at Kennington Primary School, Kennington Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 8ER. Its contact address is Beechway, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 8EU.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15- and 30-hour arrangements, alongside paid daily, morning, afternoon and full-time care. The setting's attendance model is term-time. Funding and additional private hours should be considered separately when choosing a pattern, rather than assuming that one entitlement covers every element of the booking.

Snacks, drinks and wipes are supplied, together with local outings and library visits. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees and funding page sets out the payment and cancellation structure.

Payment is due at the beginning of each term, with bank transfer and childcare vouchers among the accepted methods. Withdrawal or changes to sessions require at least four weeks' written notice. Missed attendance because of holidays or illness does not attract a refund, and late payment can bring additional charges. These terms make the commitment extend beyond the days a child actually attends.

• Term-time coverage. Attendance covers 38 weeks, and the later club finish applies to three- and four-year-olds on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Families needing holiday care or later finishes across the whole working week need to plan around those boundaries.
• Finding the entrance. The school-site address uses Kennington Road and PR2 8ER, while nursery contact details use Beechway and PR2 8EU. Confirm the correct entrance when arranging a visit so the two addresses do not complicate the journey.
• Settling and daily supplies. Explorers includes quiet time, and the nursery supplies snacks, drinks and wipes. At a visit, how would settling-in, lunch and non-food supplies be arranged and charged for your child's chosen attendance pattern?
• Changing a booking. At least four weeks' written notice applies to session changes and withdrawal, with no refund for illness or holiday absences. Factor those terms into a booking that may need to change with work or family circumstances.

Little Acorns suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions as well as those choosing a full preschool day. Outdoor learning with The Woodland School, purposeful visitors and several channels for parent communication give that offer substance. The September 2024 Outstanding judgement adds a strong dated assessment of quality.

The practical fit depends on the calendar and finishing times. For families whose needs align with those patterns, the combination of play, community experiences and school preparation makes this a compelling preschool choice.