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Children 1st Acorns Nursery School

Draycott Road, Upper Tean, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4JJ
Children 1st Acorns Nursery School Logo
Children 1st Acorns Nursery School logo
Children 1st Acorns Nursery School, Stoke-on-Trent
Children 1st Acorns Nursery School, Stoke-on-Trent
Children 1st Acorns Nursery School, Stoke-on-Trent

Children 1st Acorns Nursery School is rated 'Outstanding in All Areas' by Ofsted (November 2019) and is situated within picturesque countryside and is easily accessible from the A50. The nursery has been refurbished to offer spacious, age-appropriate rooms for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. The outside space has been transformed to provide a range of outdoor learning environments for children to enjoy.

A friendly and enthusiastic team of staff are fully...  

Funding & Fees

From April 2026
Business Days (8:00am to 6:00pm) from £74.00

We also offer Morning and Afternoon Sessions

We want to make life simple, so our fees include infant formula, milk, freshly prepared snacks, and meals. We also provide nappies, wipes, and sun cream, or parents can bring their own if they prefer

Contact Children 1st Acorns Nursery School to get a personalised quote:

Type of Service

  • Day Nursery

Opening Schedule

Open all year

Full days available

Yes

Half day sessions offered

Yes

Group/Owner

Person in charge

  • Jessica Heasman (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 34

Total Places for Children

  • 140

Age Range

  • from 0 years 2 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Meals Provided

No

Consumables provided

No

Opening Times

  • Monday 08:00-18:00
  • Tuesday 08:00-18:00
  • Wednesday 08:00-18:00
  • Thursday 08:00-18:00
  • Friday 08:00-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Children 1st Acorns Nursery School Reviews (132)

8.5

Children 1st Acorns Nursery School has a Review Score of 8.5 (8.512) out of 10, based on 5 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Children 1st Acorns Nursery School has 132 reviews.

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Review from K A (Mother of Child) published on 8 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

I think it is a great nursery! So much space and many activities for the children. My daughter really enjoys all the staff and enjoys the outdoor space! They are very kind and polite and show understanding and give advice when needed as my daughter has an intolerance to milk.

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Review from Kelly M (Mother of Child) published on 29 May 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

A fantastic nursery, from start to finish. Both our children have absolutely loved coming to Children 1st @ Acorns Upper Tean. Our little girl, who is currently in the early years room, skips into nursery with a smile on her face and can't wait to tell us about all the fun things she has done that day. Professional and friendly staff, great surroundings. Can't think of anywhere else to send my child.

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Review from Michelle L (Mother of Child) published on 26 May 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
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Both of my daughters have attended this setting and when they are not there they want to know when they can next go. That is a credit to the staff with their smiles on their faces every day and welcoming the children positively. One of my daughters role plays nursery every day at home and it's lovely to see her reading to her friends and singing all the time. The outside area/barn is amazing and what they offer isn't matching anywhere else, outstanding setting.

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Review from Rebecca P (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
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My son has been at the nursery for two and a half years and my daughter for one year and they both love it here. The staff are all warm, welcoming and approachable and my children have developed lovely bonds with them. The nursery rooms are bright, clean, lovely spaces and the early years barn particularly is an amazing space that my son loves. I'd highly recommend Acorns Upper Tean.

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Review from Charlotte E (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
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I feel so confident every morning when I drop my son off at nursery. He loves it here. The staff are so caring and loving towards him. The facilities and resources are excellent and beneficial towards the children's development. Everywhere is clean and finished to a high standard. They are always happy to support with every need and query that I may have. I continue to recommend this nursery to everyone.

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Review from Elena G (Mother of Child) published on 2 March 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
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Our son loves his time at nursery after a reluctant start staff supported hi to settle and he now looks forward to his nursery days. All the staff have been amazing keeping us updated on his progress.

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Review from Richard B (Father of Child) published on 3 January 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
Very good nursery, both of my sons settled well from a young age.

They also enjoy the hot meals served!

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Review from Tiffani S (Mother of Child) published on 22 December 2022 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Since starting Acorns my daughter has come on leaps and bounds! She has become a confident little girl and is excited every day to attend nursery-even asking to attend on a weekend. I can't praise the staff enough for being so supportive and passionate in all that they do. I would definitely recommend this setting.

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Review from H S (Mother of Child) published on 21 December 2022 Submitted via Postal Card
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I have always felt comfortable leaving my children in the care of this nursery. They have been cared for, entertained, fed well and educated. This was a safe environment for my children. This was a safe environment for my children to develop new skills and friendships. Nursery has been a wonderful foundation for my children to build on. It has helped prepare them for school and the rest of their lives and I am very grateful.

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Review from Steph B (Mother of Child) published on 21 December 2022 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
Lovely nursery for my boys who still attend. The staff take good care of the children and take good care of the children and make sure all needs are met. Staff are very polite and always welcome parents.

The food prep and delivery is very good as both my boys have enjoyed their meals. Well looked after setting!

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Review from C M (Father of Child) published on 13 December 2022 Submitted via Website
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Amazing nursery, all staff are very friendly and know what our child needs. Both of our children have attended and they are both much better off and well-prepared for the start of school. The staff are very caring and look out for each individual child's needs and requirements. The facilities are excellent and offer a wide range of activities to suit all types of children. Our daughter skips into nursery knowing she is going to have fun all day surrounded by people who care about her, it makes leaving our child all that much easier. Great staff, people and facilities, I can't praise Acorns enough.

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Review from Luke C (Father of Child) published on 25 November 2022 Submitted via Website
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Children 1st @ Acorns Upper Tean is a fabulous nursery. Very attentive, supportive and flexible. My son has seen such a development recently and that's down to the fantastic team there. Can't thank all the staff enough for all they do day in and day out.

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Review from Rebecca C (Mother of Child) published on 24 October 2022 Submitted via Website
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My son has been attending Children 1st @ Acorns Upper Tean Day Nursery for over eighteen months. He has always been made to feel so welcome, with him attending full-time I wanted a nursery where he was not just well looked after but encouraged to grow and develop while, most importantly, having fun - Acorns has always gone above and beyond my expectations. To name a few things that I enjoy about nursery:
The communication, not just from staff verbally, the amount of photos I receive of what he's been doing in addition to his diary. The amount of art he brings home.

He always comes home with new skills he has learnt. I would recommend Acorns to anybody who asked me which is the best nursery.

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Review from Faye W (Mother of Child) published on 1 July 2022 Submitted via Website
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My little girl attends Children 1st @ Acorns Upper Tean and loves it. The staff are incredible and the outdoor experiences they have are amazing. They just had a leaving graduation and the effort put into it was heartwarming and moving. I will be truly sad when it’s time to say goodbye.

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Review from Lisa B (Mother of Child) published on 6 May 2022 Submitted via Website
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My son is non-verbal and is awaiting his assessment for an autism diagnosis. He started nursery in March 2022.
The manager is very approachable and listened to us in order to help my son settle in as easy as possible. Nothing is too much trouble for them and it is obvious that the individual child's needs come first.
His keyworker (chosen with thought and consideration) is kind, caring, very patient and understanding. She genuinely loves being at work.
All of the staff that I have met have been extremely approachable and lovely to talk to. Even other staff such as the groundskeeper man and the lovely cleaner/housekeeper.
I'm grateful that the staff have recognised my son's needs and thought of other ways to help him and to problem solve when he has struggled in certain areas.

It is clear why they have been granted oustanding by Ofsted but when you experience first-hand how much care and love they show your child, then in my eyes that is even more exceptional.

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Review from Rebecca M (Mother of Child) published on 17 December 2021 Submitted via Postal Card
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When we first arrived we had our temperature taken and signed consent forms which was very organised. The show was brilliant and the staff have put a lot of time into preparing the children. Well done and thank you for the invite!

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Review from P T (Mother of Child) published on 17 December 2021 Submitted via Postal Card
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Cannot express enough how fantastic the staff are at Children 1st @ Acorns Upper Tean Day Nursery.
All staff are amazing with the children and really support in their development.
My child has thrived since attending the nursery.

Thank you for everything.

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Review from Katherine H (Mother of Child) published on 23 November 2021 Submitted via Website
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Excellent nursery. Facilities are second to none and they do a brilliant job of the outside area.

Their response to the pandemic has been excellent and I am kept informed of my child's progress weekly. Would highly recommend it.

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Review from Dawn F (Mother of Child) published on 20 October 2021 Submitted via Website
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Fabulous nursery. The facilities are amazing and so are the staff. I couldn’t wish for any more for my daughters. I just love how much time the girls are outside and how active they are. I also love that they are allowed to get muddy!

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Review from Emma C (Mother of Child) published on 12 October 2021 Submitted via Website
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Parents were recently invited to an open evening to look at 'the barn' area of the nursery in early years. We were absolutely blown away by the setup; both inside and outside - absolutely fantastic! The area has been extremely well planned and we thought it was brilliant how the children are involved in the building of areas too - including teepees and doing woodwork; making various things for the area. We also loved that the children eat the fruit and vegetables which they have had a hand in growing.
My son absolutely loves coming to nursery and now we can see why! I can't imagine him being anywhere else.

This area is an absolute credit to the nursery, and the devotion and dedication of the staff shines through when speaking to them!

Reply from Julie Wenn, Director of Quality Assurance at Children 1st Acorns Nursery School

Thank you for taking the time to leave such lovely feedback about our Acorns nursery.

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Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (7)

  • Recipient: StoralDate: Tuesday 31 Mar 2026
  • Recipient: StoralDate: Friday 28 Apr 2023
  • Recipient: StoralDate: Friday 29 Apr 2022

Meet the Team (1)

Dawn McCusker Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2006
Dawn McCusker

Let me introduce myself, I am Dawn McCusker, Nursery Manager at Children 1st @ Upper Tean, Acorns. I started my career way back in 1993 after gaining my NNEB qualification at Stoke on Trent College. Over the years, I have gained a great deal of experience working within the Early Years sector. I also hold a NVQ Level 4 in Nursery Management and have successfully held my position as Nursery Manager since 2006.

Together, Children 1st and myself have a clear vision for the future in raising the standards for all children. I have high expectations in driving the Children 1st ethos forward, ‘Leading the way, shaping the future’ and our dedicated team are embracing the fantastic new journey that lies ahead. Here at Children 1st @ Upper Tean Acorn’s we have built good relationships with parents and the local community, where our friendly yet professional approach has always achieved success.

I consider that every child is important and that they should all receive the very best care and education available – providing fun and engaging activities for learning through play. I believe that I have the drive and vision to contribute to making a difference in this wonderful Early Years setting, providing the highest quality care, so children can reach their full potential. I feel that the dedicated, hardworking, team ethos at Children 1st would provide the perfect setting for your little one(s).

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