Acorns Pre-School at Christian Malford CofE Primary School

Meadows, woodland and play-led learning give Acorns Pre-School its rural character. With direct access to nearby countryside, this nursery provision belongs to Christian Malford CofE Primary School on Church Road. Children can join from their second birthday and stay until they begin school. Acorns aims to build independence through play, combining activities children choose with those adults organise.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good following its inspection on 5 and 6 December 2023. That judgement covers the school's early years, rather than a separate nursery inspection. Children in early years approached learning positively and cooperated with each other in December 2023, a useful foundation for learning alongside other children.

Play shapes the day, with free-flow provision alongside activities guided by adults and work in small groups. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical skills and emotional development with early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. In parent terms, talking, moving, making and exploring all count as learning. Adults use children's interests and observations of their development to plan what comes next.

Little Wandle Foundations gives early reading a specific shape: poems, stories, action rhymes and listening activities build familiarity with language and sounds. Children practise conversation as well as listening. In December 2023, nursery children listened to stories and acted them out, including The Stick Man, making books something to participate in rather than simply hear.

A reading area is accessible during children's everyday play, with books refreshed regularly and choices to share at home. Outdoor learning adds movement and exploration; nearby meadows and woodland give that provision a concrete setting. Acorns' activities include Blackberry Play Dough and Woodland Day Soda Bread, bringing making and sensory exploration into the mix.

Each child has a key person. This gives individual planning a consistent point of reference, with attention to their development across the EYFS. Flexible attendance is intended to accommodate family needs while helping children settle. Practitioners also build a picture of children's interests and experiences with parents, sharing observations and learning through regular communication.

Lunch connects Acorns with the wider school: pre-school children eat in the school hall, and cooked meals are supplied by Sodexo. A cooked lunch is optional and carries an additional charge; children can instead bring a packed lunch. Special diets can be accommodated. Eating together adds a social routine to the learning day.

For children needing additional help, early years support can include a plan agreed through discussion with parents and the special educational needs coordinator (SENDCo). The SENDCo works across The Vine Schools and supports Christian Malford two days a week. Additional needs. In December 2023, some pupils across the school were not receiving sufficiently adapted learning, limiting their progress. Families considering Acorns for a child with SEND should discuss how activities will be adapted for their child's needs.

Attending Acorns does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Wiltshire Council. For the 2025/26 intake, nursery attendance gave no automatic place and was not an oversubscription priority; families should treat choosing Acorns and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Transition has its own practical support. Children starting Reception have scheduled visits towards the end of the summer term to meet their teacher and become familiar with the learning spaces. Parents can meet the adults involved and receive induction information. These arrangements support familiarity, rather than confer an admissions advantage.

Acorns opens on weekdays during term time, from 8.30am to 3pm, with flexible attendance within that window. Fees are payable in advance each term, and the school can provide current charges.

Funding includes 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds whose parents work or receive qualifying benefits. Three- and four-year-olds can receive 15 hours weekly over 38 weeks, beginning in the term after their third birthday; eligible families can access 30 hours. The 15-hour arrangement requires attendance over at least three days, limits two days to 12.5 hours and specifies a minimum of 2.5 hours.

For pre-school enquiries, contact the office on 01249 720496 or admin@christianmalford.bluekitetrust.org. Stay & Play runs on term-time Fridays, from 9.15am to 11am, giving families an opportunity to meet the team.