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Activities for Children, Art & Creativity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Technology

How to Use ‘AI’ Magic to Transform Children’s Art

Today, we bring you a fabulous children’s activity. It is one that will encourage them to use their imaginations and get creative while also discovering how to easily transform their art to an astonishingly professional level. Using widely available Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools through help from a parent, their drawings and paintings can be magically enhanced to qualities so sophisticated that they’d look at home in a movie — the results are truly astounding! What’s more, the activity is fun, simple, quick, and achievable for free. It will also show children that their art and creative ideas matter and are valued. Read on to learn how to delight both children and parents by turning kids’ simple drawings into amazingly detailed digital art through the power of AI.

Examples of Children’s Art Transformed by AI

First, to give you a flavour of what’s possible in mere minutes, take a look at the amazing examples we’ve generated below. These show how children’s drawings have been taken to incredible new levels using free AI tools.

All of our examples were achieved free of any fees. Incredible, aren’t they? Now, imagine how delighted your own child would be if their drawings or paintings were transformed in a similar way. Let’s take a look at how that can be achieved.

How to Transform Children’s Art Using AI

The steps involved in a child’s art transformation boil down to 5 simple steps:

The child creates a simple picture, as they would normally, through drawing, painting, a collage, or using whatever media they choose.
The finished art is photographed digitally. This is easily accomplished using a digital camera, a smartphone camera, or a desktop scanner. The art is best photographed ‘flat’ (i.e. from above). It’s best to avoid casting shadows on the work while photographing.
The image file is uploaded to an AI tool (more about those later). A parent will need to help young children for this and the next step.
Tell the AI tool, in detail, how you/your child wants the drawing or painting to be transformed.
Then wait a few moments for the results (get ready to be amazed!).

Steps 1 and 2 speak for themselves, but we’ll explain a bit more about steps 3 and 4 below.

Which Artificial Intelligence Tool Should Families Use?

For Step 3: There are several powerful AI tools that can be used for this activity, free of any fees (within certain limits*). At the time of writing, free options suitable for this activity include OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Microsoft’s Copilot and, no doubt, several others. For Windows 11 users, we suggest starting with Copilot because it is bundled natively as part of that operating system. ChatGPT and Gemini are also excellent options and are available via browsers as well as smartphone apps. We currently suggest avoiding X’s Grok for reasons^† that will be apparent to anyone following recent news.

Uploading a digital photograph of your child’s art is achieved simply by uploading it via the AI tool’s chat prompt field. For many tools, including our suggested examples above, you simply click the “+” symbol or “Attach” option in the chat window, then select the option to upload an image — for example ‘add photos/files’, ‘upload’, or similar. In the same chat window, immediately after uploading the art image, you’ll need to write a ‘prompt’ to tell the AI tool how you’d like it to transform the child’s art. We’ll cover that next.

^{* Limits for free versions may include the number of attempts per hour/day, whether you’re logged in to an account, and how busy the AI servers are at any particular time.}

Writing Your AI Prompt

Step 4 is the part where the AI tool is told what to do with the child’s uploaded image. A parent or responsible adult should help proactively with this part. After discussing what the options are and agreeing a desired outcome with the child, the parent should type instructions into the AI tool’s chat prompt. You can ask for the child’s art to be transformed into any number of styles, including cartoon style, Pixar animation style, Wallace & Gromit clay animation style, Toy Story toy style, Steampunk style, etc. You can ask for a particular style of lighting, textures like fur or feathers, and materials like metal or plastic, specify what you’d like to see in the background, and so on. A couple of examples may help…

Example 1

The accompanying metal ‘robot’ image was output by the AI tool (ChatGPT in this case) after loading the child’s drawing shown, and entering the following prompt:

Please turn this drawing into a Pixar-quality 3D render in a Steampunk style. Keep the robot’s shape and personality true to the child’s original drawing, but bring it to life with detailed Steampunk textures — like aged brass, polished copper, gears, cogs, and small steam pipes. Give it warm lighting with soft reflections to create a cinematic, high-quality look. The robot should have expressive eyes or lights, a slightly worn but friendly appearance, and visible mechanical details that make it look handcrafted. Place it in a retro-futuristic setting filled with soft light and a bit of steam, so it feels like a moment from a Pixar film.

The incredible finished result is shown (click to enlarge it so you can see the amazing detail).

Example 2

Our second example shows how a child’s drawing of a girl was transformed by AI (Copilot for this example) into a handcrafted marionette doll, with textures and lighting, etc. specified using the following prompt:

I’ve uploaded an image of a child’s drawing of a girl. Using only that person (i.e. ignoring the child’s hands, finger(s), pencil/crayon, tabletop, border, etc.), please render it in the style of a child’s doll-like puppet, with fabric clothing, a china/porcelain-like head with fake hair, strings coming from above (for the puppet element) attached to limbs, head, legs etc. It should be situated on a child’s comfy bedroom chair, leaning against a cushion. Soft, warm, lighting as if the sunset sun is lighting it through a window that’s not in view.

The child’s original drawing can be compared to the impressive AI render (click it to enlarge it, to view in greater detail).

Isn’t it clever?

Why This Matters & How It Helps Children

Children will be amazed and delighted by the way their drawings and art pieces are brought to life — all in just a few minutes. It’s a great way to show them, in a safe and responsible way, how it’s possible to take simple concepts to whole new levels of sophistication using freely-available AI tools. Using AI in this way also allows them to create details and ideas that they’re not yet able to accomplish using only their manual skills. AI transformations will also demonstrate that their pieces of art matter and have value.

This activity will boost creativity, not replace it.

This activity will boost creativity, not replace it. It will allow children to accomplish art that they could previously only imagine. It’ll show them, in just moments, how it’s possible to take their ideas to new, sophisticated levels. Helping to decide on descriptive prompts will also help them nurture communication skills. So, this is far from being anything like a shortcut or ‘cheating’.

AI transformations will also demonstrate that children’s pieces of art matter and have value.

A responsibly approached introduction to AI will also give them a safe insight into the world of tech and how it can help mankind. Love it or loathe it, AI is something youngsters will grow up around. Therefore, children need to know about it, understand how it can be used, and perhaps consider how they may one day work alongside it once they become adults. Most importantly, though, today’s activity will show children something that’s rather like gold dust — the power of their own potential!

Little Acorns Nursery

Your High-Quality Childcare Nursery in Padiham, Near Burnley

Are you searching for a high-quality childcare nursery in Padiham or near Burnley? Little Acorns Nursery would love to meet you and your little one if so. Contact us today to explore the possibility of your child attending this fabulous childcare setting, which is rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, and supports free childcare hours for eligible families.

Please click an option below to get started:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns Nursery may suit families looking for a good childcare nursery in Padiham or near to Burnley, Hapton, Rose Grove, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, or Wood End.

^{† Safety notice: Parents should do their own research, be responsible with their use of prompts, and supervise children closely when using AI tools for this and any other such activity.}

27 February 2026/by Mark

Children, Learning & Development, Parenting

A Quick Guide to Parenting Styles

— Which Style is Best?

There are many different ways to approach parenting. Sometimes, however, it can be a challenge to know which parenting style is the most appropriate for a child and a specific situation. Most parents will want their child to understand the boundaries they set, while also facilitating a happy, fun-filled childhood. Most will also want their children to be kind and respectful to others and become well-rounded, confident individuals. At the same time, parents will need to decide how strict or lenient they are in their parenting approach. Which style is best for the child? Terms like ‘gentle parenting’, ‘helicopter parenting’, ‘authoritative parenting’ and many others are often discussed online and in the press — but it may not be clear what each style means! That’s where today’s Quick Guide to Parenting Styles comes in. It should give parents a better idea of where their current parenting style fits in, and which style(s) may be the most beneficial for their child.

Quick Guide to Parenting Styles

Each parenting style combines different levels of warmth, empathy, engagement, control, and structure:

Authoritative parenting combines a high degree of engagement and warmth towards the child, a firm structure, and clear boundaries. Not to be confused with…
Authoritarian parenting, which combines low warmth, very strict rules, and an extremely high degree of control over the child.
Gentle parenting combines high levels of empathy towards the child, respectful communication, and consistent limits. Not to be confused with…
Permissive parenting, which combines a high level of warmth towards the child, a low level of structure, and few enforced boundaries.
Uninvolved parenting combines a low level of warmth towards the child, a lack of engagement with them, and minimal, if any, structure.
Helicopter parenting combines high involvement and high intervention on the part of the parent, and limited independence for the child.
Velcro parenting is associated with high emotional closeness with the child and difficulty separating from them. It may also reciprocate to result in a ‘velcro’ baby or child.

Let’s take a closer look at each parenting style and see what the experts say.

What is Authoritative Parenting?

With authoritative parenting, parents are warm towards children, showing empathy and sensitivity. They aim to be good role models for the child. Boundaries are set through measured reasoning with children, and positive reinforcement is implemented to achieve desired standards. Punishments and threats for non-adherence to rules are avoided through such an approach, while cooperation and a level of age-appropriate maturity is nurtured.

Studies have shown that authoritative parenting has amongst the best outcomes for children, who tend to grow up academically successful, well-behaved, independent, and well-liked among peers and adults. Incidents of depression, anxiety and delinquency amongst children raised by authoritative parents are also low.

“Research suggests that the best-adjusted, best-behaved, most resourceful, and highest-achieving kids have authoritative parents — not authoritarian ones.” — parentingscience.com

Do not confuse Authoritative parenting (see above) with Authoritarian parenting (see below) — they’re quite different!

What is Authoritarian Parenting?

With authoritarian parenting, the parent uses a dictatorial style that requires blind submission and total compliance from their child. High standards are demanded, and non-compliance is punished. It is not a warm approach, in any sense, and rules are expected to be followed without explanation, dialogue, support, or debate. The parent is all dominant.

While children quickly learn the rules, they often learn through fear rather than through love, reasoning, or understanding. Children brought up in authoritarian households often develop mental health problems, low levels of confidence, low self-esteem, and reduced emotional expression.

“Authoritarian parenting has been linked with the development of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.” — parentingscience.com^∞

What is Gentle Parenting?

At the heart of gentle parenting are high levels of kindness, respect, and empathy towards the child. Children’s well-being and happiness are nurtured. The relationship between parent and child is strong and, in many ways, this parenting style is similar to authoritative (N.B. not authoritarian) parenting. Structure and boundaries are clearly set, but they are applied gently, through reasoning, in a calm and measured way — without the threat of punishment. This is especially appropriate for the youngest children, who have not yet gained full control over ‘big’ emotions.

Children brought up under a gentle parenting style tend to feel nurtured, loved, secure, and emotionally supported. Their feelings are acknowledged and respected by parents, who reason calmly with them and give them choices appropriate to their age, all within clearly defined boundaries. With gentle parenting, it’s important to maintain those limits, however, otherwise there is a risk of this parenting style drifting towards the permissive variety.

“Gentle parenting does not equate to permissiveness. It involves setting clear and consistent boundaries while offering children age-appropriate choices within those boundaries. This fosters a sense of autonomy and helps children learn to make responsible decisions” — PositivePsychology.com^∞

What is Permissive Parenting?

The permissive parenting approach is also sometimes known as ‘indulgent parenting’. With this style, parents are warm, sensitive, and emotionally responsive towards their children and, as one might expect, studies show that that’s good for them. However, permissive parenting is also associated with a lack of set boundaries and structure — and that can lead to problems. Because children of permissive parents self regulate, they may be perceived by others to be rather out of control, lacking in self-discipline, and falling short of the usual behaviour standards expected by most.

That said, children of permissive parents may turn out quite resourceful and have high self-esteem. And, because permissive parents prioritise happiness in their children, it stands to reason that they often have immense fun as they grow up. The lack of imposed boundaries can, however, be a double-edged sword — not least when it comes to things like safety, behaviour, and self-control. Indeed, some studies found that children brought up in permissive households can have disruptive behaviour and even elevated levels of aggression compared, say, to children raised in authoritative households.

“Permissive parents aren’t demanding. They don’t assign their kids many responsibilities, and they don’t encourage kids to meet adult-imposed behaviour standards. Instead, they allow — as much as possible — kids to regulate themselves.” — parentingscience.com^∞

What is Uninvolved Parenting?

Uninvolved parenting (also sometimes referred to as neglectful parenting) is associated with a disconnect between the parent and child. There is little, if any, affection, empathy, or engagement towards the child, who is left very much to their own devices. Parents do not attempt to be good role models, and there is little or no structure and guidance for the child. This may be for a variety of reasons, for example, due to parental illness, the pressures of work, lack of other support, and so on. So, rather than jump to judging uninvolved parents, it’s important to first understand the reasons behind the situation and appraise the availability of potential help.

Studies indicate that children of uninvolved parents tend to have the least positive outcomes compared to those brought up under the other parenting styles. Children may have behavioural issues, lack emotional security, have low self-esteem, and perhaps have attachment struggles. On the other side of the coin, however, learning to grow up without parental support may force them to become very independent and, through necessity, good problem solvers.

“There is overwhelming evidence that kids need parental warmth to thrive. Nurturing, responsive parenting leads to better emotional, cognitive, and behavioural outcomes.” — parentingscience.com

What is Helicopter Parenting?

The term helicopter parenting is often seen in the press and on social media. It refers to a parenting style where the parent hovers over everything a child does, intervening constantly, and being deeply involved in everything the child does. Every move is micro-managed.

While this parenting style may result in the child feeling well-supported and protected by the parent, the child has limited independence and autonomy under this style. They may even have tendencies towards a feeling of entitlement. Children of helicopter parents may not have the space to fully develop skills like problem-solving, self-reliance, resilience, confidence, independence, and learning through trial and error. Some studies even suggest an association with later incidence of anxiety and/or depression.

“This intense focus can negatively impact a child’s mental health, self-image, coping skills, and more.” — Parents.com^∞

What is Velcro Parenting?

Velcro parenting is another term that you sometimes hear about in the press and on social media. It refers to a style where the parent forms an unusually strong closeness to the child — emotionally, physically, and even socially. They constantly avoid separation from the child and, indeed, one of the results of this is that the child can sometimes reciprocate to become a ‘velcro baby’ or ‘velcro child’.

This parenting style forms close bonds between parent and child. The child is likely to feel deeply loved, nurtured, emotionally secure, and well cared for. However, an unintended consequence of this parenting style is that it can potentially lead to separation anxiety in the child, for example, when they start nursery or school. Children of velcro parents may also be lacking in skills like independence, resilience, and confidence.

“The problem emerges when parents stay too close for too long, which results in children and teens feeling less confident, more anxious and more dependent on the parent to make decisions or soothe every discomfort.” — Ann-Louise Lockhart, paediatric psychologist^∞

Final Thoughts

So, from gentle and authoritative to helicopter, velcro, permissive parenting and more, today’s quick guide should serve to help parents better understand the key parenting styles that we hear about so often. By understanding them, parents can implement approaches that optimise confidence, independence, emotional well-being, and good behaviour in their children. That said, it’s important to understand that there is no single rulebook that fits every family, child, stage of development, or situation perfectly. What works beautifully for one infant may feel completely different with a more curious toddler, or an increasingly independent preschooler, for example. Parents may therefore not fit neatly into just one category. Many of us move between styles depending on the day, our child’s age, our own energy levels and what life is throwing at us at any given time. Today’s guide to parenting styles is therefore here to support knowledge, reflection, reassurance and confidence — not perfection.

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

High Quality Weekday Childcare Near Burnley

If you have a baby or child under five and need a high-quality childcare service in Padiham or near Burnley, Little Acorns Nursery would make a wonderful choice. At our lovely home-from-home setting, we nurture every child to bring out the best in them — to give them the best start in life. Rated as a ‘Good Provider’ by Ofsted, the nursery also supports free childcare funding for eligible families.

Interested in a nursery place at Little Acorns, Padiham? Get in touch using one of the following options to take the first step — we’ll be delighted to hear from you:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Our Padiham location, close to Burnley, may also suit families living nearby in Hapton, Rose Grove, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, or Wood End.

30 January 2026/by Mark

Activities for Children, Learning & Development, Nature, Nature Activities, Outdoor Play

Let’s Go On A Winter Nature Hunt! (With Free Activity Poster)

Winter has arrived, and, along with this new, cold season, come some remarkable things for children to see outside in the natural world — and that’s exactly what today’s post is all about. It’s a challenge to little ones to see if they can spot 20 nature-related things outdoors over the coming winter months. What’s more, it comes with a free poster that children can download, print out, and use for reference while they’re out and about on their Winter Nature Hunt.

When Is Winter?

According to the Astronomical calendar, winter arrived with us on December 21, 2025, at what’s known as the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. It’ll remain with us until the Spring Equinox on March 20, 2026, when days and nights once again even up to become virtually of equal length.

In contrast, winter is said to arrive on the first day of December and end on the last day of February — 3 whole calendar months — according to the Meteorological Calendar. That particular calendar works in ‘full’ months as a way of keeping things simple, for example, for weather services and records.

What Can Children Look Out for in Winter?

Take a look at the preview of the reference poster below and the commentary that follows. Despite winter being the season when nature is mostly dormant, it is packed full of interesting and exciting things for children to look out for. Download or view the poster by clicking it, then save it to your device, and print it out to A4 or A5. Children can take this with them on their Winter Nature Hunt and see how many of the 20 suggestions they can discover. Tick boxes are provided.

Magical Snowflakes

With winter arriving, it’s certainly cold out there! That means that snow is more likely to arrive at some point. When it does, children can look out for the little miracles that are snowflakes. Each one is amazing, as children will see if one lands softly on their winter jacket or gloves. By looking closely, your little one will see the intricate 6-pointed shape that’s unique to each flake. Snowflakes really are miraculous! They will both enthral and amaze children if they take a moment to look carefully and compare one snowflake to another.

Icicles

Once the snow starts to thaw, children can also look out for another natural wonder on our Nature Hunt list — icicles. They’re beautiful too, in their own way, each telling a story of the dripping water that’s formed them.

Animal & Bird Tracks

When there’s a blanket of snow on the ground, children will also be able to look out for animal tracks and the footprints of birds. If there’s no snow, it’s still possible to do so by looking in patches of mud (all such activities undertaken with close adult supervision, of course). Such prints are a great way to see which creatures have been passing through at some point earlier in the day or night.

Frost-Encrusted Plants, Trees & Spiders’ Webs

Frost is also rather magical when it arrives, especially first thing on a winter’s morning when it coats literally everything. Children can look out for leaves, grasses, and even spiders’ webs bejewelled in the tiny crystals of ice that make frost. They make the landscape’s plants and trees look magical! And those spiders’ webs look so incredibly decorative when coated, whether by frost, morning dew, or even raindrops. Nature is incredibly beautiful, and children will instinctively be drawn to such wonder.

Leaf Skeletons

Leaf skeletons are another natural wonder for children to look out for. They may not be so easy to discover, but they are out there if children take the time to look. Once found, children will be delighted and intrigued by the fine, structural filigrees that make up the leaf shapes. Leaf skeletons are also something children can take home to press between the pages of a book or pad, so they dry flat. They can be used simply as keepsakes or as part of a creative activity of some kind.

Winter Visitors Like Birds & Squirrels

Let’s also not forget some of the feathered and furry friends that little ones can look out for in winter. On the free poster, we’ve highlighted just three as a starting point — robins, blackbirds, and grey squirrels. All such creatures may become regular winter visitors if the right food is provided. Birds love sunflower hearts and grated Cheddar cheese, for example (learn more in our Simple Bird Feeders guide). Squirrels love nuts, seeds, and sunflower hearts too, as well as bird-safe peanuts. Such foods are very much welcomed by many of nature’s garden visitors over winter, when natural food sources are so depleted.

Lichen, Mistletoe, Pine Cones, & Much More

Other items that will intrigue children are also included on the free poster, for example, lichen, mistletoe, pine cones, and pine needles. Speaking of trees, we also highlight two major types of trees for little ones to look out for and compare; evergreens have leaves or pine needles all year round, while deciduous trees shed leaves in autumn and have bare branches throughout winter. All such natural occurrences can spark educational conversations between parent and child. Children can learn so much from nature and the world around them. Our poster is just a starting point, though, and there are many more interesting, educational, and amazing things to look out for during the winter months if children and families take the time to proactively look. Nature is amazing but, what’s more, nature is incredibly good for children (and adults). This is therefore a very worthwhile activity — have fun!

More Free Nature Activity Posters for Kids! Today’s Winter Nature Hunt activity is one of a series that each comes with a free, downloadable poster for children. So, why not also try our Spring Nature Hunt activity, Autumn Nature Hunt, and Leaf Nature Hunt activity? We also have a free British Land Mammals poster, Minibeast spotting poster, Bird spotting poster, and Butterfly spotting poster for families to use as the basis of more outdoor activities. Click the bold links for more information and free downloads.

Little Acorns Nursery

Padiham’s Premier Childcare Service

Little Acorns Nursery is a wonderful weekday childcare setting in Padiham, where children’s learning and development are nurtured in a warm, home-from-home setting. With its own garden and nature zone, little ones get to enjoy nature safely on-site, as well as benefit from the fabulous activities, resources, and facilities indoors. Recognised by Ofsted as a good childcare provider, Little Acorns really is an excellent choice for early years childcare.

To learn more, enrol your child for a place, or come for a guided visit, please get in touch today:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns is a high-quality nursery in Padiham, Lancashire, that provides first-class weekday childcare to local families, virtually all year round. As well as serving those in Padiham, we may also suit families nearby in places like Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, and Wood End.

Safety First!

Don’t forget: children, particularly the youngest, should always be accompanied and supervised by a parent or responsible adult when exploring outdoors — there are many hazards out there!

31 December 2025/by Mark

Childcare, Early Years Education, Education, Higher Education, Nurseries, Ofsted Report, Ofsted Report Cards, Preschools, Schools

The New Ofsted Report Cards: Rough Guide for Parents

Since November 2025, Ofsted has been rolling out new-style assessments for early years providers, schools, higher education settings, and skills providers. Parents will therefore start to notice the new way of presenting Ofsted ratings. They are multifaceted, with comprehensive detail, and also provide contextual information and metrics that give greater meaning to assessment conclusions.

Key to the new Ofsted assessments is the new, multi-part Report Card. This combines a quick, colour-coded snapshot of the setting’s performance, with sub-sections that delve deeper into how the setting measured up against key areas. All of this replaces the historical approach that, until now, simply used short, some would say controversial, one or two-word “judgements” — Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Today, we take a look at the new Report Card, explaining how it is presented and what information this new assessment reporting will contain.

The New Ofsted ‘Report Card’

Example showing the main (top) section of the new-style Ofsted report card.

As you can see in our example, the most prominent part of Ofsted’s new Report Card is a colour-coded area that indicates how the setting performed, at a glance. Coloured dots represent key areas and what ‘grade’ they achieved, although they’re not named at this stage. The distribution of coloured dots is a way to see, very quickly, how a setting is performing overall.

Areas judged to be ‘Exceptional’ are denoted by blue dots;
Those with a ‘Strong standard’ are awarded dark green dots;
Those reaching the ‘Expected standard’ are indicated by bright green dots;
If an area ‘Needs attention’, it’s indicated by an orange dot;
And finally, areas that need ‘Urgent improvement’ will be shown as a red dot.

If all is well at a setting, parents will see just greens and, if exceptional in any areas, blues. A good facet of this new approach is that, if a setting is doing well in many of its key areas, it will no longer “live or die” if there is a shortcoming in another key area. Yes, they may see an orange or red dot, but they’ll also be able to instantly spot that the setting is doing well in other areas (green and blue dots). So, it’s a more comprehensive and balanced way to represent a setting.

What Key Areas do the Coloured Dots Represent?

The coloured dots represent defined “key areas” assessed by Ofsted inspectors. The key areas vary a little depending on the type of setting being assessed, as listed in the tabulated sections below.

Early Years Settings

Key Areas for Early Years Settings

The key areas that Ofsted will assess for early years settings like nurseries are:

Safeguarding
Inclusion
Curriculum & teaching
Achievement
Behaviour, attitudes & establishing routines
Children’s welfare & well-being
Leadership and governance

Schools

Key Areas for Schools

The key areas that Ofsted will assess for schools are:

Safeguarding
Inclusion
Curriculum & teaching
Achievement
Attendance & behaviour
Personal development & well-being
Leadership and governance

If schools also provide early years and/or sixth form education, these will also be assessed.

Independent schools will be assessed using the key areas above, as well as according to the existing Independent Schools Standards.

Further Education & Skills Providers

Key Areas for Further Education & Skills Providers

The key areas that Ofsted now assess for further education and skills providers vary depending on the type of setting and provision offered. However, the list below covers what they may include:

Safeguarding
Inclusion
Curriculum, teaching and training
Achievement
Participation and development
Leadership and governance
Contribution to meeting skills needs

More details are available on the Government website here.

Safeguarding on the Report Card

Safeguarding features prominently on the Report Card for all types of settings. It does so in a separate section of its own, below the top colour-coded section. There are just two possibilities for the assessment of the setting’s safeguarding: either Met or Not Met. And, as with many of the subsequent inclusions on the Report Card, the Safeguarding box is expandable. Users can click the ‘Show’ link to view detailed notes explaining what the finding means (see example below) and a further link that explains how safeguarding was evaluated by Ofsted. Both links can then be closed to return to the more compact view.

The Key Areas Section of the Report Card

After the Safeguarding section comes the individual ‘key areas’ that we listed above and which were graded higher up in the colour-coded section. Grouped by attainment/colour (best/blue at the top), each now has an expandable box of its own. As with the Safeguarding box, users can click a ‘Show’ link that enables detailed Ofsted notes to be displayed. Such notes go into great detail about Ofsted’s findings about the metric in question. So, if the attainment is high, parents will be able to see how and why Ofsted thinks that to be the case. Likewise, if the attainment is lacking in some way, parents can see why Ofsted thought so and what they suggest the setting needs to do to improve matters.

Each of the sections expands as shown for the ‘Inclusion’ example below.

What It’s Like at the Setting & More

Below the Key Areas sections come 3 useful inclusions:

The ‘What it’s like to be a pupil at this [setting]’ section does ‘exactly what it says on the tin’ and, if expanded to show the detail, explains what life is like at the nursery, school, further education setting or skills provider in question. It’s a new and useful inclusion for parents to consider as part of their search for an appropriate provider for their child.
The ‘Next Steps’ section provides recommendations from Ofsted about what the provider can do to improve things (as appropriate).
The ‘About this inspection’ section comes next and, if expanded, explains more about the inspection process on the day the Ofsted Inspector visited.
The report card then goes on to name the Inspector(s), as well as providing a link to download the Inspection Report as an Acrobat PDF file.

The Facts & Figures Section

The final section in the Report Card contains contextual information that provides a kind of backdrop to the setting’s situation. Examples include the number of pupils attending, the capacity of the setting, the percentage of pupils with SEND and/or an EHC plan, whether the setting is in a deprived area, and so on. Click here to view an example. Such facts and figures provide some important context, including the highlighting of some challenges they may face, and may at least partly explain performance. As such, they are a useful set of new metrics for parents to factor in when finding a provider for their child.

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Rated as a ‘Good Provider’ by Ofsted

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham, has not yet had a new-style Ofsted assessment. However, the setting has a ‘Good Provider’ status following the most recent Ofsted inspection back in May (2025). Indeed, Ofsted rated the nursery as ‘Good’ in every category. What’s more, at the time of writing, the nursery has a review rating of 5 out of 5 on Google and 10 out of 10 on DayNurseries.co.uk — it simply doesn’t get better than that! Parents can therefore rest assured that, if they send their child to Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, they’ll be in safe and caring hands at a childcare setting that does everything it can to nurture their learning and development. That’s all in a safe, homely, and stimulating environment.

To register your interest for a nursery place, organise a tour of the setting, or ask any questions, please get in touch using one of the options below. We can’t wait to meet you and your child!

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Families outside Padiham, but living in nearby locations, may also find Little Acorns Nursery convenient for their childcare needs, for example, those in Burnley, Hapton, Rose Grove, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, and Wood End.

30 November 2025/by Mark

Activities for Children, Outdoor Play, Under-fives

The Importance of Outdoor Play in the Early Years: A Guide for Parents

There’s something truly magical about childhood spent outdoors — the feel of grass under little feet, the thrill of climbing onto a rustic log for the first time, the delight in spotting a ladybird on a leaf, or precious time spent playing with friends. However, in today’s busy, screen-filled world, many children spend far less time outside than previous generations. For children in their early years — toddlers and preschoolers — this simple joy isn’t just fun; it is essential for learning, growth, and wellbeing. Today’s guide explores why outdoor play is so important and offers practical ideas for making it part of everyday life.

Why Outdoor Play Matters in the Early Years

The first five years of life are a period of extraordinary growth. Every day brings new experiences, discoveries, and opportunities for children to develop cognitively, physically, emotionally, and socially. Outdoor play gives children the richest of environments to explore all these aspects naturally.

“Outdoor play is not an optional extra; it is a vital part of healthy early childhood development.”

Being outdoors provides more than just fresh air — it encourages movement, sparks curiosity, inspires confidence, and helps children develop in a myriad of ways. Whether they are running across a playground, climbing a tree, or watching an insect on a leaf, children are learning about the world around them and practising skills that will serve them for years to come. Outdoor play is not an optional extra; it is a vital part of healthy early childhood development.

Some of the Many Benefits of Outdoor Play

Enhanced Physical Development

Young children need to build fitness, strength, coordination, and balance, and outdoor play is perfect for this. Running across open spaces, jumping over puddles, or navigating uneven ground all support fitness, muscular development, and bone health. Even small movements like digging in the garden or balancing on playground equipment help children grow stronger, hone balance and coordination, and become more agile.

Cognitive Growth

The outdoors is full of opportunities for learning through exploration. Children discover cause and effect, practise problem-solving, and develop creativity as they invent games or use natural materials like sticks and stones in imaginative play. The unpredictability of natural environments challenges young minds in ways indoor spaces often cannot.

Improved Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Playing outside with other children is huge fun! It also teaches important social skills, such as sharing, taking turns, and cooperating. It also nurtures emotional resilience — learning to manage disappointment when a game doesn’t go their way, or the thrill of conquering a slightly scary obstacle, helps build confidence. Outdoor play also offers children a sense of freedom and independence, which is crucial for developing self-esteem.

A Connection with Nature

Time spent outdoors fosters curiosity about the natural world and can encourage care and respect for the environment. Observing seasonal changes, noticing insects, or hearing birds sing provides sensory experiences that support relaxation and reduce stress, even for very young children. It’s a magical world out there and, all on its own, nature holds an enormous range of benefits for children — and adults!

Everyday Outdoor Play Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated

Some parents may worry that they need large gardens or special equipment to provide meaningful outdoor play, but this isn’t the case. The simplest activities can often be the most rewarding. Jumping in or over puddles, drawing with chalk on the pavement, building things with sticks, or collecting leaves are all rich in learning opportunities. Even short, daily bursts of outdoor play — a walk to the local shop, a few minutes in the garden, or time spent in a nearby park — all add up and make a real difference to children’s development.

Seasonal Opportunities for Outdoor Play

Outdoor play offers unique possibilities throughout the year. In spring, puddles, mud, and budding flowers provide endless opportunities for springtime exploration. Summer brings longer days that are perfect for nature walks, picnics, and bug hunts. Autumn invites children to play with fallen leaves, explore changing colours, and collect natural treasures. Even winter offers adventure: frosty mornings, snow if it falls, or simply noticing the crisp air and watching breath cloud in the cold. Outdoors, every season can become an opportunity for discovery and growth.

Safety and Confidence Outdoors

It’s natural for parents to feel cautious about outdoor play, whether worried about mishaps, inclement weather, or clothes getting dirty — but that’s where a little preparation can help. Dressing children appropriately for the conditions, supervising but allowing independence, and accepting a bit of mess as part of the experience, will all help children to play freely and safely. Small risks — like climbing a low tree branch or balancing along a path — are not only manageable but also valuable for learning self-confidence, risk assessment, and resilience in little ones.

Making Outdoor Play a Habit

The best way to reap the benefits of outdoor play is to make it a regular part of your child’s routine. Even brief, daily sessions of outdoor activity have lasting benefits. Walks to the park, nursery, or school, time spent exploring a garden, or creating simple outdoor rituals like a nature scavenger hunt can all help children become comfortable, confident, and enthusiastic about playing outside.

For parents juggling busy schedules, small, consistent steps can work wonders — outdoor play doesn’t need to be perfect or elaborate! Indeed, outdoor play is one of the simplest and most powerful gifts you can give a child. It supports physical growth, cognitive development, social skills, emotional wellbeing, and a lasting connection with the natural world. By encouraging children to explore, imagine, and move freely outside, parents set the stage for healthy, happy childhoods.

Outdoor Play & More at Little Acorns Nursery

A High-Quality Childcare Service in Padiham

At Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, we understand the value of outdoor play and ensure children experience it whenever possible. Whether in our outdoor play areas, our garden and its nature zone, in local parks, or in the nearby countryside, children will thrive when given space to move, explore, and enjoy the wonders of the outdoors — under close supervision, of course. Outdoor play is just one part of the comprehensive early years experience that children under five get to benefit from at our high-quality childcare setting. We are graded as a good provider by Ofsted and support free/funded childcare hours for eligible families. Contact us today if you’d like to find out more, enrol your child for a nursery place, or ask any questions — we’re here to help!

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns is a wonderful nursery in Padiham that may also be convenient to families living nearby in Burnley, Hapton, Rose Grove, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, or Wood End.

25 September 2025/by Mark

Activities for Children, Activities for Kids, Nature, Nature Activities, Outdoor Play

Leaf Nature Hunt Activity for Kids – with Free Reference Poster

Summer and autumn are wonderful times for children to experience nature in its full glory. At such times, the natural world is brimming with colourful flora and fauna, and it’s a spectacular feast for their eyes and senses. Outdoors, little ones can learn an enormous amount about the natural world around them, enjoy some fresh air and freedom – under supervision, of course — and reap the many, profound benefits that nature will provide. With this in mind, today’s post focuses on the rich variety of leaves that children can be encouraged to look out for in a leaf nature hunt activity.

We’ve generated a free reference poster for the activity, which is available for download today. The poster features 16 leaf varieties that children can look out for as part of their leaf-spotting challenge. Those under five will enjoy the simple activity of discovering leaves of different colours, shapes, and sizes — many are beautiful and intricate if they take the opportunity to take a closer look. Older children can be challenged to take things further by learning how to recognise and name the different types. Our free reference poster will help. Take a look below and download a free leaf reference poster today. And be sure to visit this blog area again soon, as we’ll follow up with some creative leaf art activities in the near future. Happy foraging!

Grab Your Child’s Free Poster!

Click the preview image below to either download or view the leaf reference poster in high resolution. On most devices, a right-click is the correct approach if you’d like to save the poster file. (It’s an Acrobat PDF that’s less than 2MB in size, so it should not take long to download, even on a mobile device). We recommend printing it from the Acrobat file using your highest-quality settings and paper. It will print in high definition up to A3, but children may also find an A4 or A5 leaflet size print-out beneficial during their outdoor leaf hunt. Use the little tick boxes to mark each type of leaf as it’s successfully discovered.

Points for Children to Note

Encourage children to take a deep, close-up look at the leaves. Many are quite beautiful and incredibly intricate up close. For example:

Point out the huge variety of different shapes, sizes, and textures of leaves in the natural world.
Draw children’s attention to the stalk (a.k.a. ‘petiole’), central midrib, and veins that support the structure of each leaf.
Suggest your child holds the different leaves up to the light, so they can see the fine filigree of miniature channels (called venules) that transport moisture and nutrients to all parts of a leaf.
Children can note the different types of seeds that grow with the various leaves. From conkers, acorns, and hazelnuts to winged seeds like those on a sycamore or acer, nature really is miraculous when you think about it.
A special mention goes to lime leaves. From mid-summer to autumn, they feature quite beautiful seed clusters that are both functional and highly decorative. See the example on the 3rd row, 2nd from the right, on the reference poster.
Oak leaves feature their wonderful acorn sprigs in summer and early autumn. These are also rather gorgeous if you take time to admire them. However, always ensure babies, toddlers, and young children are kept safe from the potential choking hazard represented by the acorns themselves.
Ivy leaves look quite unique once their distinctive flower clusters appear. These are much-loved by pollinators and will usually attract a wide variety that includes hoverflies, honeybees, butterflies, and many more.
Ivy is also one of only four featured leaves that are evergreen. Others on the poster are holly, laurel, and rhododendron. These are a good opportunity to teach children the difference between evergreen and deciduous, particularly come autumn.

In their own way, many leaves are every bit is stunning as flowers for those who take a moment to examine them closely. Encourage little ones to take the time to ponder the fabulous fine details!

Ash or Elder? Hazel or Lime?

There are a few leaves that may, at first, seem a little tricky to tell apart. Ash leaves, for example, are similar to elder. However, there are significantly more ash leaves on each stem than there are elder leaves. While elder typically has between 5 and 7 ‘compound’ leaves per stem, ash usually has up to 15. Ash leaves also have a subtle sheen, while elder leaves are more matte in comparison.

Another pair that can be easily mistaken for one another are hazel and lime, particularly before the seeds/flowers have appeared. Hazel, however, is very matte in finish, while lime is shinier.

More Free Stuff!

Today’s leaf reference poster is just one of a series of free activity posters available to children at this website. Why not check out — and download — some of the others for your child today? Others include a Spring Nature Hunt activity poster, an Autumn Nature Hunt poster, a British Land Mammals poster, a Minibeast spotting poster, a Bird-spotting poster, and a Butterfly spotting poster packed with beautiful butterflies. Visit the links and download for free.

More children's activity posters are available free from this website.

Little Acorns: Your Padiham Nursery

A High-Quality Childcare Nursery in Padiham, Lancashire

We hope you and your little one(s) enjoy the leaf nature hunt and that the reference poster is useful. We like to encourage families to enjoy the natural world, as we know how hugely beneficial nature is to children. During their time at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, children also get to enjoy nature in the nursery’s garden. It has its own nature zone where little ones can look for flora and fauna and enjoy outdoor play in a safe and secure environment.

Little Acorns Nursery supports free, funded childcare hours for eligible children aged from 9 months to 4 years. The setting is recognised by Ofsted as a good childcare provider. To explore the opportunity of sending your baby, toddler, or preschooler to Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, get in touch today:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

We are a nursery in Padiham (BB12) in Lancashire, providing high-quality weekday childcare to local families in Padiham as well as Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, and Wood End.

Safety Notes

^{Children, particularly the youngest, should, of course, be accompanied and supervised outdoors by a responsible adult. There are many hazards out there! Adults should therefore be vigilant at all times, do their own risk assessments, and educate children about safety outdoors. A few examples of possible dangers include berries, fungi, nettles, prickly thorns, etc., so teach children not to touch them. Encourage little ones not to collect anything that may be a choking hazard to babies and toddlers (acorns, for example) or that may be poisonous or toxic. Keep children away from physical hazards, including ponds, lakes, steep drops, traffic, roads, strangers, etc. With the right supervision, children will have fun, learn a lot, and stay safe.}

27 August 2025/by Mark

Babies, Health & Well-being, Parenting

Never Let People Kiss Your Newborn Baby! Here’s Why

Did you know that kisses can potentially kill young babies in some circumstances? Sadly, many new parents are simply unaware of the dangers that such a loving and innocent act can potentially have on the well-being of their infant. It’s due to the immaturity of a newborn baby’s immune system and how that puts them at risk of contracting potentially catastrophic infections. These are infections that would usually cause only mild symptoms in older children and adults, but may cause potentially devastating harm to infants. One particular worry for newborns and those in the first few weeks of life comes from being kissed by a friend or relative who has a specific virus. Worryingly, it’s a virus which most adults carry. What’s more, many adults do not even realise they carry the virus. However, if a newborn baby catches it, it can be deadly. Today, we explain more about the risks associated with kissing babies and why it’s best not to let friends and relatives kiss a recently-born infant.

“The younger the baby, the more vulnerable they are to the harmful effects of infection.” — NHS.

Why are Young Babies So Vulnerable?

Kisses are dangerous to young babies because their immune systems are still immature and, during the first 4 months of life, something called the Blood-Brain Barrier (‘BBB’) is not yet fully optimised. This, in particular, leaves the baby’s brain vulnerable. The BBB is a semi-permeable membrane that serves several purposes. These include allowing oxygen and nutrients into the brain whilst also protecting it from harmful things like microbes, viruses, diseases, impurities, and toxic substances. During infancy, the Blood-Brain Barrier has simply not fully developed and ‘tightened’ enough to keep out all those harmful things, leaving the baby’s brain potentially exposed to them. That’s why babies are at greater risk of severe harm during their first few weeks and months — a time that’s also incredibly important for their developing brain.

^{Image (cropped detail) by Giovanna De Chiara, Maria Elena Marcocci, Rossella Sgarbanti, Livia Civitelli, Cristian Ripoli, Roberto Piacentini, Enrico Garaci, Claudio Grassi, Anna Teresa Palamara – CC BY 2.5}

When Are Babies Most Susceptible to the Dangers Associated With Being Kissed?

Babies and young infants are most susceptible to the dangers associated with being kissed when they are in the first few weeks of life. The dangers of an infection reaching the brain and causing potentially catastrophic harm are at their worst during a baby’s first 4 months.

Why are Kisses So Potentially Harmful to Young Babies?

Kisses from friends, relatives, and even parents are potentially harmful to young infants because the immature Blood-Brain Barrier may allow an infection to pass to the baby and develop in the infant’s brain. Such an infection could lead to swelling, inflammation, and irreversible damage to the brain itself. Such afflictions are serious and can cause seizures, epilepsy, unconsciousness, strokes and even death.

“A baby is most at risk of getting a herpes infection in the first 4 weeks after birth.” — NHS.

One of the most worrisome infections that could be passed to an infant baby is the Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), also known as Neonatal Herpes and Neonatal HSV. This can be passed on to babies, via a simple kiss to the head, by a person who carries the herpes simplex virus. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s a very common virus that a person may not even know they have. Indeed, most adults carry the HSV-1 variant, usually associated with cold sores. Others carry the HSV-2 variant, which causes genital herpes. Blistering cold sores are a particular risk as they are a clear indication of an active and highly contagious infection — and one that can be easily passed to an infant via a touch or kiss, especially if given to the baby’s head.

“70% of the UK population carry one or two forms of this virus, but many of those people have no idea they are carriers as they have no symptoms at all.” — The Kit Tarka Foundation.

Precautions to Help Protect Your Baby

There are several precautions that parents and carers can take to protect babies from infections while they’re especially young and vulnerable. These include the following:

Explaining the risks to friends and family and…
Asking them (and anyone else) to avoid kissing your baby, especially on the head and face.
Parents should also avoid kissing young babies when the adult is unwell, has recently been unwell, or has had a recent infection.
Ensure people’s hands are washed thoroughly with soap before touching young babies.
Active cold sores and lesions associated with the herpes virus should always be covered when a baby is close by. That also applies to breastfeeding mothers who should cover active lesions, including any on the breasts.

The Lullaby Trust suggests that people follow the THANKS approach, which is an acronym for Think Hands And No KisseS.

Think Hands And No KisseS — THANKS

Overcome Awkwardness!

Ask Friends & Relatives Not to Touch Your Baby

Asking friends and family not to kiss your young baby can be awkward, but it’s important to do so. According to the Kit Tarka Foundation, as many as 8,500 babies die from neonatal herpes around the world each year. A 2013 Nottingham study estimates that as many as 1 baby per week dies in the UK because of it, although more up-to-date studies are needed.

More Information

Click here for more information about Neonatal Herpes, including its causes, how it’s transmitted, preventative measures to protect babies, how to spot possible symptoms, treatments, and more.

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

The Best Start for Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers

We hope that our blog post today and all those in our Journal area are useful for parents. We publish every month, so please bookmark the Journal page and visit regularly to see more.

Little Acorns is a high-quality nursery in Padiham and is rated as a Good Provider by Ofsted. We offer a first-class childcare service for babies, toddlers, and under-fives on weekdays throughout the year. It’s a lovely, warm, caring environment where every child feels valued, loved, well cared for and nurtured. At Little Acorns, we bring out the best in every child so they are ready to thrive as they approach school age.

Contact us today to explore the possibility of your child attending Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Based in Padiham, near Burnley, Little Acorns Nursery may also suit other Lancashire families in nearby towns and villages like Hapton, Rose Grove, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

31 July 2025/by Mark

BB12, Burnley, Childcare, Children, Early Years Education, Lancashire, Nurseries, Nursery, Ofsted Report, Padiham, Pre-School, Preschools, Under-fives

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

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.

• Overall effectiveness: Good
• The quality of education: Good
• Behaviour and attitudes: Good
• Personal development: Good
• Leadership & management: Good

A Welcoming, Safe & Secure Environment for Children In her report, the Ofsted inspector recognised the warm, welcoming, safe and secure nature of the setting and early years practitioners: “Staff work closely as a team to provide a welcoming environment for the children. They develop strong relationships with children and their families [and] show respect to the children […] This helps children to feel safe and secure.” — Ofsted. Such a positive environment and approach by staff is clearly being reflected in the children: *“Children develop strong bonds with each other. They show kindness as they say to their friends, ‘Shall I help you?’”*— Ofsted.

Independence & Self-Confidence in Little Ones The inspector also had positive comments about children learning new skills, gaining in confidence, and becoming more independent — important for when they transition to school. Helped by “high aspirations for what children can do,” Ofsted follows up by saying “The expectations are well sequenced throughout the nursery, helping to build on children’s skills over time.” Ofsted remarked that “From babies upwards, they encourage children to have a go” and, as a result… *“Children demonstrate high levels of confidence and self-esteem.”* — Ofsted.

The Nursery’s Approach to the Early Years Curriculum The Ofsted inspector seemed particularly impressed with the nursery’s approach to the early years curriculum, remarking that: *“Leaders have designed an aspirational curriculum that is implemented in a well-sequenced way throughout the nursery.”* — Ofsted. Targeted staff training, focused on the needs of the children, was also seen to be part of this success, with the Ofsted inspector commenting that it “has positively impacted on the implementation of the curriculum.” Indeed, the success of such an approach was seen to be working well right across the nursery, boosting children’s learning: *“Leaders and staff are aspirational for what all children can achieve, and they support all children to make good progress in their learning.”* — Ofsted. Assessment of children’s progress was also highly praised: “Leaders have implemented clear assessment procedures to monitor the impact of the curriculum on children’s progress. They respond swiftly when they identify that children may benefit from extra help in their learning.” — Ofsted.

What About Children with SEND? The approaches outlined above were seen to apply well to children who may need extra support and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities: *“Appropriate referrals are made and additional funding is used to support individual children’s needs.”* — Ofsted. Parents spoken to by the Ofsted Inspector also appreciated the nursery’s approach to extra help for children, including those with SEND: “Parents who have children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) talk positively about the nursery’s commitment to multi-agency working. These positive links help all children, including children with SEND and those who receive additional funding, make good progress from their starting points.” — Ofsted.

Children’s Communication & Language Ofsted recognised the nursery’s approach to boosting children’s language and communication skills in their report too. The inspector commented on our staff: **“They place high importance on supporting children’s communication and language skills” … and … “use their interactions to promote and extend children’s language.”** — Ofsted.

Children’s Learning Steps Ofsted’s inspector praised Little Acorns’ staff in their approach to learning steps, commenting: *“Staff have a clear understanding of each child’s next steps in learning. They plan engaging experiences that children enjoy.”* — Ofsted. The inspector went on to say that such activities and experiences help to “build on children’s knowledge” and then gave some examples.

Reading & Writing at Little Acorns The Ofsted inspector commented favourably about the way in which staff at Little Acorns Nursery support the learning of the skills necessary to read and write. Children are also encouraged to develop a natural and active interest in books and reading. The inspector wrote, “Children are provided with the opportunities to develop the skills they will need for later writing” and “Leaders value the importance of providing lots of opportunities for children to enjoy stories. They provide a wide range of books for children to explore.” Coordination and dexterity were noted to be an important part of these successes: *“Staff support children’s hand-eye coordination superbly”* — Ofsted. Ofsted recognised that staff “Staff support children’s hand-eye coordination superbly. They have consulted with the local schools and used this to enhance the curriculum to ensure children develop the dexterity needed to support later writing.”

Behaviour & Emotional Regulation at the Nursery During their visit, Ofsted recognised that children behaved well and that their emotional regulation skills were being nurtured appropriately by the nursery’s practitioners: *“Children behave well. They listen to staff and join in with the daily routines. Staff use opportunities during children’s play to label and encourage children to talk about their feelings.”* — Ofsted.

Healthy Lifestyles & Good Choices The Ofsted inspector noted in her report that: *“Staff introduce opportunities to teach children about healthy lifestyles.”* — Ofsted. She pointed out that “Children benefit from many experiences to play outside in the fresh air and by walking in the community.” Also, in regard to healthy eating, she remarked: “Staff talk to children at mealtimes about the impact of food on their bodies. Children are beginning to know how to keep their bodies healthy. They talk about the need to keep their bodies hydrated and check that their friends have also had a drink of water.” Ofsted also recognised that children’s kindness is reflected in their treatment of the environment: *“Children show consideration for the environment as they are encouraged to recycle food after mealtimes.”* — Ofsted.

Effective Safeguarding One of the most important things at any nursery is, of course, to keep children safe and well. Little Acorns Nursery scored well in this regard too, with the Ofsted inspector reporting that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective” and: *“There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first.”* — Ofsted.

Good Provision

It’s wonderful that Ofsted has recognised the hard work and professionalism at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham. It’s clear that it’s benefiting children and enabling them to be as school-ready as possible by the time they leave us around the age of five. And, if there are areas we can still improve on, we will implement such measures without delay — all with a view to making children’s experiences at the nursery simply outstanding!

A Nursery Place for Your Child at Little Acorns

High-quality childcare in Padiham — for babies (3m+) and children under 5

If you like the sound of the Ofsted inspector’s comments and need high-quality weekday childcare in Padiham, Lancashire, get in touch. You can register for a place, request a guided tour with your child, or ask us any questions. We’re here to help and would love to meet you and your child! We also support free, government-funded childcare places for eligible children as young as just 9 months of age.

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns Nursery is located in Padiham (Lancashire), so is just a stone’s throw away for families living in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. If you need weekday childcare, come and see us – we’d love to meet you!

17 June 2025/by Mark

Babies, Childcare, Childcare Funding, Early Years Education, Nursery, Padiham, Preschoolers, Preschools, Toddlers, Under-fives

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

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.

Don’t Miss the Deadline!

The application deadline for the September 2025 term is the 31st of August.

If this deadline is missed, parents must apply for a later term.*

^{* Under the rules of the Government funding scheme, terms officially start on the 1st of September, January, and April respectively and applications for each need to be made before the end of the preceding term. Childcare providers cannot provide funded childcare places without a valid childcare code from the outset. It’s therefore advisable to apply in good time and avoid leaving applications to the last minute.}

Children who start early years education early are more likely to attend higher education and earn more during adulthood.

Benefits of the Scheme

This newly-extended scheme will be profoundly beneficial to parents, children, the business world, and the economy. This newly extended scheme will be profoundly beneficial to parents, children, the business world, and the economy. Let’s take a look:

This particular childcare funding scheme is for working parents. If eligible, it may save them as much as £7,500 in annual childcare costs for each eligible child in their household. The extended childcare hours are likely to be welcomed by families, particularly mothers who have recently been on maternity leave and wish to get back into the workplace — or otherwise extend existing working hours. By doing so, they can help increase household income, help businesses grow by filling vacancies, and even boost the U.K. economy as a whole.

Studies show that starting a high-quality childcare nursery or preschool before the age of 2 improves children’s cognitive, language, social and emotional development.

As you can see in some of the quotations above and below, children will benefit hugely if they start at nursery/preschool young; a good early years education has been proven to boost children’s prospects far into the future.

All in all, this newly extended childcare funding will be a win-win for everyone!

Beginning childcare before the age of 3 is proven to boost academic achievement and reduce behavioural problems far into the future.

Learn more about the profound benefits of starting nursery young and a good early years education here.

How Can the ‘30 Hours’ be Taken?

For those eligible, the 1140 hours of free childcare are most commonly taken as 30 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year. That’s usually term-time, i.e. mirroring typical school terms. That said, many nurseries, preschools and childcare providers allow some flexibility. For example, they may allow families to spread the free hours out more thinly each week so that they extend over more weeks of the year, perhaps including school holidays. However, the availability of such options will vary from childcare setting to childcare setting, so check with your specific provider.

Who is Eligible for ‘30 Hours’ Childcare Funding?

The funded childcare is for children of working parents with earnings within the specific range outlined below. Under this scheme, children receiving the free hours from the September 2025 term must be aged no less than 9 months old on 1st September 2025 and free funding for those who remain eligible is available right up until school age.

The key eligibility rules for the extended funding hinge mainly on parents’ household income:

The child(ren)’s parent(s) and partner if they have one must earn no more than £100,000 per annum.
The minimum they must be working is the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage or more. (Since April 2025 that’s equated to about £195 per week for those aged 23 and over, £160 per week for those aged 18 to 20, and £120 per week for those below 18).
They must also have an NI number.

With that said, there are other circumstances where families may still be eligible for free childcare funding even if they don’t fit the key criteria outlined above. Examples may include those on maternity, paternity, adoption, or sick leave and foster carers. More detail about eligibility rules for working parents is available here. Those who are not eligible as working parents but are disabled or receive certain Government benefits/assistance may be eligible for free childcare under one or more alternative funding schemes.

How to Quickly & Easily Check Your Eligibility for ‘30 Hours’ Childcare Funding

The fastest and easiest way to check your eligibility for any of the schemes is to visit this page and enter some simple details (you do not need to register to use the interactive funding calculator). Within just a few seconds, you’ll know which childcare funding scheme(s) your child may be eligible for!

How to Apply for the Funding

If you’d like to proceed, apply on the Government’s official website here. Don’t forget that the application deadline for the September term is the 31st of August immediately preceding it. Good luck!

Possible Caveats

Note that some childcare providers may only have a specific number of funded places available. Note, too, that the funding does not usually cover extras, e.g. nappies, the cost of any outings, food, and extra hours. So, it’s best to contact your chosen provider for clarification on all such details.

Reconfirm Eligibility Quarterly

To continue receiving your funded childcare, you’ll need to reconfirm your eligibility every three months. You should do this via your Government Childcare Account and failure to do so is likely to mean you’ll miss out on continued free childcare for your child — so it’s very important.

Nursery Places at Little Acorns in Padiham, Lancashire

The best start in life for babies and children under 5

As our families regularly confirm, Little Acorns in Padiham is a highly-regarded childcare nursery that attracts wonderful feedback, 5-star ratings and reviews. We strive to help every child flourish, become the best version of themselves, and feel loved and valued. If you’d like to enquire about a possible nursery place for your baby or child under five at this wonderful nursery in Padiham, please get in touch. Families living nearby in locations like Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End may also find Little Acorns Nursery convenient for their childcare requirements. Please choose an option below to begin your child’s exciting journey with Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

30 May 2025/by Mark

Activities for Children, Nature, Nature Activities, Outdoor Play, Parenting

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.

Can they spot some daisies? How about some bluebells? What about a squirrel leaping through the trees? Has your little one discovered dandelion ‘clocks’ yet? Those are some of childhood’s joys and are irresistible to children of all ages! Snails are beginning to reappear too, and baby snails are an absolute cuteness overload as they carry their tiny homes on their backs. Apple blossom is simply beautiful, and a sure sign of some delicious apples coming later in the year. All these things and more are part of today’s nature-based activity, with reference images hand-picked to coincide perfectly with mid-spring. Download the free poster today, print it out, and head on out to the Great Outdoors with your little ones. The activity will give them a wonderful introduction to some of nature’s magic this springtime. What’s more, spending time close to nature is good for parents too!

Download the Free Reference Poster

Click the poster preview image to view on screen or download in PDF format (whether you left- or right-click will depend on your browser set-up, so try each if unsure). Posters can be printed as large as A3 (great for displaying on your child’s bedroom wall), reduced to A4, or as small as A5 (perfect as a reference sheet to take on the activity). Parents: don’t forget a pencil, pen or crayon so that each item that your child spots can be ticked on the reference sheet — little tick boxes are provided.

Fun Facts for Mid-Spring

Putting together the nature reference poster got us thinking! Here are some fun and interesting facts that were brought to mind:

Bluebells also come in pink or white. They’re referred to as pinkbells (also known as pink bluebells and Spanish bluebells) and whitebells (or white bluebells).
Have you ever noticed that dandelion leaves are like a row of sharp teeth? In fact, the word dandelion is based on the French for ‘teeth of the lion’ — dents du lion.
Dandelion clocks are known as such due to the childhood pastime that so many of us are familiar with. The theory is that children can tell you the time by the number of puffs it takes to blow all the seeds off into the air. It is, of course, only occasionally accurate!
Frogspawn is a wonderful way to teach children how some creatures evolve from eggs, through infancy, into adulthood. With frogspawn, they start off as tiny, transparent eggs, then grow a tail that enables them to swim. Later come arms and legs, then they lose their tail and mature into tiny infant frogs. It’s incredibly educational and engaging for children to witness.
Does your child know about bee nectar baskets? Those are the little yellow leg pouches that can be seen on some bumblebees’ and honeybees’ legs. They are where the bees collect and store their nectar ready to transport back to the hive.
Teach your child about the importance of pollinators, which include bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Without them, flowers would not be fertilised i.e. pollinated. And without pollination, we’d have no fruit, vegetables, seeds, cereals, legumes and nuts to eat. So, we owe all those cute pollinators enormous thanks!
An earlier version of our spring reference poster included snowdrops, daffodils, and crocuses. However, by mid-spring, they’re disappearing rapidly because their blooms peaked in very early spring. Meanwhile, bluebells are at their peak by mid-spring (right now at the time of writing), so go in search of them quickly if you don’t want to miss this year’s beautiful crop! If you can find a blanket of flowering bluebells in a wood, take note not only of the visual beauty but also of their gentle scent on the breeze.

The Benefits of Nature

We’ve said before — and we’ll keep on saying — nature is incredibly good for children and adults alike. But what are some of the benefits, and why is nature so important to children? Well, we wrote an article about it and you can read our top 20 reasons why nature benefits children here. To give you an idea, it’s educational, stimulates creativity, is good for both mind and body, promotes deeper thinking, and is a feast for the developing senses. It also encourages empathy, teaches little ones about the circle of life, improves concentration in the classroom, and even helps children improve academic grades. These are just the tip of the iceberg, however, so click the bold link to learn much more about why spending time in and around nature is so beneficial to children.

We hope that children (and parents) have great fun with this seasonal nature-based activity. Feel free to share a link to the post with friends and spread the word about the free poster!

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham, Lancashire

We offer a first-class weekday childcare service in Padiham, Lancashire

Little Acorns is a wonderful nursery and preschool in Padiham, Lancashire. Here, children aged up to five get the very best start in life and an early years education that’s tailored to them. It’s all about bringing out the very best in every child at Little Acorns. Our fabulous team of early years practitioners will look after them every day in a wonderful home-from-home environment. We’ll ensure they feel loved and valued and are given every opportunity to absolutely shine, so they’re ‘school ready’ by the time they leave us to start school. We also support free childcare places through the many different government-funded childcare schemes available to eligible families. Get in touch today to learn more, apply for a place, or ask questions. We can’t wait to meet you and your child!

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Located in Padiham, the nursery will also suit families living in nearby towns and villages like Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

^{Safety notice: Supervise children at all times and encourage them to look but not touch when scouting outdoors for the signs of spring. There are many dangers out there including insects that sting, plants that are poisonous, fungi that are toxic — and even snails can pose potential dangers (lungworm).}

29 April 2025/by Mark

Tag Archive for: BB12

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— Which Style is Best?

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Ash or Elder? Hazel or Lime?

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A High-Quality Childcare Nursery in Padiham, Lancashire

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The Best Start for Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers

• Overall effectiveness: Good • The quality of education: Good • Behaviour and attitudes: Good • Personal development: Good • Leadership & management: Good

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• Overall effectiveness: Good
• The quality of education: Good
• Behaviour and attitudes: Good
• Personal development: Good
• Leadership & management: Good