Little Acorns Nursery at Acorns Primary School

A garden beside the Foundation Stage unit gives Little Acorns its own outdoor learning space within Acorns Primary School in Long Compton. Nursery children join from age three, and the provision caters for three and four-year-olds. There are 13 nursery places each year. Little Acorns brings nursery and Reception together within the school's early years provision, giving children a school setting with a distinct base for their youngest years.

Indoor activities and garden learning both form part of the day. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework: language, physical development, relationships and understanding the world sit alongside early literacy, mathematics and creative work. These are connected through practical experiences rather than treated simply as separate subjects.

The 2024-25 programme shows what that looks like in detail. Me and My Community used family photographs and conversations about friends to develop children's spoken language. Exploring Autumn brought seasonal materials into pretend play and encouraged children to describe textures and smells. Nursery mathematics included comparing quantities, building with shapes and joining in number songs. The emphasis was on talking, noticing and trying things out.

Physical learning had specific equipment behind it. Daily outdoor access included a mud kitchen, bikes, trikes and log stepping stones, with a pump in the water tray for experimenting with water. Indoors and outside, construction materials, threading and playdough supported smaller hand movements. Dough Disco and Clever Fingers were named nursery activities, linking hand control with the beginnings of pencil and scissor use.

Stories also had a practical role. Children could retell familiar tales through puppets and pretend play, while nursery literacy work included rhyme, listening to environmental sounds and recognising their first name. In November 2022, Ofsted found that nursery children settled into routines successfully and enjoyed hearing stories in an engaging learning space. The same inspection identified a concern about younger pupils' reading books sometimes including unfamiliar sounds, limiting fluency. That finding concerned early reading across the school rather than a separate nursery grade.

Lunch arrangements depend on the booking pattern: only children booked for a full day can remain for lunch. Families can provide a packed lunch or choose a charged hot meal. Hot lunches are cooked at school, with local and fresh ingredients used where possible. Milk is free for children under five.

For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school support structure includes the class teacher, school SENDCo and trust SENDCo. Individual Learning Plans are reviewed with parents in November, February and June, giving families scheduled opportunities to discuss support. Classroom adaptations include pencil grips and wobble cushions; specialist involvement can include Speech and Language Therapy. The school uses the Thrive Approach to identify emotional needs and plan individual support through creative activity and play.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Applications go through the admissions service for the county where the family lives: Warwickshire, Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND starting Reception, the class teacher and, sometimes, the school SENDCo visit the nursery to discuss individual needs. Staff also speak with the nursery key worker and relevant outside professionals. Summer induction visits and a meeting give parents an opportunity to raise concerns before the change.

The morning session runs from 9am to noon and excludes lunch. Afternoon sessions run from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Full-day bookings are also possible, with a separately charged 15-minute interval between sessions for children using extended funded hours. Breakfast Club is available to nursery children from 8am.

Funded childcare starts in the term following a child's third birthday. The funding model includes 15 hours, with up to 30 hours for eligible working families; parents need not take the full entitlement. Paid afternoon sessions are possible for families who do not qualify for 30-hour funding. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery applications and appointments to visit go through the school office. Call 01608 684654. For collection and drop-off, families are encouraged to park at the Village Hall; the school car park is reserved for staff and visiting professionals between 8am and 5pm.