Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Wesley House, 17 South Street, Castlethorpe, Milton Keynes MK19 7EL
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9.9 54 Reviews
  • Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe), Milton Keynes
Acorn Day Nursery in Castlethorpe is a lovely converted chapel situated in a quiet village a few miles north of Milton Keynes. The former chapel has been completely refurbished to create a homely but stimulating environment with an excellent range of high quality equipment and facilities. Castlethorpe is a 36 place day nursery for children aged between 4 months and 4 years.

Acorn places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning and the children enjoy play outside in all weathers, the nursery has an enclosed garden which the children have free flow access too. Pre-school children develop their outdoor learning at regular Forest School sessions, which take place at nearby Salcey Forest with Acorn’s fully qualified Forest School Leaders.

The nursery has a close relationship with the adjoining school and the Oaks children regularly visit their library.

The nursery offers a range of activities during the week, including interactive story sessions and forest school. There are lovely places to visit around the village, such as the church, Castlethorpe moons, sports grounds and parks, which the children visit regularly.

It’s not just the children who have all the fun at Acorn. The nursery organise events on a regular basis to help parents meet each other and share their experiences.

The experienced and well-qualified staff team are very warm and welcoming and enjoy showing prospective parents round the nursery.

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Care Provided by Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Tracey Kniebe (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 16
  • Registered Charity Number
  • 1145108
  • Total Places for Children
  • 36
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 4 months
    • to 4 years 11 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:15
    Tuesday 07:30-18:15
    Wednesday 07:30-18:15
    Thursday 07:30-18:15
    Friday 07:30-18:15
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays, Staff Training Days & between Christmas & New Year

Funding & Fees Guide for Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

  • Full time place from £1,560
    Full day from £81.50
    Morning session from £45.00
    Afternoon session from £41.50

  • Fees are inclusive of all meals, snacks, drinks (including approved formula milk), nappies and activities.
    We do not charge registration fees, only a £100 deposit which is refunded against the first month’s fees. We don’t charge for settling in sessions, but we do expect payment for all nursery fees to be paid up front at the beginning of each month, which is standard practice for all childcare providers. We do not charge for bank holidays, our four training days each year, or for the three days closure between Christmas and New Year. We do, however, charge for days children don’t attend through illness or holidays, apart from exceptional circumstances.
    Please view the prospectus on our website for a full fees guide.
  • Parking

  • There are some parking bays available outside the nursery for drop off/pick up and parking is also available on the street.


Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) Reviews (54)

Total of 54, showing 1-20
9.9

Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.924) out of 10, based on 10 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) has 54 reviews.

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Review from Charlotte S (Mother of Child) published on 20 March 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been going here for 2 1/2 years and he loves it! The staff are all so lovely and friendly. They are always so welcoming when i drop my son off, all of the staff know both myself and my son well and i always feel happy leaving him there knowing he will have a great time.
Photos and news are
frequently posted on the app, i always feel informed about my son and also with what i need to be aware of with the nursery.
They do a real variety of activies with the children and are very inclusive. They go on walks, paint pictures, bake cookies, play in the garden, sing songs, encourage reading/letters etc. and i love to see and hear what he gets up to.
He also always eats so well at nursery with a variety of foods.
Over the years, i have changed his days, added/taken off days and they have always been so accommodating with this. They'll look into and help as much as they can which i always appreciate as a working parent.
Overall a fantastic nursery that i would highly recommend

Reply from Linda Crawford, Administrator at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Thank you for your very kind words. Your son is a joy to have in the nursery and we are so pleased to be part of his development.


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Review from C C (Mother of Child) published on 13 January 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would highly recommend Acorn Castlethorpe. Our son has been attending this nursery since he was around 9 months old; he is now 3 years old.
Every morning staff greet the parents and children with a smile on their faces, they are welcoming and are always interested to know what the children have
been up to over the weekend/the evening before etc.
The bond many staff have built with our son over his time at the nursery so far has been lovely to watch, particularly his key workers in the various rooms. The setting offered a wide range of learning opportunities through engaging activities within the nursery as well as around the local community and the local forest. Our son has become a lot more confident and built many friendships at nursery, along with coming on leaps and bounds in various areas such as counting, learning the alphabet, role-playing and playing musical instruments, to name a few. We are so pleased we chose Acorn Castlethorpe and would highly recommend it.

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Review from A B (Mother of Child) published on 19 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending Acorn Castlethorpe since he was around 10 months old; he is now 2. We love the warm and welcoming environment and are grateful for the bonds he has made with the adults across the setting. The setting offers a wonderful range of learning opportunities through appropriate and
engaging tasks, which are shared regularly with parents through the app. We are very pleased we chose Acorns and would highly recommend it.

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Review from M K (Mother of Child) published on 19 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot say enough lovely things about this nursery. My little girl started when she was 9 months old and has flourished. The nursery environment is very nurturing and the staff genuinely care about the children and parents. They focus on individual children and have a range of activities to help children
build their skills and confidence including well-being classes and Forest school.

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Review from C J (Mother of Child) published on 28 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Our children very much enjoy their time in the setting. The staff are excellent, very friendly and caring.
There has, however, been a large turnover of staff in recent months, which is difficult for the children to get used to, with new members of staff often not being formally introduced. I think
this is the nature of the early years profession though, rather than a reflection of the nursery itself.

Reply from Tracy Kniebe, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Hi, thank you so much for completing this review and for your high scores. I take on board your feedback. Let's catch up to discuss next time you are in the nursery.


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Review from K M (Mother of Child) published on 23 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter loves nursery. The staff are so reassuring, welcoming and caring. They have a lovely variety of meals and snacks (I’m often jealous of the menu!). They do a variety of activities and sometimes trips out when the weather allows which my daughter adores! I feel we really fell on our feet with
this nursery.

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Review from Margaret M (Grandmother of Child) published on 23 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My two grandchildren love attending nursery! We can see this from all the role-play they do when we are with them. Each of us has to ‘be’ a member of staff. My granddaughter is in charge and we get to see how the children are taught to listen to instructions and to follow rules. We also see clearly
how the staff care for and encourage the children in all they do. I approve of the areas of focus set by the nursery. Members of staff are always courteous and pleasant and the enjoyment they display for what is much more than just a job is evident to see. Every aspect of the daily routine, from mealtimes to Forest School and all the other activities in between seems to be balanced and thoroughly thought out. It is wonderful to know that our grandchildren are safe, well cared for and learning every day they spend at Castlethorpe.

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Review from A N (Mother of Child) published on 23 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending since September 2023 and we are extremely happy with the setting and the care he gets. The staff were extremely supportive of both me and him during his settling-in period (at 2.5 it was his first experience in a childcare setting).
He is always excited to go to nursery
every day. We get lots of lovely updates and pictures on his progress and his general day-to-day activities which I love. The staff always take the time to talk about his day and how he is at pick-up. He eats really well there, the menu is varied and interesting. The chef does a fantastic job.
I would happily recommend Acorn Castlethorpe to any parent.

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Review from D R (Mother of Child) published on 22 February 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My second child started in autumn last year, and he loves it and his development has come on leaps and bounds. The staff are great, especially his key worker who is also the assistant manager of the nursery. We get regular feedback and photos about his days. The setting is interesting and fun allowed
to explore in a safe environment. We also sent our eldest child to this nursery and had a wonderful experience, he still loves visiting the staff who used to care for him when we collect our youngest from the nursery. Fantastic nursery and has lovely staff!

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Review from G B (Father of Child) published on 24 May 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is a lovely nursery with very attentive staff. Naturally I was nervous to leave my one-year-old son for the first time in someone's care but I was quickly reassured by the constant feedback available on the app and the fact that he was happy and laughing and quickly learning day-to-day skills.
My son looks forward to attending every week and if he is a little homesick or tearing at the door, the staff are quick to relate and understand and he is right as rain in a few minutes. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful nursery here in Castlethorpe. I highly recommend it.

Reply from Tracy Kniebe, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Thank you very much for your kind words, we very much appreciate you taking the time to submit a review.


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Review from Jo B (Mother of Child) published on 30 November 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

With the effects of Covid-19 affecting children's social development, I cannot give enough praise to the staff at Castlethorpe. Not only does my little boy come home telling me about all the amazing activities he has taken part in, but he also is naming all of his friends and staff. The staff have been
very supportive with settling in and are always seen with a welcoming smile. Even a friendly "have a lovely afternoon" sets us up for a great time. You have all put an anxious mummy at ease. Thank you.

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Review from Evelyn B (Grandmother of Child) published on 19 August 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My grandsons are aged 2 and 4 and attend Acorn nursery. One of my grandsons begins school in September 2022. I came to his graduation with his mum a couple of weeks ago. Just wanted you to know what a wonderful time I had. The atmosphere and overall fun, ceremony, and the children’s obvious enjoyment
was amazing. I also want your staff to know that one of my grandsons talks a lot about them, how he loves going and loves his teachers. In all the time he has attended he has never voiced his dislike. Really looks forward to his time spent with you. Constantly telling me that he prefers nursery. My other grandson isn't as verbal but I am sure he will voice his opinions soon. I know also that the boys will miss each other. Thank you so much for everything you do for them. Kind regards.

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Review from A G (Mother of Child) published on 24 May 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our child has thrived while attending Acorn, the staff really encourage him to learn and develop his skills. He enjoys going in every day and always has a brilliant time. I feel really comfortable leaving him with such a capable team, they update everything he’s doing throughout the day on the app which
leaves me feeling confident that he’s doing well.

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Review from Katie S (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My boy loves nursery, he loves all the ladies there and always has a big smile on his face at drop-off and pick up. He always comes home with a full belly and loves the food. I love all the pictures and videos I get as I can see he is always enjoying himself.

Reply from Tracey Kniebe, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Thank you so much for your reply, your time in doing so is very much appreciated.


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Review from B B (Father of Child) published on 26 April 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are exceptionally happy with the service provided by Acorn (Castelthorpe). The staff are very caring and provide valuable and constructive feedback for our son.
Our son loves going to nursery and has made so many friends with peers and staff.

Reply from Tracy Kniebe, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Thank you for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it.


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Review from B M (Father of Child) published on 26 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending nursery since January 2021. She enjoys going on little walks around the village or to the park. It’s great to see her taking part in a good range of activities. The staff support her individual needs and her key person in her current room and in the baby room have been
great.

Reply from Tracy Kniebe, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Thank you so much for your review. We appreciate your time in completing this.


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Review from J B (Mother of Child) published on 25 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would highly recommend Acorn Nursery at Castlethorpe. The staff are brilliant. The key workers there treat your child like their own. The app keeps you updated throughout the day and you can see how your child is progressing. It is a nursery that truly cares about the welfare and development of children.

Reply from Tracy Kniebe, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Many thanks for your kind words and positive review.


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Review from Nikki M (Mother of Child) published on 25 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Acorn Day Nursery Castlethorpe and its staff are absolutely incredible. My son went from age 1 to 4 and now my daughter is there and we can't fault it. I cannot sing the praises of all staff enough - they are incredibly caring, adapt to each child's needs and create a fantastic environment that both
of my children have thrived in. It can be hard for parents to 'hand' their child over to a care provider, but the staff at Acorn make it very simple and build trust very quickly. My daughter gets so excited on the walk to nursery and can't wait to run in and have a cuddle from the practitioners. The garden has recently been improved and that's made a positive difference plus the food options are excellent. We highly recommend Acorn at Castlethorpe to any prospective parents.

Reply from Tracy Kniebe, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

Thank you so much for your positive review, we really appreciate it.


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Review from S H (Mother of Child) published on 11 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Castlethorpe have been absolutely brilliant with my little one. Being a baby born during the pandemic he struggled to settle initially but has come on leaps and bounds since then. The staff were so supportive and gave lots of reassurance which has helped enormously. The range and quality
of food is excellent (which is great for his current fussy eating phase). The activities are wonderful and he spends lots of time outdoors, which was a key deciding factor in choosing the nursery. From a developmental point of view, his language, social skills, and coordination have all noticeably improved in the time that he has been there. The administrative staff are great - very efficient and personable. A change in sessions was accommodated swiftly and without issue. Overall, we are very pleased with the care our son is receiving and recommend the nursery highly to anyone considering sending their child here!

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Review from Greer P (Mother of Child) published on 5 April 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband and I are so happy that we have sent our child to Castlethorpe. The staff are fantastic. Three members of staff, in particular, are so responsive and always know what is happening. They genuinely care and take pride in their work. The food is always so varied and healthy - I wish I could
have the meals each day! Thank you for such an excellent service.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.924)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.924) out of 10 for Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 10 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 9 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.924 for Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) is calculated as follows: ( (110 Excellents x 5) + (9 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 119 Ratings = 4.924

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) is based on 9 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 3.9

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 36 number of registered child places is 7.2, which has been reached with 9 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (11)

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Meet the Team (3)

Tracey

Tracey Kniebe

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2021

Tracey has over 20 years of experience working within the childcare sector and brings a wealth of knowledge to her role at Castlethorpe. She has a BA in Early Years Childcare and a real passion for working with children and providing a home-from-home environment. In her spare time, she enjoys Latin and ballroom dancing and is also partial to baking the odd cake!


Tracey is Castlethorpe's Designated Safeguarding Lead, so if you ever have any concerns or would like to chat about anything safeguarding-related, please visit or call the nursery and ask to speak to Tracey directly - alternatively, the setting can provide a direct email address for her.


Gemma

Gemma Brewer

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2009

Gemma first joined Acorn, doing work experience as a Tea Time Assistant and then went on to gain her Level 2 and 3 NVQ in Early Years Learning and Development. Since then, Gemma has gained her Level 5 in Leadership & Management


Gemma enjoys being able to watch all the children grow and develop through the nursery and working alongside a great team.


Linda

Linda Crawford

Job Title: Administrator

Joined: 2016

When Linda left school she gained her NNEB qualification in Childcare. and since then has spent half her life working with children and the other half in business.


For Linda Acorn really is the best of both worlds.


Linda loves the opportunity to spend time with the children watching them develop and grow as well as using business skills she has gained by working for large corporate organisations as well as running her own businesses.


Linda also ran a catering company and has a level 3 Safer Food qualification and is passionate about healthy food and nutrition. So sometimes she can be found in the kitchen, covering when our chef is away.


Frequently Asked Questions about Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe)

What is the Age Range of Children that Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) accepts?

Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) accepts Children aged from 0 years 4 months to 4 years 11 months.

What Days & Hours is Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) Open?

Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) is open: Monday 07:30-18:15, Tuesday 07:30-18:15, Wednesday 07:30-18:15, Thursday 07:30-18:15, Friday 07:30-18:15.

How many Children does Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) have capacity for?

Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) has capacity for a total of 36 Children.

How far is Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) to the centre of Milton Keynes?

5.4 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Acorn Day Nursery (Castlethorpe) has a Platinum Service – more info.