Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

Olney Road, Emberton, Olney MK46 5BX
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9.9 31 Reviews
  • Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton), Olney
Located in Emberton, Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre is set in a previous school and has been refurbished to offer day care for children aged from 4 months to 5 years, with both full and part time places available. The Outdoor Learning Centre also offers an outdoors holiday club for up 24 children.

With a focus on the outdoors, the nursery will offer regular forest school sessions as well as meals and snacks prepared using locally sourced ingredients.

The Nature Kindergarten offers 16 places and operates term-time-only for children aged 3-4 years of age.
Children have a hands-on approach whilst being being supported by the highly qualified staff who are nurturing, have a passion for the outdoors and strive to create a positive, stimulating, safe and secure environment for children to learn and grow in.

The Kindergarten is perfect for little explorers who love to be outside, based within the grounds of the day nursery and outdoor learning centre. Taking place completely outdoors, children can participate in a range of activities from mini-beast hunting, den-building, natural crafts, wood work skills and cooking on a campfire! Over the next couple of years their aim is to plant over 500 trees and shrubs, build several outdoor shelters and other wooden structures and sculptures, develop an orchard and allotment area, developing a range of other outdoor provisions that will enhance the activities and sessions on offer.
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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.

Contact Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) to get a personalised quote.

Contact Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) to get a personalised quote.

Type of Service

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

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Amy (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 12

Registered Charity Number

  • 1145108

Total Places for Children

  • 57

Age Range

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

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-15:00
    Tuesday 09:00-15:00
    Wednesday 09:00-15:00
    Thursday 09:00-15:00
    Friday 09:00-15:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays, 1 week at Christmas & Staff Training Days

Parking

  • There is a small car park attached to the nursery for drop off and pick up. There is a large car park opposite the field for parking for the Nature Kindergarten.

Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) Reviews (31)

9.9

Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.920) out of 10, based on 21 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) has 31 reviews.

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Total of 31, showing 21-31
Review from P M (Father of Child) published on 22 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Acorn Nursery for just over a year now and she absolutely loves it there, she has learnt so much from being there and surprises us everyday by what she has learnt!
The team are very nurturing and caring, and always welcomes us with a friendly approach. Always putting
the children and their needs first!
Everything that my child does is logged and tracked using an app which they also log her learning journey and photos on which we can see at the end of the day, it’s lovely to see what she’s been up to and enjoyed whilst at nursery.
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Review from Adam G (Father of Child) published on 19 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending this nursery for over a year and I cannot recommend it enough! Before starting at this nursery my daughter didn't eat any fruit or vegetables, now she eats most vegetables and some fruits, her favourite at the moment being watermelon, which is what they had for a snack
at nursery today! Everyday she wakes up asking if she is going to nursery, even on the weekends, which just goes to show how incredible they are! When my daughter arrives at nursery all the staff make an effort to say good morning to her before she goes to find her favourite grown-up for a cuddle. This nursery thrives on being outdoors in all weather, which is what I love. They have a big open field for the children to explore and when I pick her up and she is really muddy or has a wet bag full of clothes, that is when I know she had had a really good day! The staff are all welcoming and always tell me about her day when I pick her up at home time. Keep up the great job guys!
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Review from K K (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing staff, very caring, friendly and communicative.
I am so happy my daughter settled very good!
They are always there to listen if we have any concerns and explain how much progress your daughter is making.
Also, their app is very good, allows the parents to see what their child ate or to see
some pictures of what they were playing that day.
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Review from Jenna-may D (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Beautiful setting, very good staff, my daughter enjoyed her time here and always came out smiling. Forest School is another great addition. Lots of play activities and dancing, messy play etc, great outdoor space and a huge field.
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Review from Vanessa L (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is an outstanding nursery.
We are so happy we decided to send our son here.
The nursery itself is in a beautiful location. The setting has a real emphasis on natural resources as well as outdoor play with its forest school.
The staff are nurturing, kind and highly experienced. It is very obvious
they enjoy being with the children and their careers in childcare.
The manager is highly engaged within rooms and the children - I really feel this has a positive influence in the nursery.
We receive regular photos, videos and updates on our son’s development. They also track his day on the app (when his nappy changes are, what he eats etc).
He adores his key worker and the other staff.
He eats so well at nursery, and the food smells delicious.
We thoroughly recommend this nursery!
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Review from C B (Mother of Child) published on 8 January 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Emberton Nursery was brilliant. The staff were all very caring but also imaginative and creative and helped shape activities to our son’s interests. The team encouraged the children to be outside as much as possible, which also really suited our son - and helped burn off lots of energy! I highly
recommend it!
Reply from Kirby Green, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)Thank you so much for your kind review. We hope you and the family are doing well.
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Review from C P (Father of Child) published on 4 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending the nursery for almost a year now. She absolutely loves being outdoors, and the Emberton Nursery has the most wonderful outside spaces. Im also a fan of the level of independence my daughter is given; it gives me hope she will be more than capable when it comes to school.
They always seem to be doing lots of fun and different activities, e.g. police officer visits and going on walks outside of the nursery, to name the most recent. The staff are amazing, and my daughter loves going in each day. Highly recommend!
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Review from Natalie W (Mother of Child) published on 7 August 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter has attended Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) since April and we have been very impressed with the nursery. The settling-in process was well organised and worked well. The staff are all very caring towards our child and she seems to have a lovely time whilst there.
They serve nutritious meals and snacks which is important to us. The children spend a lot of time outside playing getting fresh air and have lots of activities and toys to choose from. We would not hesitate to recommend Acorn Day Nursery to any parent looking for a nursery setting for their little one.
Reply from Kirby Green, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)Thank you for your kind words Natalie, it has been a pleasure having you and the family as part of our nursery.
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Review from R O (Mother of Child) published on 8 December 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
As a new nursery, Emberton continues to go from strength to strength delivering outstanding childcare for my little boy. From day one we have always felt like part of a family at Emberton, with easy drop-offs and friendly collections.
The team are fantastic in their approach to child care, and the
fun never stops for the children.
Due to the size of the nursery, everything feels like a personal experience for your child rather than a number or name in a larger setting. Plus the countryside setting and focus on nature is also such a great part of the Acorn ethos, teaching an appreciation for the outdoors from an early age. I can't recommend Acorn Emberton enough!
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Review from Rachel F (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
What an amazing nursery Acorn Day Nursery Emberton is! Before my son started at Emberton, he was at home with me. We came for a visit to the nursery, and he felt so comfortable straight away! All the staff were welcoming, calming and positive. They made us feel excited and relaxed about my son starting
nursery. When my son started at the nursery and was settling in, the staff went above and beyond to make sure he was happy, comfortable and settled. He loves going to nursery and will regularly ask to go to nursery on our days off! My 2-year-old son's development has progressed so much since starting at Acorn Day Nursery Emberton. He is trying to talk in small sentences and is counting and identifying colours. Having a child born during the Covid lockdown, he has developed great social development skills. The staff are informative and supportive, making sure they keep us updated regularly and will adapt to the needs of my son without any hesitation.
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Review from M N (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at Acorns Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre, Emberton, go above and beyond to make my child feel safe and happy, she's gaining more and more confidence since attending the setting, when children are poorly they check in to make sure they're okay, I cannot fault this nursery so far. The staff
are fun, exciting and engaging in all elements. Couldn't recommend this setting enough!
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.920)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.920) out of 10 for Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) 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 21 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 21 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 4.920 for Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) is calculated as follows: ( (230 Excellents x 5) + (20 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 250 Ratings = 4.92
  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 and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) is based on 21 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 + 0.025 = 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 57 number of registered child places is 11.4, which has been reached with 21 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

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Awards / Recognitions (14)

Meet the Team (4)

Amy

Amy Moulton

Job Title: Manager Joined: 2025

Manager -Amy has 19 years of experience in early childhood education and brings passion, dedication, and a wealth of knowledge to her role. Amy takes pride in creating a nurturing, stimulating, and safe environment where children can thrive and has an approachable nature, creative flair, and commitment to supporting both children and staff.
Amy loves building strong relationships with families and making every day an opportunity for growth, discovery, and fun.

Jules

Jules Sparks

Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2025

Jules has over twenty years of experience working within childcare and education, beginning her career as a nursery nurse and developing her practice across a variety of roles including childminder, teaching assistant, and tutor. She recently stepped into the role of Deputy Manager at Acorn Day Nursery in Emberton, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for early years education.


Throughout her career, Jules has remained committed to supporting children at the very start of their learning journey. She believes strongly in the value of holistic, play-based experiences and loves working within a nursery that embraces the outdoors as a powerful tool for learning, growth, and exploration.


Jules is particularly passionate about creating enriching environments where children feel confident to discover, question, and engage with the world around them. For her, there is no better place to begin a lifelong love of learning than right here, with our youngest children, supported by a team who truly values outdoor education and child-led development.

Emma

Emma Jones

Job Title: Deputy Manager (Maternity Leave) Joined: 2019

Deputy Manager - Emberton
Emma is the Deputy Manager of the Emberton Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre. Emma started with Acorn in 2019 and in that time she has achieved her level 3 Forest School Lead qualification and been part of the team to open two nurseries, most recently Emberton itself.

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Paula Zaremba

Job Title: Administrator Joined: 2025

Paula joined the Acorn team in 2024.

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