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Our Amazing Nursery
Little Acorns is a nursery & pre-school in Padiham, Lancashire, near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham & Wood End. We offer outstanding weekday childcare for babies (3 months +), toddlers & children up to 5 years old.
Contact Little Acorns
Chapel House
Victoria Road
Padiham
Lancashire, BB12 8RF
01282 680 822
Email us here
Free Childcare for Working Families in Padiham (Including for Babies 9m+)
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.
Fun Halloween Activities for Under-5s
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.
The Power of Parental Involvement in Children’s Education
There is one thing that parents can do to profoundly benefit children of any age and that is to be involved in their education. Many studies have indeed concluded that parental involvement in a child’s education has immense positive benefits for the child. What’s more, those benefits are long-term and far-reaching in their impact. Findings and statistics show that parental involvement in a child’s education supercharges the child’s success every step of the way. That series of boosts seems to snowball from nursery and preschool, through primary, junior school, secondary education, and higher education, right into adulthood. Such are the positive effects of a parent’s involvement that the benefits even extend to better career opportunities and higher earning potential once children become adults. Let’s explore, therefore, what we mean by ‘parental involvement in a child’s education’ and look in more detail at some of the key benefits to children.
The Incredible Power of Reading With Under-5s
Parents and caregivers have a simple yet incredibly powerful tool at their disposal to significantly boost the education of children under five: reading with them. In study after study, this simple activity has been shown to transform a child’s early years of education, giving children short-, medium-, and long-term benefits that even extend into adulthood. With that in mind, we take a look today at the many benefits and incredible power of reading with children, especially those under five.
Little Citizen Scientists Wanted for the Big Butterfly Count
Calling all little citizen scientists — we need your help — and parents too! During part of July and early August the Big Butterfly Count takes place across the UK and the more children and families that take part, the better. All it needs to take is 15 minutes and taking part will help butterflies, daytime-flying moths and the conservation of nature and biodiversity in general. What’s more, it’s a free, enjoyable, educational, and hugely worthwhile activity for children and families to take part in. In today’s post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know in order to take part in 2024’s Big Butterfly Count. Little citizen scientists: get ready!
Lancashire’s Walk & Talk Scheme – Boosting Children’s Communication & Language
Lancashire’s Walk & Talk Initiative is a scheme that’s wholeheartedly supported by the childcare practitioners at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham. We encourage all Lancashire parents to take part too. It’s an initiative that is incredibly simple but has far-reaching benefits for children in their early years. Let’s take a look today at what Walk & Talk is all about, what its aims are, the benefits to children, and how families can get involved.
British Land Mammals – Free Poster for Children
Last month, we published 20 Benefits of Nature to Children, which explained the profoundly positive impact that nature has on children. Indeed, it can transform their lives cognitively, emotionally, spiritually, creatively, and even academically. With that in mind, we continue our series of free nature-based posters that children and families can download and print out. Today’s poster is all about British* Land Mammals. Children can display it in their rooms or print it out as a reference sheet to use when out in nature. How many of the mammals can your child name — or spot over the coming months?
Get Ready for Pyjamarama 2024
Get ready for Pyjamarama 2024. This year it arrives on Friday 17th of May in nurseries, preschools, schools and homes all around the Nation. That date is not carved in stone, though, as some settings may find an alternative date more convenient for their particular circumstances.
What is Pyjamarama?
Pyjamarama is a one-day fundraising event that’s organised through the children’s reading charity BookTrust. It takes place each year across a variety of UK settings including homes, schools, preschools, nurseries and more. As well as being great fun for those organising and taking part, the initiative is beneficial to millions of disadvantaged children. The ultimate aim is to raise money to fund the purchase of books and resources, so that every child in the UK gets the chance for bedtime stories and each family has proper reading opportunities. The initiative is hugely popular, great fun, and transforms lives. Today, we take a look at what to expect, how to get involved, and the many benefits of Pyjamarama.
20 Benefits of Nature to Children
One of the many reasons we love nature and nature-based children’s activities here at Little Acorns Nursery is that nature is incredibly beneficial to children. What’s more, the benefits start right from their earliest years and are profoundly powerful to little ones. There have been many studies about this over the years and they all seem to conclude that nature is incredibly good for us all, especially so during the early years. Today’s post looks at 20 of the key benefits that spending time in and around nature holds for children and, with Spring now upon us, it’s the perfect time to begin getting little ones outside more, weather permitting.
It’s 5-Star Food & Fun at Our Padiham Nursery
It’s been five-star food, fun, and feasting at the Nursery during February this year! Children enjoyed making and eating pancakes, parents got to eat breakfast with nursery staff and children for Valentine’s Day, our 5-Star Food Hygiene rating was awarded again for another year, and our little ones even got involved in our Recipe of the Month. We’ll spill all the beans for you below, although not literally of course.