Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green

74 Smiths Lane, Hindley Green, Wigan WN2 4XR
Review Us
Top 20 award
8.5 15 Reviews
  • Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green, Wigan
Little Acorns is a nursery in Hindley Green, near Wigan, also being convenient for families in nearby locations like Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, and Bolton.

The setting underwent a stunning refurbishment in 2024, resulting in light, spacious, modern and comfortable rooms that children love. These, in tandem with excellent facilities, equipment, resources and staff, greatly enhance the day-to-day lives of children.

Little Acorns boasts incredibly extensive gardens and outdoor areas, which truly set the nursery apart. As well as having different areas where they can play on a wide range of stimulating equipment, children can explore, discover, and learn in nature zones, sensory, water and sand play areas and many more. Through such a wide array of outdoor play opportunities, children can engage in both structured and free play, learn new skills, and feed their hungry minds.

Little Acorns caters for children aged from 3 months up to 5 years, also serving those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. It is open all year round apart from Christmas week and bank holidays. For the convenience of parents, the setting opens for unusually long hours compared to most others in the area from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm and families keep up to date with their child's day via a smartphone app. Government funded childcare schemes are supported, meaning eligible families can receive free childcare for children as young as 9 months.

Little Acorns Nursery represents a fabulous choice for childcare in a warm, welcoming, home-from-home environment that brings out the best in every child.
Show Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green on the Map

Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Hannah Hitchen (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 12

Total Places for Children

  • 47

Age Range

  • from 0 years
  • to 5 years

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 & 1 week at Christmas

Parking

  • Large, accessable car park
    Gated and locked out of hours

Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green Reviews (15)

8.5

Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green has a Review Score of 8.5 (8.455) out of 10, based on 15 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green has 15 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 9
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 6
Date Published
  • 15
  • 6
  • 12
  • 15
  • 0
Reviewer Connection to Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
  • 12
  • 3
Total of 15, showing 1-15
Review from S P (Father of Child) published on 1 August 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
All the long standing and caring staff left in May 2025 following the owner and area manager putting unqualified staff in the rooms. Managers are denying this as the new staff had various qualifications, just nothing to do with childcare.
Safeguarding concerns due to new staff not able to communicate
effectively on the event of an emergency, Eg allergens.
The nursery say they are open with communication and welcome parents to contact them, but they delete and block parents who raise a concern. They failed to share the new ofsted report (rated inadequate) and when parents asked, they were blocked from the social media page with their comments deleted.
No transparency from management and beyond patronising in their responses to complaints/reviews. Back to blaming the former staff for parents experiences as its easier than them admit they were wrong and put children in a dangerous position.
The new area manager put fees up TWICE in 2025 with nothing extra despite promising new activities.
Reply from Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that you’ve had such a negative experience, and we’d like to address your concerns directly and transparently.…read more
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from L I (Mother of Child) published on 16 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
DONT SEND YOUR CHILDREN HERE!!!! This used to be, by far, the best nursery you could go to, since the new owners took over and put a new area manager in place it has become horrendous. All the longstanding staff have had to leave in order to safeguard our children, as the area manager and owner were
pushing for unqualified staff to be left unsupervised with our children.
Our SEN child is now regressing due to such extreme change in routine and has left him struggling
Any communication with the area manager and owner has been awful and they've laughed at parents and staffs concerns. We've been ignored and patronised, including with how the new unqualified staff have limited communication skills to be able to communicate with children and parents, especially around medication, allergies, accidents and emergencies. Currently they have ignored every email to myself and other parents, still with no explanation of what happened and how they were supposed to rectify these safeguarding issue.
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
We are genuinely sorry to hear your concerns and acknowledge how upsetting this situation must feel for you. However, we strongly refute several serious inaccuracies in your review.
First and…read more
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Emma S (Mother of Child) published on 15 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
We was very nervous parents sending our child into a nursery but we had such a positive experience on our walk around and settling in session with the ladies that previously worked there. We was made to feel welcome and our anxiety was reduced as first time parents. My little girl settled quickly and
created a lovely bond with her keyworker! Then one day while at work I was getting repeated notifications from the nursery app about staff leaving all in one day?! Concerning for any parent I would say and who wouldn't have questions? There was no explanation behind these resignations other than management/owner issues. Area manager was questioned as to what was happening but she buried her head in the sand and ignored all our concerns. We pulled our daughter out & have seen the recent ofsted inspection at nursery with new staff that is rated inadequate & that staff basically do not acknowledging children when they try to interact but would rather chat amongst themselves and wonder around
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience — we understand how important it is for parents to feel confident and secure when choosing a nursery for their child. We're pleased to hear that…read more
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Charlie P (Mother of Child) published on 9 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
The positive reviews for this nursery (pre May 2025) are a reflection of the staff that all left at the end of May.
This used to be the best nursery in the area with month long waiting lists.
Unfortunately, all the longstanding, caring and wonderful staff left at the end of May. The management of
this setting is beyond a joke and allows unqualified members of staff into the nursery without informing the parents of the change. When safeguarding concerns were raised, these were brushed off.
Parents were not introduced to the new staff or even aware of who would be coming in. A post on the nursery app from a new worker was the first introduction parents got and it was asking for pictures of the kids/parents.
Almost 40 children were pulled out of this nursery at the end of May due to the safeguarding concerns.
The positive reviews are about the staff that have now all left - please remember that.
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for your feedback. We truly regret that your recent experience with our nursery has led to disappointment and concern, particularly after your previously positive impressions.
We are aware…read more
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from S C (Mother of Child) published on 9 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
Shocking experience - avoid this nursery.
I pulled my son out with immediate effect due to serious safeguarding concerns. All trusted staff handed in their notice after unqualified individuals-some without DBS checks and little to no English-were allowed to work in the setting. When parents raised
questions, we were met with vague or no answers. After withdrawing my son, I received no communication-just removed from the app with no word from the area manager or owner. The positive reviews reflect staff who have now left to protect the children. A recent visit showed only one unqualified staff member left alone with children-completely unacceptable. This nursery has become unsafe, unprofessional, and poorly managed. It should not be operating under these conditions. For the safety of your children, I strongly urge you to stay away.
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. We are deeply sorry to hear that your experience with our nursery led you to feel such a serious level of concern and disappointment.
We want to…read more
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Ryan C (Father of Child) published on 9 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
Our little boy has been with the Nursery for around 16 months hes very energetic and is going through diagnosis for ADHD , the staff with him have been so wonderful caring for him, we wanted our 2 year old daughter to come in and join him.
In the space of 3 days we had been informed most of the staff
was leaving with no other job to go too being forced out by the area manager. This was due to how it was being ran by the area manager and wanting to bring in people who arent qualified or speak/read our language to look after our children. My partner has a life threating allergy that would not be able to safe guarded from
When confronting the area manager who ignored all the parents on the app she laughed and blamed the staff, some who have been there over 10 years. We was given no option to pull out our child. The ratios the management was happy to leave the children in is unsafe and illegal ,as they wouldn't tell OFSTED or parents who was actually working to look after the children.
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery Manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for your feedback. We take all concerns from parents extremely seriously, especially those relating to the care, safety, and wellbeing of the children in our setting.
We are pleased to hear…read more
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Kelsey C (Mother of Child) published on 11 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my boys come to this nursery and they absolutely love coming! Only took a week for them to be fully settled and they love seeing nursery girls! Great meals, good communication, and the girls are very trustworthy. I wouldn't send them anywhere else. Would highly recommend this nursery to anyone
who is looking to put their children into nursery.
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for such a lovely review! We love having the boys here with us, they are such a credit to you and your partner! Thank you for choosing us to be a part of their nursery journey.
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Ashley R (Mother of Child) published on 17 December 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl has been going to this nursery since 9 months of age. She's now 3! and I would take her nowhere else I'll be gutted when she has to go to school and eventually leave. The girls are so welcoming her key workers she's had throughout are amazing and overall staff. My child knows everyone
who works there as they all work as a team each member in each room so it makes it so much easier for transition. This is what I liked most about the nursery as my child's feelings mean more than anything else! It's home from home for my little girl! The manager is so accommodating and will help as much as she can when help is needed. I would highly recommend any mother and child this nursery! Keep up what you guys are doing you are all a dream.
Reply from Demi Horrocks, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you so much for such a lovely review! We love having her with us, she's a star! Thank you for choosing us to help nurture her into the lovely little girl she is!
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Rebecca G (Mother of Child) published on 17 December 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A welcoming and warm nursery where the well-being and development of the children is paramount. Excellent team with a real sense of family between them all. Activities are created every day, and there is always something planned for the day to help an encourage growth, the team are always supportive
an goes above an beyond in there roles!
An incredible little nursery
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for your kind words! We really appreciate you choosing us to be a part of your little one's nursery journey, we love having him in nursery! He's a credit to you and Dad!
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Sheldon F (Father of Child) published on 12 December 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
From day one of my child coming to this nursery we knew it was one till the end! Cannot speak more highly enough of the facilities and the staff here! My child comes home every day telling us about staff and other children and it's just so sweet to hear about how good of a day she has had! Never even
thought about changing nursery! The staff are amazing and are so helpful whenever it's needed!
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We really appreciate your feedback and love having your little one with us, she brightens our day!
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from A D (Mother of Child) published on 12 December 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Acorns Hindley is an amazing nursery. As a mother of an autistic little boy who attends this nursery, I can say they go above and beyond, keeping us up to date on everything my child does and even helping him hit milestones we ourselves have struggled to help him achieve. All the staff are so
lovely and our little boy has an amazing relationship with each of them, my only wish is I would have started him there sooner, grateful to all the staff.
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you for the lovely review, we are so grateful that you chose us to be a part of his nursery journey, he is an amazing little boy!
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from J E (Mother of Child) published on 9 December 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Little Acorns is an amazing nursery. My son has come on leaps and bounds this last year and it's all due to the staff at Little Acorns, they put so much time and effort in and it really shows.
Now my child is ready for school with no worries at all.
Thank you to each and everyone of you, you're all
amazing. We will miss you all.
Reply from Little Acorns Hindley Green Team, Nursery manager at Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
Thank you so much for the lovely review. We are so sad to see him leave but we know he is ready for his next challenge, he will absolutely thrive in a school setting! Thank you for choosing us to be a…read more
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from T S (Mother of Child) published on 9 August 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
It's my daughter's last day today after 4 full years with Little Acorns, the whole staff are like a family and treated my daughter like their own from day one. I never spent a day worried about her or felt unsure about my decision. Little Acorns have meant to world to both of us and we are really really
sad to be leaving for the next adventure.
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Victoria M (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I wholeheartedly recommend this nursery. My little boy has loved his three years here, building loving and nurturing relationships with staff and the other children. He has learned so much and astounds us every day with the level of vocabulary and concepts he understands. Communication has been fantastic
all through his time here. A truly family feel permeates the whole setting and I know I'm leaving my little one in good hands.
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Review from Louise M (Mother of Child) published on 10 May 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little girl started nursery here not long ago and I was worried that she wouldn't settle very well however I was so wrong, all of the staff at Little Acorns are amazing and have given me so much reassurance. All of the staff are so nurturing and supportive and they provide my daughter with so much
care, attention and positivity. My daughter now cannot wait to get out of the car to get into nursery which speaks volumes. Within weeks of my daughter starting at Little Acorns she has come on so much, her speech is improving and she is learning new things every day, coming home and telling me what she has been up to at nursery. The nursery has a huge outdoor area which is perfect as my daughter loves the outdoors. I feel so lucky to have found a nursery with such a wonderful and happy environment for my daughter. My youngest daughter starts in a few weeks and I know she is going to be just fine here. Thank you to all the staff for looking after my girls I will be forever grateful.
  • Facilities / Outside Space
  • Learning
  • Resources / Equipment / ICT
  • Care
  • Activities
  • Staff
  • Food / Nutrition
  • Management
  • Cleanliness
  • Safeguarding
  • Value for Money
Current Review Score: 8.5 (8.455)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.5 (8.455) out of 10 for Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 3.6 out of 5 from 15 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.9 out of 5 from 9 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 3.598 for Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green is calculated as follows: ( (109 Excellents x 5) + (8 Satisfactorys x 3) + (57 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 174 Ratings = 3.598
  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 4.857 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green is based on 9 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 = 3.9
    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 47 number of registered child places is 9.4. 9 Positive Reviews ÷ 9.4 = 0.957
  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.

Loading

Loading Loading

Loading

Loading

Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (0)

There are no team members posted.

Frequently Asked Questions about Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green

What is the Age Range of Children that Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green accepts?

Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green accepts Children aged from 0 years to 5 years.

What Days & Hours is Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green Open?

Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green is open: 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.

How many Children does Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green have capacity for?

Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green has capacity for a total of 47 Children.

How far is Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green to the centre of Wigan?

4.0 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green has an Enhanced Service - more info.