Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill)

Wadhurst Lane, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes MK7 6JF
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10 174 Reviews
  • Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill), Milton Keynes
Acorn Early Years nursery at Kents Hill is ideally located for local families; close to the Kingston retail district and approximately four miles from Junction 13 of the M1 and four miles from Central Milton Keynes.

The nursery has been purpose-built in an innovative octagonal shape, offering lovely, spacious play rooms and a central atrium. Each room leads to extensive garden areas so that the children have access to a range of activities both indoors and outside. Acorn places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning and the children benefit from Acorn’s forest school sessions. They even help to grow vegetables and look after the nursery chickens in the extensive outdoor play area.

The key person system ensures children know there is always somebody there for them at Acorns. The team believe children benefit from meeting their key person in a familiar environment, before beginning their time at the nursery, and so home visits are offered to all new families to help establish those bonds.

All meals are freshly prepared on-site by the nursery chef and menus are carefully designed to offer nutritionally balanced and seasonal options, with something for every child's preferences and requirements.

The friendly staff team welcome visits from prospective parents, so please get in touch if you'd like to find out more.
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Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Elena Martuccio (Senior Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 24

Registered Charity Number

  • 1145108

Total Places for Children

  • 60

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 £43.00

  • 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 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

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

Parking

  • There is secure parking in the nursery grounds

Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill) Reviews (174)

10

Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill) has a Review Score of 10 (9.963) out of 10, based on 36 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill) has 174 reviews.

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Review from Stuart H (Father of Child) published on 27 January 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our 2-year-old son attends the nursery twice a week and it's been really great to see his development. He has gone from crying to being really excited about going to nursery, sometimes to the point of not wanting to go to sleep and wanting to go to nursery at 7 pm! The updates we receive from them through
their app are fantastic, a real insight into how the child is doing, and pictures are excellent too!
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Review from Megan D (Mother of Child) published on 27 January 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy has come on leaps and bounds since he started in nursery last year.
He has developed with his speech very quickly and is now starting to use sentences and he's not yet 2!
The staff are all kind and helpful, the food they are given every day is nutritious and encourages him to try a variety
of foods.
I cannot thank Acorn for playing a huge role in his life to prepare him for when he goes to school and into the real world!
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Review from Guy C (Father of Child) published on 18 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We really like the feel and ethos of Acorn, the exciting environment which includes animals and focuses on outdoor activities, their approach to exploring and learning, and their constant enthusiasm for their own learning and improving too. Children always have the opportunity to play outside and are
encouraged to direct their own development and exploration within this safe environment. The feedback we get from practitioners at the end of the day is excellent – they always make time to update us on what our child has been up to, even if it is almost the end of their day. The manager and her team have always been prompt to answer any questions and offer great advice whenever we have been unsure.
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Review from Natasha M (Mother of Child) published on 18 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have the same excellent standard of care and attention every day. I can't pick out an exception, I'm always 100% happy that I'm leaving my child in the best care.
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Review from Nick W (Father of Child) published on 13 May 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has settled into this nursery fantastically, he loves it. His key worker's commitment is exemplary. My son is growing in confidence and the activities have given a visible view of how he is developing well.
I am so thankful to all the staff at this nursery for the care, affection and attentiveness
to all of the children.
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Review from Gareth S (Father of Child) published on 1 March 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Acorn Day Nursery Kents Hill since July 2018 after moving from another provider which we were not happy with and it's the best decision we could have made. The staff are incredibly friendly and I feel they really nurture my son's development. We received regular updates through
the app and constantly feel like we know what's going on at all times. It's a collaborative approach and they go out of their way to involve the parents in everything with their children. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this nursery to prospective parents.
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Review from Becky B (Mother of Child) published on 7 November 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We couldn’t be any happier with our choice of nursery. Since our little boy started in August, the staff have gone above and beyond to help him adjust. He was 9 months when he started and found it challenging at first but all of the staff showed nothing but patience and care towards him. They have been
extremely accommodating and supportive, which has made my return to work as a first time mum much easier.
All staff are exceptionally friendly, polite and positive. They clearly take great joy in bonding with the children and supporting their progress. Since starting, our little boy has made huge leaps in his development and confidence. He is continually gaining new skills and takes great pride in sharing them.
Communication is fantastic and we are kept up to date with his day to day routine and learning.
We are really excited to watch our little boys journey continue and are 100% certain that the nursery will play a huge part in encouraging him to learn and grow.
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Review from Pardeep S (Mother of Child) published on 5 November 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son started at Kents Hill Acorn in September 2018 when he was about 1 and a half years old. Like every parent, we were anxious about him settling into nursery, especially as he was at another nursery previously and was constantly crying, and never really settled in.
He enjoys his time at Acorn.
There are so many different activities every day to keep him entertained both inside and outdoors. I really can’t praise the staff enough, they are so relaxed and full of positive energy that passes onto the children. Within 2 weeks my son was happily walking into his room as he wanted to know what new activities were in his playroom.
All the children are often playing together or individually. It’s a nice relaxed calm atmosphere.
I highly recommend this nursery to anyone that’s looking for a place for their little one. And thank you to all the staff at Acorn Kents Hill for your amazing endless hard work.
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Review from Kylie A (Mother of Child) published on 29 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We’ve had a really positive experience settling our little girl into nursery at Acorns. All of the team have been extremely supportive and helped to make sure that she is happy and secure in the nursery environment. In the couple of months that she has been going to Acorns, I can see she has developed
both socially and physically. She is a lot more confident with other adults and exploring her surroundings. The team work incredibly hard to make sure that the children are well looked after and they always have a wide array of activities to keep them stimulated. I’m especially impressed with the messy play options and there’s always an emphasis on exploring the outdoors and nature. It’s a great feeling when your little one waves you off and is excited to spend their day at nursery!
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Review from Amaury W (Father of Child) published on 9 October 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter has thrived in the year she has been going to Acorn! Their holistic approach to the early year's curriculum is attractive to us and our child, as she is able to explore in environments that allow her to learn about the world. She loves having free access to and from the garden, which offers
a plethora of stimulating activities, and is often met by the resident chickens.
She has made links with the wider community by visiting local care homes, going on walks, fun days, and meeting people who serve our community. The healthy eating ethos at Acorn has helped her make healthier choices, too.
Her transition to Oaks and a new key person was made smooth thanks to the high level of communication, cooperation and familiarity in the nursery. We are always kept informed on her online journal and also get invited to stay and play sessions.
Thank you so much for everything you have done for our daughter, and we look forward to our ongoing partnership.
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Review from Amal N (Mother of Child) published on 28 August 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This nursery has been a godsend for my son. He has grown a lot in confidence and he came out of his shell.
His vocabulary is growing and he is getting more creative and imaginative. He absolutely loves coming and meeting his key person and friends.
When the time comes, I am keen to send my little
one here, that’s how much we trust the staff and the way things are done around here.
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Review from Collette B (Mother of Child) published on 20 August 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely nursery, caring staff and provide all the care for the children. Both of my children have loved it here and I'm going to be very sad when my youngest leaves to go to school.
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Review from Rachel B (Mother of Child) published on 29 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I can't fault the nursery. My daughter has been very happy in the setting since she started a year ago. The staff are wonderful and the environment is fantastic for learning and play. On top of this, I would like to mention the excellent food cooked freshly on site by the chef. I would not hesitate
to recommend the nursery to anyone looking for childcare.
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Review from Victor S (Father of Child) published on 19 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have two children, a son and daughter and both attended Acorn Kents Hill nursery.
Our eldest son is almost 5 and is currently doing Foundation Year at Primary school and we can see that not only he thoroughly enjoyed his time at Acorn Kents Hill (almost two years), he was also getting very well
prepared for this new stage in his learning and development.
Our youngest daughter is 15 months now and has been attending Acorn Kents Hill full time since September 2017. She loves going to nursery and throws herself into the arms of her key person every time she sees her which is a really good sign. We are kept informed very well through the Famly mobile app and we are really happy with the facilities, staff, food, activities and visits. All staff members are very approachable and always with a smile on their faces. We would strongly recommend the nursery to other parents.
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Review from Mercedes L (Mother of Child) published on 19 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing nursery. So much care and attention given and I love getting updates on how my daughters nursery day is going. Brilliant and friendly staff and so understanding. Love it there.
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Review from Luciana B (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My little boy has learnt so much this last year. I'm really happy with my choice of sending my son to Acorn nursery.
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Review from Martina D (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son is always very happy to go to nursery. He sleeps well there and eats better than he does at home! He talks fondly about staff and other students and has clearly made good relationships at nursery. The activities are varied and well planned to stretch them and support their learning. The outside
area is wonderful and the chickens provide the children an excellent opportunity to care for and observe a living creature.
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Review from Matt B (Father of Child) published on 14 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been coming here for well over a year and the service is brilliant. The teachers are all very friendly, caring and welcoming.
I would thorougfully recommend it.
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Review from Moona B (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I can’t fault Acorn Nursery in anyway. The staff are extremely attentive to both the needs of the children as well as parents.
My son really enjoys his time there and I’m glad I chose Acorn.
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Review from Diego G (Father of Child) published on 13 March 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Our daughter has been going to this nursery since she was 14 months. Now she is 2 years and 8 months and we think she is very happy with her friends and with the staff. She always speaks about people from nursery and we can see all her improvements.
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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.963)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.963) out of 10 for Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 36 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 36 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 4.963 for Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill) is calculated as follows: ( (416 Excellents x 5) + (12 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 430 Ratings = 4.963
  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 (Kents Hill) is based on 36 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 60 number of registered child places is 12, which has been reached with 36 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 (14)

Meet the Team (3)

Elena

Elena Martuccio

Job Title: Senior Nursery Manager Joined: 2011

Elena worked in the Early Years sector for many years and has been part of the Acorn team since 2011.


During her time at Acorn, she completed her Foundation Degree in her Early Years and progressed from Deputy Manager to Senior Manager. She is passionate about creating a nursery environment which allows all families, children and staff members to feel happy and welcome on a daily basis.


As a Senior Manager, Elena strives to share her knowledge with other practitioners, supporting them to achieve and reach their personal goals and qualifications.


She is also Kents Hill'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 and ask to speak to Elena directly - alternatively, the setting can provide a direct email address for her.

Sophie

Sophie Rodwell

Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2007

Sophie - Deputy Manager has worked in Early Years for many years and joined Acorn in 2007. She is qualified to level 6 and has an Early Years Degree and Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). Sophie enjoys being outdoors and has completed her Forest School training.

Julie

Julie

Job Title: Senior Administrator Joined: 2016

Julie - 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 (Kents Hill) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Acorn Day Nursery (Kents Hill) has an Enhanced Service - more info.