Entries by Mark

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Ofsted: Little Acorns Nursery is a ‘Good Provider’ – It’s Official!

Ofsted: Little Acorns Nursery is a ‘Good Provider’ - it's Official!
Ofsted rates Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham, as a Good Provider.We’re delighted to announce that Ofsted has published a stunning report for Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham. It’s now official that this excellent Padiham childcare setting is a ‘Good Provider’ — in every category! What’s more, the Ofsted inspector published some wonderfully positive comments about the nursery, staff, and quality of care as part of the report. Their findings are a testament to the high quality of the setting, the professionalism of its early years practitioners and leadership, and the positive impact the nursery has on babies and children in its care. Today, we take a deep dive into the details.

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Applications Now Open for ‘30 Hours’ Childcare Scheme — for Children (9m+) of Working Parents

Applications Now Open for ‘30 Hours’ Childcare Scheme — for Children (9m+) of Working Parents

Children of eligible working families will be able to receive 1140 hours of free childcare per year from September 2025.Attention working families: applications are now open for eligible children, aged from only 9 months, to receive 1140 hours of free childcare per year from September 2025. What’s noteworthy is that this will be the first time such young infants and toddlers can access so many free hours. It effectively doubles the number of free childcare hours previously available to those under 2 via the scheme. The new, extended funding is for eligible working families, who now have until the 31st of August to apply if they would like their child(ren) to start in the September 2025 term.

This will be the first time that eligible babies (9m+) and children aged up to 2 will have access to so many free hours!

Read on to learn more about what’s available through this newly extended funding scheme, eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and more.

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Spring Nature Hunt Activity for Under-5s (with Free Poster!)

Spring Nature Hunt Activity for Under-5s (with Free Poster!)

In the height of spring, sunshine lifts our spirits, spring flowers bloom and birds and pollinators suddenly become more abundant. With so much flora and fauna bursting forth and beauty all around, it’s a wonderful time for children to get outdoors to experience nature first-hand. In today’s activity, they can do all of that through a mid-spring nature hunt. We even supply a free poster for little ones to use as reference during the activity! The fresh air will be good for them, they can burn off some energy as they explore the outdoors, and nature will benefit them in a myriad of ways. They’ll discover more about the natural world, nurture their own well-being through close proximity to nature, and learn about some of the natural delights that come with the season. What’s more, spending time close to nature is good for parents too!

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Fabulous Reviews & Ratings for Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Fabulous Reviews & Ratings for Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Parent feedback is one of the best ways for parents to gauge the quality of childcare provision when selecting a nursery for their child. Getting the choice right is incredibly important too; after all, it’s a major part of setting up children’s learning and development foundations. With that in mind, have you ever checked out the reviews, ratings and testimonials for Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham? If not, take a look below. We highlight some of the wonderful feedback received from parents of children under our care. It’s full of 5-star ratings and glowing comments and, needless to say, staff at Little Acorns Nursery are delighted! We’d like to thank each and every parent who has left such positive feedback; it’s hugely appreciated. When such positive feedback arrives, it makes our day, so a big ‘thank you’ goes out to all our parent reviewers. Take a look at some of the wonderful things parents past and present have said about Little Acorns Nursery below.

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Simple Bird Feeders – A Fun & Worthwhile Activity for Children

Simple Bird Feeders – A Fun & Worthwhile Activity for Children

A fantastic way to encourage children to connect with nature is by making homemade bird feeders.One fantastic way to encourage children to connect with nature from an early age is by making homemade bird feeders. It’s a hugely popular activity amongst children of all ages, so today’s post is all about how to get started with your child. Although bird feeders can be made at any time of the year, the activity is perfectly suited to the winter and early spring. At this time, wild birds like robins, blackbirds, doves, and sparrows are really struggling to find food. And, with World Wildlife Day arriving in the first week of March, it’s very timely. Take a look!

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Why Every Child Should Learn a Musical Instrument

Why Every Child Should Learn to Play a Musical Instrument

Even the youngest children cannot resist playing musical instruments.Even the youngest children seem to have an affinity towards playing a musical instrument. Put any child in front of a piano, guitar, or drum, or hand them a tambourine or shaker and they’ll immediately engage in generating sound and rhythm. It seems to be instinctive and children find music-making almost compelling — and great fun to boot. What’s more, children seem naturally keen to become better at playing instruments and, in time, to be able to play a recognisable tune. With that being the case, it’s often very easy to encourage them to take lessons, whether formally or informally, often leading to a lifelong vocational skill. What many parents may not know, however, is just how beneficial learning to play musical instruments is to little ones. Indeed, learning to play benefits them in often profound ways and that’s what we take a look at in today’s post.

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Toothbrushing for Under-5s — Let’s Get Lancashire Brushing!

Toothbrushing for Under-5s — Let’s Get Lancashire Brushing!

Children can learn about brushing teeth by following their parents' examples.Today we bring you a guide to toothbrushing for under-fives, inspired by children at Little Acorns Nursery taking part in Lancashire’s Let’s Get Lancashire Brushing campaign. An initiative of Lancashire County Council Public Health, the programme is designed to educate and encourage young children, including toddlers, to brush teeth for 2 minutes twice a day using age-appropriate toothpaste. What’s more, their message is that it’s never too young to begin and can even start before the first tooth has surfaced. At Little Acorns Nursery, the programme is supervised by staff and is intended to take place in tandem with toothbrushing at home — it does not replace it. Nursery staff guide children to establish a positive and proactive routine around toothbrushing, to foster good habits around oral hygiene, and thereby minimise tooth decay and problems associated with it. Read on to learn more.

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The Essential Guide to Primary School Applications

The Essential Guide to Primary School Applications

Parents of 3- and 4-year-olds have limited time in which to apply for a school place for their child. Primary school applications need to be received by mid-January at the latest, which is earlier than for secondary schools. And, for parents who are deferring a child’s school start until they’re five, don’t be fooled into thinking you have more time for your application — you simply don’t! In today’s Essential Guide to Primary School Applications we outline the key dates, rules, and advice to help parents submit applications on time, increase chances of receiving an offer for a preferred school, and avoid disappointment.

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Free Childcare for Working Families in Padiham (Including for Babies 9m+)

Free Childcare for Working Families in Padiham (Including for Babies 9m+)

Little Acorns Nursery supports the new childcare scheme for eligible children including babies aged just 9 months.Today, we remind Padiham families that Little Acorns Nursery supports the new — free — childcare scheme for eligible children including babies as young as just 9 months of age. Although it’s available only to eligible working families, the bar to entry is fairly low. The childcare funding is therefore attainable for many families. This free childcare is not just limited to babies either and, what’s more, it’s due to become even more generous from September 2025. In our guide below we’ll outline who is eligible, how much childcare funding they can access, how many childcare hours that equates to, and what the eligibility criteria are. If you’re the parent of a baby, toddler, or child up to three years old, this is for you.

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Fun Halloween Activities for Under-5s

Fun Halloween Activities for Under-5s

Let's get ready for some fun Halloween activities!Let’s get ready for some fun Halloween activities for our under-5s — as well as for older children. Children of all ages are naturally drawn to the unique imagery, fun activities, and spookiness of Halloween.

Halloween arrives on the 31st of October each year. Although its original roots were tied to ancient festivals including the celebration of All Hallows’ Eve, it’s generally celebrated simply as a fun night for children nowadays. With that in mind, today’s post is designed to give children’s parents or carers some great ideas for Halloween activities for little ones. These are great opportunities not only for fun but also for getting creative and socialising — great activities to stimulate young minds and grow skills.