When choosing a nursery or preschool for your child, it’s very important to get it right. After all, when they’re under five, your child’s learning and development are at a critically important stage. You will want to ensure they’re safe, well cared for, and happy at your chosen nursery. You’ll also want to ensure they learn and grow optimally as individuals and are as school-ready as possible by the time they leave to start ‘big’ school. What’s more, you’ll want to hear what other parents and professionals think about the setting. With all that in mind, we’ve put together 15 reasons why choosing Little Acorns Nursery could be right for your child if they live in the Hindley Green area near Wigan. As you’ll see, many of the benefits of choosing Little Acorns for childcare are also backed up by independent opinions, for example, those of Ofsted inspectors and the parents of children who have attended.
1. Little Acorns is a Good Provider (Ofsted)
We’re a good provider of early years education and childcare. You don’t need to take our word for it, though, because the Government body Ofsted independently rated the nursery as Good in every category in their most recent report. We were rated as ‘good’ across the board including in overall effectiveness, the quality of education, leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development. It was indeed a full house of good scores, meaning that children are in safe and very capable hands that will bring out the best in every one of them.
2. Wonderful Customer Reviews & Ratings Online
We’ve got lovely reviews and 5-star ratings online and, at the time of writing, have scored top marks across the board. The following is a typical review illustrating the type of lovely comments that parents have been publishing online about Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green:
“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.”— Victoria M (via the Day Nurseries website, June 2024. Overall Experience: 5.0 out of 5).
Even the Ofsted inspector who last visited the nursery said:
“Parents speak highly of the staff at the nursery and develop high levels of trust.” — Ofsted report (April 2023).
3. Convenient Opening Hours for Working Parents
Little Acorns Nursery opens early and closes late on weekdays. This is great for local working parents as it allows them time to drop off and pick children up with minimal impact on their working hours. The nursery opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday inclusive. Those are longer working hours than many of our local competitors — we checked!
4. A Nursery Open All Year Round
Unlike some other nurseries and preschools, Little Acorns Nursery is open virtually all year round, only closing on Bank Holidays and for one week over Christmas. We’re therefore open over school summer holidays, for example, meaning working parents can carry on working without worrying about childcare during such school breaks.
5. Excellent Safeguarding
Little Acorns staff are fastidious about the welfare and safety of babies and children under their care. As even the Ofsted inspector reported in our last inspection, “Leaders have ensured that staff are well trained and knowledgeable about matters relating to child protection. They have provided clear procedures for staff to report any concerns that they may have about children’s welfare.” Your child is in safe hands at Little Acorns Nursery.
6. We Support Many Childcare Funding Schemes
Little Acorns Nursery supports a wide variety of free childcare initiatives that are available to eligible families through government funding. Whether it’s free childcare hours for 2-year-olds, 3- and 4-year-old preschoolers, or the imminent roll-out planned for eligible babies starting in September 2024, we support many different childcare funding schemes where families are eligible. With today’s tough economy and recent inflation levels, we know that families will welcome such help to make childcare more affordable.
7. The Nursery Has Undergone a Stunning Refurbishment
During the first half of 2024, the nursery underwent a significant refurbishment and the results really speak for themselves. It’s a real facelift that includes beautiful new flooring, refreshed paintwork, re-plastered walls, renewed skirting, lovely bright downlighters, new storage areas, new bathrooms, new hallway carpet, and a modern, spacious feel. There are some lovely new interior design touches too, which spark new life into the nursery and preschool areas. New furniture, resources and enhancements are also included to make this a more exciting, stimulating, and engaging place for children to spend time. These include details like new bifold doors to allow free-flow access from indoors to the outdoor areas when appropriate. You can see some of the refurbishments here.
8. Children Love our Extensive Gardens & Outdoor Areas
Few childcare nurseries and preschools can claim to have as large an outdoor space as Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green. Our extensive outdoor space is a wonderful area for children to explore, discover, play, and learn. Including both undercover areas and open areas, there are nature zones, sensory areas, a variety of exciting play areas, counting areas, and a stimulating array of equipment. This includes construction toys and equipment, creative activities, sand play, water play, bicycles and scooters, play houses and, of course, more standard climbing frames, slides, and suchlike. Children can benefit here from both structured and free play in a safe but exciting outdoor environment.
“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.”— Louise M (via the Day Nurseries website, May 2024. Overall Experience: 5 out of 5).
9. Photos & Regular Updates for Parents
A smartphone app allows staff to send parents regular updates about their child’s day at the setting. This is a really useful tool, for example, to help parents see how well their child is fitting in when they first start nursery. It also shows parents some of the activities children are taking part in and includes commentary from staff. It’s a great way for parents to connect, monitor their child’s progress and be assured of their well-being, despite being away from their child.
“I get photos and updates and this really helps settle my mind when I’m at work.” — Ashley G (via the Day Nurseries website, April 2024. Overall Experience: 5 out of 5).
10. Skilled & Experienced Staff
Little Acorns Nursery employs high-calibre childcare staff who are caring, experienced and skilled. Naturals with the children, they are also qualified as a minimum when they start in paediatric first aid, safeguarding, and basic food hygiene although many have qualifications that far exceed that baseline. Staff also have the support of a CPD programme, for continuous professional development, which includes access to training courses and tools that will further their skill set. That’s a win-win-win as the staff, the nursery and the children will all benefit. The Ofsted inspector also commented on the quality of staff at the most recent inspection:
“The high priority given to continuing professional development has resulted in a team of many skilled and experienced staff. This has a positive impact on the quality of education for all children, including those who are disadvantaged.” — Ofsted (April 2023).
11. Childcare Tailored for Every Child
Some of the most fundamental goals at Little Acorns Nursery are to bring out the best in each and every child and, in turn, set them up for future success. Our professional childcare practitioners and leadership team do everything they can to achieve such goals, including through a learning and development programme that’s tailored for each child — after all, every child is different. From the outset, this is achieved in part via two-way feedback with parents and, where required in the case of those with special needs, the use of external professional expertise. In this way, every child’s strengths can be made even stronger and any weaker areas given focus to bring them up to speed.
“Staff work closely with parents right from the start to assess and plan how to meet children’s individual needs.” — Ofsted (April 2023).
12. Excellent Support for Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)
Little Acorns Nursery is indeed excellent in its support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (‘SEND’). The Ofsted inspector perhaps said it best when they visited in 2023:
“The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) successfully uses her comprehensive knowledge of local arrangements for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). She links closely with other supporting professionals, accurately assesses need and identifies precise targets for learning. Through strong relationships with staff, children with SEND progress well, particularly in their understanding and communication.” — Ofsted.
13. We Ready Children for School
One of our key aims and indeed strengths is to prepare every child for starting school. So, during their time with us, we do everything we can to nurture them in every area of their learning and development. We ensure they have the knowledge and skills they’ll need so that, when the time comes to leave us to begin school, they’ll hit the ground running and absolutely thrive in their journey forward to school — and beyond.
“The carefully thought out curriculum helps children to gain the kinds of knowledge and skills they need in readiness for their future move to school.”— Ofsted (April 2023).
14. Hygge
Little Acorns is also one of only a few Hygge-inspired childcare nurseries and this facet helps make the setting even more of a home-from-home for little ones. Hygge (pronounced “Hue-gah”) is a Danish and Norwegian word that describes the kind of lifestyle that has cosiness, contentment, and well-being at its centre. A Hygge-style environment will therefore be one that appreciates natural materials like wood and warm, homely, child-friendly, decor like rugs and cushions. Hygge also encourages a real appreciation of nature amongst both staff and children. Put simply, Hygge makes Little Acorns Nursery a better place to be. Learn more about the nursery’s developing Hygge approach here.
15. The Benefits of Being Privately Owned
Little Acorns is an independently owned nursery rather than a large faceless ‘group’ that sets rules from somewhere hundreds of miles away. By being independent, our leadership team is more agile and able to adapt quickly for the best interests of the nursery and its children. Being a small independent also means your child won’t be ‘lost’ in the system but, rather, will be part of our nursery family. Little Acorns really is a home-from-home for every child.
The Best Nursery for Your Child in Hindley Green, Wigan
We hope today’s article has given local parents food for thought in their search for the best nursery & preschool in Hindley Green or a good childcare provider within a convenient distance of Wigan, Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, Bolton or Greater Manchester. Get in touch to find out more, come for a visit, or register your child for a place:
Once winter arrives in December and cold winds start to breathe the landscape to sleep for a season, little ones will be less inclined to venture outdoors. Parents, too, will no doubt appreciate them avoiding the rain, cold, and inclement conditions that may occur. As such, winter is the perfect time to transform dreary days and dark evenings into a haven of warmth and cosiness indoors. An enchanting children’s activity that goes hand-in-hand with this is that of storytelling. With that in mind, today’s post guides you through the delightful process of creating a Winter Storytelling Corner tailored for the youngest members of the family. A storytelling corner is a wonderful way to make these winter nights cosy, magical, and filled with high-quality shared moments. Shared 
Start by selecting a cosy corner or nook in your home – for example, a secluded and quiet space somewhere that’s away from busy activity, cold draughts and suchlike. It will need to have somewhere comfortable for you and your child(ren) to sit or ‘nest’ once you get to the storytelling part. Once you’ve found somewhere suitable, it could be adorned with soft blankets, plush cushions, and perhaps even a few twinkling fairy lights. The goal is to create an inviting spot that beckons little ones and you, their parent or caregiver, to snuggle up and feel the warmth together as the winter tales unfold.
Curate a collection of timeless winter stories that capture the spirit of the season. Consider classics like “The Snowman” by Raymond Briggs or “The Mitten” by Jan Brett. These stories, with their simple yet captivating narratives, are perfect for engaging young minds and sparking their imagination. These are just a couple of examples, though, and there are lots of winter-themed books to choose from, whether online, in book stores, in charity shops, or swapped amongst family or friends.
Perhaps incorporate simple props that relate to the story. If the tale involves animals, have soft toy animals on hand for little ones to interact with as the story unfolds. Other alternatives are hand puppets and finger puppets. Try using them to act out characters from the stories as you read them, or get your child to do so. Adding an interactive and visual element in this way will encourage children to participate actively and immerse themselves in the storytelling process. This approach can be creative, captivating, and sometimes even comical. As such, this is very entertaining for children and will help to make the whole activity enjoyable and fulfilling.
Today’s ‘Discover Minibeasts’ post is the third in our series of nature-based activities for children. And, as with the 
Today, in a follow-up to the 
Today’s exciting blog post encourages families to explore the wonders of nature and embark on a delightful butterfly-spotting adventure! Butterflies are simply beautiful creatures and their amazing colours and patterns are sure to appeal to little ones. With that in mind, we have prepared a visually appealing and informative A3 poster featuring 36 British butterflies, which you can download for free and print out. So, why not get the family ready to step outside, immerse yourselves in nature, and create cherished memories as you observe these enchanting creatures in their natural habitat? The poster gives visual reference and also ensures you have a lasting memento of this unique experience. Over time, this poster and nature-based activity will help you and your little one learn to identify these diverse and important little pollinators. As we reported before, 
As parents, we all want the best for our children. We strive to provide them with a nurturing and stimulating environment that supports their growth and development. However, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to overlook the importance of nature in our children’s lives.
Make time for outdoor play — set aside regular time for outdoor play and exploration. This can include visits to local parks, nature reserves, or your own back garden.
At Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green, we’re embracing Hygge (pronounced “Hue-gah”), which is becoming very popular around the globe. But what is Hygge and why are we embracing it? This article explains everything and you’ll soon see why Hygge is a very good thing for everyone at the nursery, including both children and staff. Take a look …
Hygge has been described as resulting in “comfortable conviviality” i.e. friendliness and warmth that makes everyone feel welcome and happy. It’s also been described as “the pursuit of everyday happiness … basically like a hug, just without the physical touch.”
There will be twinkly ‘mood’ lighting instead of harsh fluorescent lighting. Rooms will have real plants that bring nature indoors, natural materials and objects like wood, wicker, pine cones and pebbles. There will be calming music and perhaps even scent in the air. There will be cosy corners, dens and even teepees where children can ‘nest’ while they read, play or converse. Hygge gives a room a lovely atmosphere, often with flickering candles (or, at the nursery, the warm-coloured LED equivalents, for safety purposes).
Embracing all these aspects of Hygge will make children feel really at home, safe, relaxed, cosy and content. Their day will feel fulfilling and enriched. It will be calm and peaceful whilst also embracing nature both outside and indoors. Friendships will deepen as small groups of children play, converse, read or simply ‘be’ in the many cosy nooks and dens available to them. They are also free to have some solo time where they can explore a particular interest, relax with a book or engage in an activity in a calm and comfortable corner. Whatever they’re doing, children will enjoy and benefit from the mood lighting, calming surroundings, relaxing music and suchlike.
Hygge is like a warm cloak that softly embraces every child, allowing him or her to quietly blossom, learn and develop in the most homely and relaxed of atmospheres. With Hygge, they can embrace and naturally absorb everything that’s so good about the Hygge lifestyle, including it’s almost magical effects that will bring out the wonder in every child. Hygge instinctively appeals to a child’s very heart and soul, allowing their learning and development to blossom and thrive in the most natural of ways.
gives babies, toddlers and preschoolers the very best start in life and in their early years education. If you are looking for
