"IMPRESSIVE! Wow just where to begin about this amazing nursery, from the initial telephone conversation to being on day two of my little…"
Read all 22 reviews
84 Places
Location Type
Day Nursery
Little Acorns is a wonderful nursery in Padiham. Located just off the A671, it is also a convenient choice for families in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, ... Read more
"My son started at Little Acorns in December last year and we honestly couldn't be happier. From day one, all of the staff have been…"
Read all 11 reviews
55 Places
Location Type
Day Nursery
Little Acorns nursery in Clayton-le-Woods provides first-class weekday childcare for children aged 3 months to 5 years.
Little Acorns provides a warm, homely environment where every child feels ... Read more
Type of Nursery
Day Nursery
Open all year
Full Day Care
Sessional Day Care
Little Acorns Child Care Ltd Reviews in Lancashire (33)
9.1
Little Acorns Child Care Ltd has a Group Review Score of 9.1 (9.093) out of 10. The Group Review Score is calculated using the average from all locations with a Review Score, and in addition 75%+ of all locations belonging to Little Acorns Child Care Ltd must have a Review Score.
Overall Experience
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Reviewer Connection to Little Acorns Child Care Ltd
from Chris B (Father of Child) published on 11 February 2026
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My son started at Little Acorns in December last year and we honestly couldn't be happier. From day one, all of the staff have been incredibly friendly, caring, and attentive, which made settling him in so much easier.
A special mention has to go to Patricia, the nursery manager - she is absolutely
brilliant and clearly has a lot of knowledge especially with additional needs. Her leadership really shines through in the warm, nurturing environment the nursery provides.
My little boy is truly reaping the benefits of being in Little Acorns' care, and it's lovely to see how happy and confident he's becoming. I'd highly recommend Little Acorns to any parent looking for a supportive and caring nursery environment for their children.
from Adam T (Father of Child) published on 17 November 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
Both of our children attend Little Acorns and we've had an excellent experience. The staff are kind, flexible, and genuinely care about the children's wellbeing. When we faced a personal situation, they went above and beyond by taking both children for an extra day (even though our youngest hadn't officially
started) and refused to charge us. That support meant a lot.
We know the nursery has faced some challenges in the past, but for us it's never impacted the care our children receive. Since the new management took over, things have clearly moved forward, and the team continue to do an excellent job looking after the children. It's a warm, nurturing setting, communication is great, and both our kids are thriving. We're really grateful for everything the staff do and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Little Acorns to other families.
Reply from Patricia Freckleton, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, ChorleyThank you for your review. We are so pleased that you can see the changes in the setting and also that you are pleased with the caring and nurturing environment provided for your children.
from Danielle E (Mother of Child) published on 12 November 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My son has been at this nursery since he was 9 months old, and we are very happy with both his development and the staff.
He loves going to nursery and the staff are always very happy and pleasant. There are a few staff members that need credit because they perform their duties exceptionally. Mary,
Izzy, Mishel and Rachel are very professional and adore the children. That is clear on my sons face every time he goes. They always have time for each child and their parents, and will diligently inform you of what each child has done that day. The staff inform the parents throughout the day by updating the app.
The manager, Patricia, is wonderful and has really made an improvement. You can see the dedication she has for her role and the nursery. Overall we are extremely happy with the quality of care and attention the staff provide.
from L M (Mother of Child) published on 31 October 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
We struggled to find an appropriate setting for our youngest and had previously selected a nursery where the manager was rude and where our son never settled. Days before I was due to end my maternity leave, the nursery manager informed us that our son wouldn't be able to start due to him not settling
in. In a panic we called Little Acorns that day and the area manager invited us in for a settling in session. We noticed that our son settled immediately with the staff and the other children. We now joke that he selected his setting for us. He's thriving at Little Acorns and has become such a confident toddler!
Reply from Patricia and The Little Acorns Nursery Team, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, ChorleyWow, what a wonderful review. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this for us and also for your fantastic 5-star rating. Both are really appreciated. The whole nursery team will be delighted to read your comments and you've definitely made our day! Thank you again from Janette, Patricia and the whole team at Little Acorns Nursery in Chorley.
from Judith M (Grandmother of Child) published on 31 October 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My granddaughter loves it at this nursery she settled in so quickly and is always happy to go. She is only 14 months old and I pick her up most days she is always happy and the staff are lovely.
Would highly recommend
Reply from Patricia and The Little Acorns Nursery Team, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, ChorleyHi Judith, thank you so much for leaving Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, such a wonderful review and fantastic 5 star rating. The team are delighted with your feedback and that your granddaughter is happy and enjoying the nursery so much. Thank you again for taking the time to write this for us and very best wishes to you and your family. Very best wishes from Patricia and the Little Acorns Nursery Team.
from Casey T (Mother of Child) published on 10 October 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience4.0 out of 5
My son has been with Little Acorns for just over 2 years now.
There has been some challenges at times, but I strongly believe that was previous management issues and poorly organized staff. and the new manager (Patricia) is really lovely and the new teams seem to be well settled.
My son is very
happy and loves to attend Little acorns. He's well looked after and some days doesn't even want to leave.
He comes home with paints and tells me all about his day going outside and on trips and playing as a group and there's updates on the parent portal about the activities, he's always smiling.
They do have improvements to do, with communication, educational elements and better food menus but I have seen massive improvements so far and looking forward to seeing the rest.
Thank you Little Acorns
from C Y (Mother of Child) published on 26 September 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
Little acorns has been a fantastic nursery for my 2 children, who both have recently left for school and pre-school(same setting). While little acorns did have a difficult few months with change in management(quite a while ago now) I dont feel this ever effected the standard of care given to my children
who were both very happy, well taken care of and very loved within the nursery. They was always interested in different activities the staff had planned for them(some of which I thought were absolutely fantastic and so creative).
The area manager jannette what a fantastic job she has done and continues to do for little acorns! I can not fault the woman or the nursery under her leadership! My oldest is autistic and she was absolutely amazing, helped me in any way I needed her to and still does now even after my children have left. My child would not be where he is now if it wasn't for jannette and little acorns staff and I cant thank them enough! My children both thrived in this setting
from Gemma S (Mother of Child) published on 8 September 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience1.0 out of 5
Please do not make the same mistake we did, my little boy may not remember much of his experience here but I will always regret having chosen this nursery.
During our 2.5 years at Little Acorns, there have been numerous changes in management and an extremely high staff turnover, resulting in poor
practice, unqualified and inexperienced staff brought in to fill gaps, and unqualified staff members forced into management positions. The website promises "award winning childcare", which may have been the case a number of years ago but certainly is not any more. The setting is poorly resourced, often dirty and cluttered, and concerns are completely ignored. Childrens' development is poorly recorded, and they are often sent home soiled and dirty. Please research other reviews, I will not reference other's experiences.
We made the choice to remove our child due to our poor experience, and after 2.5 years he left today to go to a different pre-school. He did not even receive a goodbye card.
Reply from Little Acorns Nursery Team, Chorley, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, ChorleyWe're sorry to hear you left feeling dissatisfied, especially as these concerns weren't raised with us during your time here. We value open communication and regret not having the chance to discuss this directly. It's concerning to see serious claims shared publicly, some of which are misleading. Like many settings, we faced staffing challenges in recent years, but we now have a highly experienced Manager and a fully staffed team, operating within legal ratios and without agency reliance. Our fees are in line with local nurseries offering similar care. We hold a 'Good' Ofsted rating, with praise for safeguarding and child development. We continually invest in staff training and resources. While farewell cards haven't been standard, we appreciate the feedback and will be introducing a gesture for children moving on. We remain committed to high-quality care and invite parents with concerns to speak to us directly.
from Ruth C (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience2.0 out of 5
We have had countless poor experiences including things such as; multiple changes in management that have left us as parents extremely concerned; multiple concerns around potential safeguarding issues; extremely poor communication from the area manager including the feeling of being lied to; upsetting
concerns regarding my daughters happiness and wellbeing whilst on site. Specific examples of some of these things include, my daughter being left alone in a room so staff could answer the front door, staff not knowing where my daughter was when parent arrived to collect, my daughter being left without a key worker, my daughter having daily access to an iPad where she watched things such as an animated cartoon tv series, massive increase in accidents, often very poor first aid response, my concern that appropriate comfort not always offered after hurting herself, appropriate information about my daughters allergen not being kept on file. Please also see review on another review platform.
Reply from Little Acorns Nursery Team, Chorley, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, ChorleyThank you for your feedback. We're sorry your experience didn't meet expectations, especially as your initial rating was so positive. Safeguarding and children's well being are our top priorities. Please be assured all concerns raised were fully investigated by Ofsted, who are completely satisfied with our practices. We acknowledge there have been changes in management over the past year, and understand this may have been unsettling. We're committed to consistent leadership and clear communication moving forward. Ongoing investment in staff development and children's resources ensures a safe, nurturing environment and our team remains dedicated to listening, learning, and improving to offer the best possible care for all children in our nursery. We wish your daughter every success and happiness in her new setting.
from V R (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
Little acorns nursery is a lovely nursery, our son was quite a shy baby but since being at the nursery he has come along so much the staff are amazing with the children, nothing is too much trouble, we get regular updates throughout the day of how he is, activities he's doing, and he always has so much
fun at nursery, if we ever need to contact the nursery for anything it's never an issue, we are always made to feel welcome, the children are served a variety of home cooked meals which our son always seems to enjoy everyday and offer a very well balanced diet, there are always activities going on in the nursery, as well as trips out in the local area exploring the surroundings of the nursery, the staff are so friendly and management are always there to answer any questions we may have, there is a beautiful outside space that the children are able to enjoy daily whilst at nursery, and the opportunity of lots of different activities each day
from D S (Grandmother of Child) published on 27 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My Grandson attends Little Acorns, he really enjoys going in fact he doesn't want to come home. The staff and management are always there to help and support. Everything they do is for the children.
from Sarah C (Mother of Child) published on 18 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
IMPRESSIVE! Wow just where to begin about this amazing nursery, from the initial telephone conversation to being on day two of my little boys settling in sessions. I had encountered a bad experience from a previous nursery where they been trying to settle my boy every day for a month, here at Little
Acorns in Padiham settled him on day 1!I had the pleasure of the manager showing myself and my little boy around and she went through everything to do with development and the day to day routine that is followed by them.It was a very warm welcome from everyone and introduced my little boy to the other children which was really nice, they ensured that they included the children which is fantastic and good for development! He's had two days of settling in, which he's had lots of playtime, enjoying his food and nap times! He has made a best friend who is his key worker. They send you daily updates via pictures on an app. I highly recommend coming to this nursery no questions asked,10/10!
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamI am so glad you and your little boy are happy with our setting. Thankyou for your kind words.
from Emily Q (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Little Acorns Nursery since January 2024. He is so happy and settled at nursery - he just waves me off and goes to play with his friends. He is currently in baby room. It's so reassuring to know that he is clearly very comfortable with staff. Staff are always happy and friendly
and always willing to help or listen to any concerns or queries you have. Regular parents evenings means we can stay on top of any targets.
My 2 older children were also cared for by many of the staff that work in this setting. I would not go anywhere else for my childcare! It's like home from home.
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you so much for your lovely words. It has been a pleasure to look after all your children and I am so glad you have brought your youngest to us!
from Stevie-Leigh G (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My daughter attends Little Acorns Nursery, and from the get go after looking around several nurseries, I knew this was the one we were going to choose. The staff seem to really connect with the children rather than seeing them as just a job, they seem to care a lot about the children's well being and
are constantly on the ball, I've never ever had a problem or had a reason to raise any concerns with how I feel my daughter is being treated. Over the moon on a weekly basis feeling like my daughter is in safe hands, and makes me feel relieved knowing that she receives the same kind of care, attention and warmth that she receives with me at home, best nursery ever.
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you so much for your lovely words! It is so lovely to see that you recognise how much all our children mean to us here at Little Acorns. Your daughter settled so quickly and has been such a loving member of our setting!
from Amelia P (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
Absolutely amazing nursery, my little boy has been attending since he was 1, he is 2 and a half now. The staff are all lovely, kind and caring. The manager goes above and beyond for the children, if you ever need anything she sorts it out straight away! Shout out to the member of staff in the toddler
room who has been amazing to my child since he moved into the toddler room, she has a lovely relationship with him and he loves going to nursery. The member of staff always helps him feel involved in all activities and he loves having cuddles with her in the morning before breakfast. They have all supported his struggles with speech and language and always provide detailed reports of how his day has been. Shout out to another member of staff in the baby room as well who he started his nursery journey with, he settled so quickly into going to nursery and playing with others because of her supportive and kind nature. The food choice is brilliant and love that they take the kids out on adventures around Padiham! 5 stars as always girls!
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you so much for your lovely review. We have been absolutely honoured to be a part of his educational journey and love to ensure we are helping with not only his strengths but areas he may be struggling with! We really appreciate your kind words.
from L M (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
I couldn't recommend this nursery enough. All of the staff have helped so much with my son to settle him in. He loves spending time here and I feel at ease knowing he's got the care he needs when he's there. He's got such a good relationship with his team leader, it's lovely to see she goes above and
beyond!
Thank you to all of you.
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you for your lovely review. I will relay this back to your son's room as I know they would love to hear!
from Samantha W (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
Having a child with SEN has not fazed this nursery at all.
The manager and the team have excelled in getting everything my child needs, nothing is too much trouble and I couldn't ask for more. All activities are made accessible to my child and are tailored to her individual needs. My child's key worker
shows so much love and support towards her. There are lots of additional activities on offer such as baby ballet, drama and swimming lessons. I 100% recommend this nursery to everyone and anyone. It is so nice to see my child happy to come into nursery and see all the amazing staff.
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you for your lovely review! I know your child loves to take part in extracurricular activities such as drama and baby ballet. It has been wonderful to see you little girl come on leap and bounds!
from Amy S (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My son has attended Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham since he was 18 months old and will be leaving for school this September.
I will be deeply saddened when he has to leave, all the staff are amazing, I never have a worry with how he is as I trust them 100%. In the short time the nursery manager has
been in charge she's constantly trying to move forward with new projects to better everything with the children's best interests at heart. If I had another child (which I'm not) I wouldn't want to place them anywhere else.
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you for such kind words and how supportive you have been. I will be really sad when he leaves to go to school.
from Saffron K (Mother of Child) published on 6 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
Me and my partner sent our child to gain social skills and help his speech. When he started he could only say a few words, now he can string sentences together and plays happily with the other children in his room.
He is my first child so sending him to nursery as a first-time mum I was so scared and
worried about everything but the staff are amazing, they are so comforting and welcoming towards me and my child, if there is ever a problem they ring straight away and let you know exactly what's going on with your child.
They are an amazing nursery with all the safety and facilities any mum would want for their child. Overall my child loves going and I love how they have helped him grow with his speech and confidence and with his continuous growing.
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you for such kind words. Communication and language is such a huge part of our curriculum and I am so glad you are seeing as much progress as we are with your child.
from Amy S (Mother of Child) published on 21 January 2025
Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience5.0 out of 5
My son currently attends this nursery and absolutely adores it and the staff. They're all so helpful and caring and love and look after my baby as I would, so I can work. He's my first child so it's always hard to leave but not here, he's happy and thriving! Can't recommend or thank the girls at Little
Acorns enough!
Reply from Ria Hargreaves, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, PadihamThank you for your lovely words. What a pleasure it is to look after your little boy.
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