Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End)

Shenley Road, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes MK5 6AB
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9.9 107 Reviews
  • Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End), Milton Keynes
Acorn’s nursery in Shenley Church End is extremely popular, and the former village primary school offers a spacious interior with well equipped, light and airy rooms. There is an extensive outdoor play area, and the local environment provides several attractive walks and a Forest School site at the nearby Shenley Wood.

All meals and snacks are freshly prepared on site and the children have their own children’s kitchen within the nursery to encourage their involvement. The staff team is very experienced and highly qualified, and they look forward to showing prospective parents around the nursery.

The nursery has extensive gardens and outside play areas, including the timber-framed outdoor classroom. Outdoor play is a key aspect of Acorn’s ethos and the children benefit from spending time outdoors every day, whatever the weather. They also take full advantage of their local setting, which has retained its village feel and has several attractive walks which the children enjoy.

Acorns menus have been carefully planned to be both seasonal and nutritionally balanced and tasty ensuring clean plates every time! All food is cooked from their hub kitchen based onsite, providing nutritionally balanced meals which are both healthy and appetising. They only use fresh, local, ethically sourced produce to create their delicious meals and can accommodate most dietary requirements.

A home visit from the nursery manager and your child’s key person is offered to all new families as Acorn believe children benefit from meeting their key person in a familiar environment, before attending the nursery for settling-in sessions.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Helen Price (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 16

Registered Charity Number

  • 1145108

Total Places for Children

  • 48

Age Range

  • from 0 years 4 months
  • to 4 years 11 months

Funding & Fees

  • Full time place starting from £1,630
    Full day from £85.50
    Morning session from £47.50
    Afternoon session from £43

  • Fees are inclusive of all meals, snacks, drinks (including approved formula milk), nappies and activities.
    We do not charge registration fees, only a £100 deposit which is refunded against the first month’s fees. We don’t charge for settling in sessions, but we do expect payment for all nursery fees to be paid up front at the beginning of each month, which is standard practice for all childcare providers. We do not charge for bank holidays, our four training days each year, or for the three days closure between Christmas and New Year. We do, however, charge for days children don’t attend through illness or holidays, apart from exceptional circumstances.
    Please view the prospectus on our website for a full fees guide.

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:15-18:15
    Tuesday 07:15-18:15
    Wednesday 07:15-18:15
    Thursday 07:15-18:15
    Friday 07:15-18:15

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays, Staff Training Days & between Christmas & New Year

Parking

  • Limited parking available directly outside the nursery, however there is ample parking in the street and the church.

Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) Reviews (107)

9.9

Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.941) out of 10, based on 27 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) has 107 reviews.

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Total of 107, showing 61-80
Review from Charlotte W (Mother of Child) published on 15 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter absolutely loves attending nursery. She is very comfortable in her surroundings and confident to explore. The nursery nurses are all very friendly and our daughter is very happy to approach any of them and ask for help or to play with her.


There is always lots to do and the nursery

is set up very well to encourage children to make their own decisions with what they would like to do. The outdoor area is a huge asset and this is used very well. It is also very pleasing to see it being used all year round.


Very happy with our experience here and would recommend to others.

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Review from Nichola G (Mother of Child) published on 11 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have two children currently in nursery and they couldn’t be happier. Both children love going to nursery, the staff are all so kind and patient with the children and they are always so creative with the activities and the trips they do. I love the outdoor aspect of the nursery, the children are always
encouraged to play in the garden to look for bugs or go and feed the horses and going to forest school is just brilliant! The trips are well thought out and I always feel confident that my children are in the best care and are loved and cared for.
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Review from Shengzi C (Mother of Child) published on 11 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
They have always been very welcoming and helpful. The nursery day has been filled with lots of fun. The staff have been very warm and patient like a family member. They have especially been supportive to my child as my boy is bilingual and has some communication difficulty. Highly recommended to every
parent.
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Review from Laura B (Mother of Child) published on 11 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
If you’re looking for a nursery and you just can’t decide, when it comes to Acorn think about the following. The turnover of staff is low, staff have their own relatives children there and there is always a long waiting list. We have one child currently at nursery and one that was there for four years
before school. We’ve always been so happy with the care they’ve received. The management are always thinking ahead about what activities they can do with the children. The day trips are great (Pizza Express and Thrift Farm recently). It’s obvious to see that the children are the priority. If you’ve got a child that is a bit more needy (our eldest was said child), and can be a bit upset at drop off, it always helps when that child receives a bit more attention i.e. they go and help set up some activity for later on, or go and have a look in the garden to see if the plants need watering. That’s what makes the difference. I’ve always been so happy with the nursery and couldn’t recommend it more highly.
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Review from Nav T (Mother of Child) published on 10 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
It’s a wonderful nursery and a cut above all the other nurseries I have had experience of, in my view it’s a place where wonderful memories are being made. Any 'mum guilt' I have for going back to work and not being with him soon goes when I see how happy they are, sometimes they tell me they want to
stay longer, when I pick them up, to play with their friends making dens. Highly recommend it.
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Review from Ross D (Father of Child) published on 10 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I could not be more happy with Acorn Day Nursery in Shenley. My daughter has loved it every day since starting when she was just 6 months old. I am really sad that she will be leaving to go to school this year (she is nearly 5) however I know she goes with the absolute best start in life. She has had
wonderful care, experiences, learning opportunities and had a huge amount of fun. The staff are so friendly and caring and my daughter loves them. She has made friends to last a lifetime. The thing I love must about the nursery is how they go over and above for all key events: Christmas nativity, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Easter, camping trips, Forrest school, swimming etc. Truly a fantastic nursery, I could not recommend highly enough.
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Review from Georgina S (Mother of Child) published on 10 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter was at the nursery until last year when she left to go to school and loved every minute she was there (so much so she'd rather be there than at home!). My son is now at the nursery and also loves it. He runs down the road as he can't get there quick enough, and my daughter loves to pick
him up and see the staff who used to look after her. The nursery feels like a family and is very welcoming. The facilities and activities offered are amazing, and the staff make the children feel very welcome and special.
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Review from Sharon B (Grandmother of Child) published on 10 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My grandson goes to Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) and it’s a very friendly, caring and nurturing nursery.


I was able to go to their parent/grandparent afternoon tea, which was fantastic and such a super idea. Very welcoming.

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Review from Karen K (Grandmother of Child) published on 10 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My granddaughter thoroughly enjoys her time at this nursery. When I collect her I am impressed by the friendliness and professionalism of the staff, how attentive they are and the quality of feedback on sleep, food and activities. In particular the app is excellent and I receive regular photos and descriptions
of the day’s activities so that I feel really involved. I would not hesitate to recommend Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End).
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Review from Matt C (Father of Child) published on 8 February 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A superb nursery. Our children love it and the staff are fantastic with them. I could not rate Shenley Church End Acorn Daycare Nursery enough.
Reply from Joanne Colton at Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End)
Thank you Matt for taking the time to give us a review.
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Review from Ana (Mother of Child) published on 1 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I am very pleased with the staff and the activities that my daughter does in the nursery. I also like the report that they give me every day. The connection with the nature that they try to pass to the kids is amazing. So this is a place where I really trust to leave my daughter.
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Review from Luke F (Father of Child) published on 1 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love this nursery. We cannot recommend it enough. After visiting nurseries all over Milton Keynes we were disappointed that they were all soulless sterile environments. Acorn at shenley is the nursery that you want your child to start in. It's an old school with fantastic playground and outdoor area
where kids can be kids. Dirt, branches, trees, bushes, rope swing and everything everywhere else shelters kids from. The staff are fantastic and really create strong bonds with the kids and it shows. The activities such as forest school are brilliant. Exposing kids to the outdoor world, bugs and insects included. The manager runs an excellent staff and always makes time to talk about the kids days and what they achieve. Lastly, love walking past the kitchen in the morning and smelling the amazing food being prepared for the day. It will be a sad day when my daughter leaves.
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Review from Hamood F (Father of Child) published on 27 September 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My kids love this place and they are always learning loads. The staff are excellent at keeping parents updated.
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Review from Andi P (Father of Child) published on 24 September 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing nursery. It was always our first choice and rightly so.
Staff are so friendly, knowledgeable, and there is always something exciting on for the children to learn and enjoy.
It's in a beautiful location too.
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Review from Paul D (Father of Child) published on 24 September 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
It may look a little chaotic when you enter the old village school building but it's a wonderful environment for the kids to learn and grow.
The staff are attentive and genuinely look like they enjoy their work and always have the children's wellbeing as the number one priority.
I would have no hesitation
in recommending this nursery (in fact our friend's child has joined the nursery based on our glowing recommendation).
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Review from Archana G (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A place where I trust to leave my kids and they are a team with genuine, exceptional care. The manager and staff are extremely passionate about what they do. Children are very happy and self-expressed in the nursery. Will definitely recommend.
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Review from Will (Father of Child) published on 11 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is a fantastic nursery with wonderful staff. Really warm and friendly with a genuine interest in my daughters well being and development. Love the focus on nature and interacting with her environment. The food is prepared on site and is the envy of myself and my wife!
Reply from Joanne Colton, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End)
Thank you for your review, she's growing up fast and its great to see how well she has settled into the Squirrels.
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Review from Julian R (Father of Child) published on 11 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The nursery staff continue to surprise us with imaginative ways to play and engage with our daughter brilliantly. Their obvious patience and professionalism are constant and we couldn't imagine leaving our daughter anywhere else. Until recently leaving for school, our son had spent three fantastic years
here and it is reassuring to see that this high level of care is so consistent.
Reply from Joanne Colton, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End)
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review, we are always looking for ways to enhance our nursery provision to make sure each child has the best time ever.
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Review from Sarah (Mother of Child) published on 11 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is the second time our family have chosen Acorn at Shenley and it was the easiest decision we have ever made. Despite the fact we have moved further away, we knew Acorn was our only option.
Having looked after my daughter for three years, I knew that the staff at Acorn would provide the same
happy experience for my son. It has taken my son a while to get used to parting from us and we have had lots of tears in the mornings. However, the staff have been so wonderful and made the whole experience so much more bearable. We can’t thank them enough for the love and care they have given our son. We would recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for childcare in Milton Keynes.
Reply from Joanne Colton, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End)
Thank you for your review, we are extremely pleased to be looking after your son and it was lovely to see your daughter over Christmas.
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Review from Lucie K (Mother of Child) published on 11 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter started at Acorn Nursery last August and she absolutely loves it. The staff are professional, knowledgeable and caring and it really does feel like a home from home. The nursery really focuses on the outdoor play which is so important and my daughter always has a big smile on her face at
the end of the day when I pick her up. All food is prepared on site and it always smells amazing when I drop my daughter off in the morning! I would have no hesitation in recommending the nursery to any parent.
Reply from Joanne Colton, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End)
Thank you for your review, it great to have your daughter here at the nursery and I still can't believe how much she has grown in such a short time.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.941)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.941) out of 10 for Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 27 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 27 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.941 for Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) is calculated as follows: ( (303 Excellents x 5) + (19 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 322 Ratings = 4.941
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) is based on 27 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 48 number of registered child places is 9.6, which has been reached with 27 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (15)

Meet the Team (3)

Helen

Helen Price

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2005

Helen joined Acorn in 2005 and started as an unqualified lunchtime assistant. Helen gained qualifications from level 2 right through to her BA in her early years, taking on additional training such as SEN, Forest school leader and minibus driver. After 13 years of looking after children, Helen decided the time was right to start her own family and in 2020 had her daughter who attended Acorn.


Helen has a passion for outdoor learning and enjoys not only watching children learn and develop but also helping staff develop!


My favourite quote “The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky”


Helen is also Shenley's Designated Safeguarding Lead, so if you ever have any concerns or would like to chat about anything safeguarding-related, please visit or call the nursery on 01908 507782 and ask to speak to Helen directly - alternatively, the setting can provide a direct email address for her.

Laura

Laura

Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2008

Laura - Deputy Manager

Becky

Becky

Job Title: Senior Administrator Joined: 2019

Becky - Senior Administrator

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Acorn Day Nursery (Shenley Church End) has an Enhanced Service - more info.