Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)

Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ
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Top 20 award
9.9 66 Reviews
  • Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook), Bedford
Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) is set in the beautiful grounds of Colworth Science Park, and offers a homely atmosphere in which your child can relax and have fun whilst learning and socialising with other children.

The team of qualified, experienced and dedicated staff provide the best possible care for your child within the context of a happy and secure environment.

The nursery is dedicated to providing high-quality care and education for children aged four months to four years, working in partnership with parents to help children learn and develop.

Children have use of a large indoor nursery space, as well as access to a secure and secluded private garden at the back of the nursery. The garden is a wonderful outdoor area with plenty of space to run around and play.

The children not only get to play outdoors in a safe environment, but gain access to a host of new experiences and education about nature and the world around them, the local wildlife, and how the environment changes through the seasons.

Through active playing and exploration, children are learning skills such as problem solving, spatial-awareness and mathematical language.

Their menus have been carefully planned to be both seasonal and nutritionally balanced and tasty ensuring clean plates every time! Their cook prepares all the nursery meals and snacks onsite each day providing nutritionally balanced meals which are both healthy and appetising. Acorn only use fresh, local, ethically sourced produce to create their delicious meal and can accommodate most dietary requirements and have won several awards for their food.

You are very welcome to visit the nursery to see the facilities and meet the staff.
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Funding & Fees

Full time place starting from £1,420360
Full day from £74
Morning session from £43
Afternoon session from £39

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.

Contact Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) to get a personalised quote.

Contact Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Aimee Bishop (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 24

Registered Charity Number

  • 1145108

Total Places for Children

  • 62

Age Range

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

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

  • A large car park is located at the front of the nursery

Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) Reviews (66)

9.9

Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.940) out of 10, based on 19 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) has 66 reviews.

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Total of 66, showing 21-40
Review from Sophie S (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Nothing but great things to be said about Acorn Nursery in Sharnbrook!
As the same as most mums I was worried when I had to go back to work to leave my daughter but Acorn Nursery has helped me from day one. My daughter loves going in every day with no problems. She loves the staff and all the activities
they get up to. Especially the forest school/ outside which is always her favourite!
Always recommend this nursery to friends and family!
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Review from K J (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter loves going to Acorns Nursery at Sharnbrook. She has settled in quickly, and all the staff have been great with her. Her confidence has grown in such a short space of time, and we feel that her attending Acorns has contributed hugely to this - interacting with other children, accessing
the outside space and the variety of activities that are put out for the children. The staff are always friendly and engaging, and we always love receiving updates about our daughter's day!
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Review from Charlotte J (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has attended Acorn Day Nursery in Sharnbrook for approximately two years now, and he absolutely loves it there. On weekends, he asks for his key workers and genuinely misses being there with them! The activities and variety he is exposed to are amazing. Our two older children went to a different
nursery back then due to location, and I 100% believe that Acorn is a much better setting - this child has settled much quicker, and some days, he doesn't seem to want to come home. He is learning quickly and growing up fast, becoming a very independent boy.
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Review from Diane L (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our twins joined Acorn Day Nursery eight months ago, and can honestly say, it’s been a fantastic eight months - I feel 100% happy leaving our twins here. The staff are very friendly, enthusiastic and always smiling.
The twins have been supported with their individual needs and us as a family also!
I
love the daily updates on the app seeing the care given, pictures and memories.
They both have such a good bond with their key person and regular messages/updates.
Highly recommend this setting to other parents.
Thank you, Acorn Nursery.
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Review from Abby H (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We chose Acorn Nursery in Sharnbrook due to its Forest school and environmental ethos. My husband and I feel it is important for children to be active, outside as much as possible and to learn about their environment. Acorn Sharnbrook has gone above and beyond our expectations in these respects, our
daughter thoroughly enjoys her time at nursery.
Staff are knowledgeable, caring, supportive, friendly and fun. I feel comfortable asking for advice on a wide range of topics and supported in decision-making.
I’m always impressed with the wide range of activities the children partake in. Activities are creatively organised with a clear focus on education, enjoyment and there is also more often than not a link to environmental awareness.
We are kept up to date efficiently throughout the day on our daughter’s movements. We are also kept in the loop about nursery and organisation objectives and feel that our thoughts and opinions are valued and respected.
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Review from R M (Mother of Child) published on 29 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Acorns Sharnbrook is a wonderful, nurturing, fun environment for children. The location is superb with lots of time outdoors exploring, not to mention the brilliant forest school sessions. The on-site chef is fabulous so the children eat very well with a varied menu. Its eco-school status and strong
ties to the community (regular visits to the local care home and village) add extra variety and substance to their activities.
Our second child suffered separation anxiety when starting nursery and took a long time to settle but the staff and her key workers in particular were simply wonderful. Their nurturing approach really helped her to feel more comfortable there, so much so that her recent transition to the Squirrels room went incredibly smoothly. She comes home full of chatter about the fun they’ve had which is a delight to hear! The regular videos and photos posted on the app are brilliant to receive whilst at work.
I cannot recommend Acorns Sharnbrook highly enough.
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Review from J T (Mother of Child) published on 29 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Acorn Nursery at Sharnbrook is an excellent provision, the whole ethos of the nursery is child-centred. The staff are kind and compassionate yet fun and engaging. They are passionate about what they do and developing the children in their care.
There are always different activities available to the
children and they spend lots of time outside. The nursery has a lovely garden/outdoor area and the children regularly attend a woodland experience on site which was just one of the things that initially attracted us to the nursery.
The staff were extremely accommodating with settling-in sessions and were child-led throughout working with us as parents to ensure that our child had the best possible start. Communication is brilliant throughout the day and at the start/end of each session and nothing is ever too much trouble.
I cannot recommend this nursery enough. It has a lovely atmosphere and the setting has really benefited my child.
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Review from Rhiannon G (Mother of Child) published on 29 February 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Absolutely love this nursery, we have both our girls here in different rooms and they always come home happy.
Our eldest loves the Oaks room, the staff always put on exciting activities for her to join in with and she loves the outdoor activities in the garden and forest school every week.
The Acorn
room has been incredible for our youngest, we weren’t sure how she would be going to nursery but the staff made the transition so easy for her. They were also the ones who picked up on her allergy when no one else did and catered for her so well, I’m so grateful for them caring for her like they do.
I can’t recommend the nursery or the people who work here enough. They do great things with the kids that I could never imagine doing, definitely easing that mum guilt a little bit!
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Review from R A (Mother of Child) published on 5 June 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been thrilled and delighted in equal measure by our experience in the Squirrels room at Acorn Nursery. Our daughter is given the most enriching of activities to take part in and is stimulated, stretched and, most importantly, cherished by the staff. The Squirrels leader and her team go above
and beyond to make each day for the children creative and memorable. We hugely appreciated the personalised feedback and the regular photo updates. It is no wonder that we have seen such a rise in our daughter's confidence and fascination with the outdoors since she started coming here. Thank you to all of you!
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Review from C K (Mother of Child) published on 15 May 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Acorn is an incredible setting. The facilities and outdoor space allow children to actively explore and understand the world. Staff are dedicated to caring and fully understanding children's individual journeys. The nursery feels happy, colourful, and filled with opportunities to learn something new.
Communication between parents and the setting is impressive. Consistent use of the app allows for daily photos (and many of them!), a clear understanding of what the children have eaten and a quick and easy way to make contact with key workers. Having seen a number of nurseries, Acorn, by far, is the best. My son adores it!
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Review from H D (Mother of Child) published on 3 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I’m exceptionally impressed by Acorns Nursery. All of the staff are lovely and clearly go above and beyond with their work.
The activities that the children partake in are so detailed and well thought out. They set up activities that align with the current interests of the children. They even frequently
send the children home with activity bags to do at home.
There is a huge emphasis on outdoor play all year round, not just when it’s nice weather. Every day they are outside exploring and then have a planned morning in the woodlands once a week.
I would highly recommend Acorns!
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Review from Anna B (Mother of Child) published on 13 December 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My husband and I are delighted with the overall care and experience our two children receive at Sharnbrook. The outdoor space and activities provided are fantastic and much care and planning goes into their outside experience, play and learning. The provision of activities, creative play and opportunities
are brilliant. The food provided is varied and healthy and the indoor space is well-managed and accessible to parents. The staff are very energetic, fun, caring and enthusiastic so I know my children have a secure, happy experience there.
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Review from Chloe A (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Acorn Day Nursery in Sharnbrook have honestly been amazing and I couldn't recommend them enough. In such a short space of time my son has come on leaps and bounds and all my worries and concerns have been listened to and measures put in place to help push and support my son's development. I'm honestly
so pleased we chose the nursery after being quite worried with my son being so young but I honestly couldn't be happier. My son loves it there, especially his key person! She's definitely one in a million! Goes over and beyond for him and to a point I feel now with only little language she understands him and can communicate in other ways to fulfill his needs and wants. Would recommend them in a heartbeat!
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Review from Victoria H (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This childcare setting is excellent! I can't speak highly enough of it. The staff team are amazing and continually goes above and beyond to care for my son. Unfortunately, my son lost his father this year and the team at Acorn has loved him through it. They supported him as he adjusted and continued
to help him hit his developmental markers. The food they provide is great and the activities they do with the children are creative, exciting and developing. This is a fantastic setting, I feel very lucky to have found it and privileged that my son is part of the Acorns family - well done!
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Review from R W (Mother of Child) published on 29 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Sharnbrook Acorn Day Nursery is in my opinion the best nursery around. I was extremely anxious about leaving my daughter with anyone other than myself or her daddy. The staff at Acorn Sharnbrook made all my worries disappear. We had a home visit which was great for my daughter as her key worker played
with her to ensure she would remember her when she started. The settling sessions were painless as the staff kept in such close contact with me so I knew exactly what was going on with my girl. Day to day I know everything is fine with her, the app keeps me in close contact knowing if she has eaten and what she has eaten. The meals are healthy and yummy. The activities that are planned are fun and educational. But it's the staff that make this such a wonderful place for the children, they are all great. My daughter is excited to go to nursery and I will be sad for her to leave when it's time for school.
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Review from D L (Father of Child) published on 7 November 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has attended Acorn Day Nursery in Sharnbrook since he was 10 months old. We spent a lot of time looking at different nurseries in the area and agreed that Acorns met all of our expectations of a nursery. Our son has a wonderful bond with his keyworker and the other staff within the setting,
and we are seeing the progress he is making each week. The app is great and was a key part in the settling process, reassuring us with photos and updates on his day. The outdoor space is amazing and the varied experience and activities offered are great. Our son loves going to nursery and that makes us very happy. We have complete trust in the staff and know that our little boy is getting the best care. Admin queries are dealt with quickly and professionally. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
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Review from K B (Mother of Child) published on 23 May 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Acorn nursery Sharnbrook has a been a fantastic place for my child to grow and learn. Having been at the nursery from 1 year old and now leaving for school in September the nursery has been fundamental in helping them grow and mature into a very confident, articulate individual. The outdoor experiences
the children have on an almost daily basis make Acorn stand out from other nurseries and is the reason I still commute to the nursery each day despite working from home. We will certainly miss everyone when we leave at the end of the year.
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Review from Jo-Anne R (Mother of Child) published on 16 May 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Squirrels team goes above and beyond their call of duty. They are always eager to receive feedback and improve. The bond they have with the kids is great! A lot of thought and preparation goes into the activities prepared for the class, and I love the emphasis on outdoor play and exploration.
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Review from G S (Mother of Child) published on 21 April 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter loves coming along to Acorn Sharnbrook, she enjoys the forest school and all the varying activities! She has made lots of friends, her creativity has developed and she is very happy. She has also enjoyed trying new foods with the varying kitchen menu. She has developed lovely relationships
with her designated key workers as well.
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Review from Rachel S (Mother of Child) published on 21 April 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Where do I begin? Acorns Day Nursery in Sharnbrook has provided the highest quality of care for my two daughters since day one. The staff are warm, friendly, and welcoming and the nursery itself is safe, inviting, and consistently interesting and educational with a strong lean towards bringing the outside
in, with nature being at the forefront of all learning. The home-cooked food is outstanding with the children themselves often picking homegrown vegetables and cooking them to eat for lunch the very same day. Any administrative queries have been quickly resolved by the very efficient management team. Overall we could not be happier with the care, love, and attention to detail provided by everyone involved at the nursery, and would highly recommend to all who ask!
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.940)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.940) out of 10 for Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) 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 19 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 19 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 4.965 for Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) is calculated as follows: ( (220 Excellents x 5) + (8 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 228 Ratings = 4.965
  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 4.975 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) is based on 19 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 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 3.975
    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 62 number of registered child places is 12.4, which has been reached with 19 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 (13)

Meet the Team (3)

Aimee

Aimee

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2007

Aimee is a dedicated and experienced professional who takes great joy from overseeing the development of all the children within the nursery and most importantly seeing the smiles on their faces each day. She, along with Deputy Manager Julie Dix, take great pride in the nursery and the team who make it all happen.


Aimee is also Sharnbrook'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 01234 608899 and ask to speak to Aimee directly - alternatively, the setting can provide a direct email address for her.

Julie

Julie

Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2001

Julie - Deputy Manager

Anna

Anna Wills

Job Title: Administrator Joined: 2025

Anna joined Acorn in March 2025, having spent the previous 10 years working both as a scheme manager, working with the elderly and vulnerable for the local authority and also some time working as part of social services in the community.


Whilst it was new to be working within a new sector, Anna was able to bring some of the skills and knowledge from her previous roles and apply them to the admin role within an early years setting.

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