Welcome to Acorn Nursery — a place where little Acorns learn, grow, explore and shine.

Our nursery is a vibrant, teacher‑led setting, guided by fully qualified teachers with years of experience in early education and supported by a wonderful team of dedicated teaching assistants. We want every child to thrive, feel confident, and discover the joy of learning. To make that happen, we’ve created a high‑quality environment indoors and outdoors, filled with opportunities to play, imagine and explore.

Our nursery is an integral part of the school building, with its own bright and welcoming learning spaces designed especially for early years children. Inside, you’ll find well‑resourced areas that spark curiosity. Outside, children enjoy a large, secure play area complete with a permanent climbing structure, a spacious veranda, and an exciting range of toys and equipment available every day.

Our teaching is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, ensuring that every child’s learning, development and care are thoughtfully planned for. We focus on nurturing happy, confident children who love coming to nursery and feel ready for the adventures ahead.

Being part of our wider school community

Children in our nursery enjoy being involved in wider school life, helping them grow in confidence and feel part of a bigger community. They attend whole‑school assemblies, take part in PE sessions in the main school hall, and enjoy lunchtimes alongside the wider school community. Our wraparound care also gives nursery children the chance to build relationships with older pupils, who act as positive role models and help them develop social skills, independence and a strong sense of belonging.

Early Years provision rated Strong Standard (Ofsted, May 2026)

And here's what Ofsted said ...

“Children thrive in the school's ‘Acorns’ Nursery Year class. They settle quickly and make the most of the well-considered activities provided for them. In both classes, caring relationships support children's wider personal development. The well-equipped environment enhances children's social, emotional and physical development very well”.

“Positive practices and relationships ensure that children are safe and well cared for. Children behave well. They follow familiar routines with confidence and independence. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and other vulnerabilities receive skilled support that is carefully matched to their needs. The care and teaching that children receive reduces their barriers to learning”.

Ready to give your child the very best start? 

Find your perfect nursery pattern — flexibility that fits your life

We aim to offer nursery provision that truly supports the needs of our families and our community. We currently offer a maximum of 39 places in both our morning and afternoon sessions, and we offer a variety of session times based on demand, helping families choose the pattern that works best for them.

Every child is entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare each week from the start of the term after their 3rd birthday. This is known as Universal Funding and gives children a wonderful start to their early learning journey.

Many working families may also be eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare per week, offering even more flexibility. To find out more or to check your eligibility, please visit: https://childcarechoices.gov.uk

Families who need wraparound care can also enjoy the warm, welcoming atmosphere of our Breakfast Club and After‑School Club. These sessions give children a cheerful, relaxed start and finish to their day, with plenty of opportunities to play, build friendships and feel part of our wider school community. Wraparound care can be used as part of your funded entitlement or as a payable service, offering flexibility while ensuring children enjoy a happy, seamless nursery experience.

Making the most of your 15 hours — here’s how it works

Whether you’re dreaming of all‑morning adventures, all‑afternoon fun, or something a little more tailor‑made to suit your family, our Universal Funding options give you the freedom to choose what works best. Your child can enjoy a consistent routine every day or a more bespoke pattern that fits around existing childcare. However you use your hours, they’ll spend their time playing, exploring, learning and growing in a happy, nurturing nursery environment that feels just right for them.

If you’d love to explore a more flexible pattern, we’d be delighted to help you find the perfect fit. Helen Shelley in our school office is your go‑to person — friendly, knowledgeable and always happy to chat about what will work best for your family.

Email: admin@oakgrange.org Telephone: 01332 978681

30 hours – helping you find your perfect nursery pattern

Our nursery day is designed to fit beautifully around busy family life. We start bright and early at 9:00am, with our morning session running until 12:00pm, when our full‑day children break for lunch — whether that’s a tasty-cooked school dinner or a packed lunch from home. And the best part? Children can switch between these meal options daily, giving families even more flexibility to plan around the lives they lead.

At 12:30pm, our children are joined by their friends arriving for the afternoon session, which runs through to 3:30pm.

And here’s what families love most — our full‑day children can follow one of two flexible patterns:

• 9:00am–3:00pm (30 hours)
• 9:00am–3:30pm (32.5 hours).

You choose the rhythm that works best for you.

Flexibility that fits your life! 

This flexibility means you can shape a nursery week that truly fits your world. Whether you’re juggling work commitments, blending existing childcare, accessing wraparound care, managing costs or simply choosing what’s most convenient, we’re here to make it easy. Our goal is simple: to support your needs and give your child a joyful, seamless nursery experience that slots perfectly into everyday life.

Got your hours in mind? Let’s make them work for you

To help us offer places as fairly and smoothly as possible, Derby City Council asks all parents and carers to complete and sign a contract confirming their chosen attendance pattern. This simply means families need to think about the routine that works best for them, and once an offer is made and accepted, there is an expectation that children attend regularly. It helps us plan staffing, meals and learning experiences so every child gets the very best from their nursery day.

Boost your funded hours — unlock the full nursery experience

If you would like your child to attend more hours than their funded entitlement, you’re welcome to top up with additional hours. These are charged at £6 per hour. For example, extending a 30‑hour funded place to a 32.5-hour full‑day place (9:00am–3:30pm x 5 days) would cost an additional £15 per week. Additional costs are charged half‑termly, and you would use the ParentPay app to make your payment. Working parents who are eligible for tax-free childcare can pay for additional nursery hours, lunches and wrap around care this way.  For every £8 paid into your Childcare account, the Government will top it up by £2. Visit the GOV.UK website to see if you are eligible https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare/check-if-youre-eligible. 

Clear costs, no surprises — everything you need to know

Lunchtimes are a happy, sociable part of the day, supervised by our qualified early years teaching assistants, ensuring a ratio of at least 1 adult to 8 children. Children can enjoy a hot lunch cooked fresh in our school kitchen for £2.85 per day, or bring a packed lunch if that suits your family better. Children can also swap between meal choices daily, giving families even more flexibility. Menus are posted on the school's website so you can see in advance what is on offer.  Payments are made using the ParentPay app.

We also offer wraparound care for families who need a little extra support. To keep everything running smoothly, children are only able to attend Breakfast Club on days when they are scheduled to be in nursery from 9:00am, and the After‑School Club is available only for children who finish their nursery day at 3:30pm. This helps us maintain consistent staffing and ensures every child is safely supervised throughout their extended day. Clubs can be booked and paid for by you using ParentPay and are available on a first come, first served basis. More information about the Clubs can be found on our school's website. 

Our aim is always to offer provision that genuinely supports the needs of our families. With 39 places available in both morning and afternoon sessions, we shape our timetable around demand to give families as much choice as possible. And for those who need it, our wraparound options help you build a childcare pattern that works perfectly for your family.

Ready to give your child the very best start? We have places available now so don't delay.

How to Apply 

You can add your child to our nursery waiting list any time after their 2^nd birthday. Please complete the application form  here to express your interest.

Our main intake is in September for children who have turned 3 by 31^st August of that year. If we still have spaces available, we will offer an intake in January, for children who have turned 3 by 31^st December. Priority will be given to applications received by 31^st March for the following September.

Places are offered in order of priority according to our admissions criteria below:

1	Children who are ‘Looked after’ in accordance with section 22 of the Children Act 1989.
2	Children who are on the Child Protection Register and live in the normal catchment area served by the school.
3	Children who are the subject of a statutory assessment of special educational needs and live in the normal catchment area served by the school.
4	Children who are both living in the normal catchment area of the school and have siblings of compulsory school age attending the school at the time of admission. Priority will be given to those children living closest to the school.
5	Children from the normal catchment area of the school. Priority will be given to those children living closest to the school.
6	Children from the wider area of the school, who have siblings attending school at the time of admission. Priority will be given to those children living closest to the school.
7	Children from the wider area of the school. Priority will be given to those children living closest to the school.

If you require any further information, please contact Helen Shelley on 01332 978681 or email admin@oakgrange.org