The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane)

59 Denmans Lane, Lindfield, Haywards Heath RH16 2JN
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9.9 93 Reviews
  • The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane), Haywards Heath
The Acorns Nursery and Forest School is dedicated to quality childcare and early years education, rated highly with regulators and combining a 'forward-thinking' vision with traditional values.

A well-equipped interior, with numerous play and learning activities made possible, is complemented by an emphasis on outdoor play and a curriculum that incorporates forest school adventures.

The aim of the service to help children achieve their early years potential before a smooth transition into infant school and beyond.

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Care Provided by The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane)

  • Type of Service
  • Nursery School – Privately Owned
  • Open term time
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Christina Franks (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 6
  • Total Places for Children
  • 21
  • Age Range
    • from 2 years 0 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • School Holidays (open for 4 weeks holiday playscheme in the summer)

The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) Reviews (93)

Total of 93, showing 41-60
9.9

The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.892) out of 10, based on 10 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) has 93 reviews.

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Review from Shaeran B (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am so grateful that we have managed to find such a caring, nurturing and adventurous nursery. Having moved to the area just under two years ago, our daughter attended The Acorns for a couple of terms before moving up to school, and our son is currently attending. The staff are absolutely fantastic
and spend quality time with each child to help them progress, working with parents on any concerns they might have, all to help each child get the best start. The children take part in a wide range of activities, such as arts and crafts, cooking, outdoor play and walks in the local area. The Acorns is a warm home setting with an amazing outdoor space. My daughter loved every minute of being there, and they really prepared her for her transition to school. My son is always asking "Is tomorrow and Acorns day?" (I try not to take it personally) and always has the biggest smile on his face when I pick him up. I can't recommend The Acorns enough!

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Review from Laura C (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A superb nursery. My son couldn’t be happier. I feel he is known, appreciated, cared for and supported in every dimension. Everything - from the indoors and outdoors space to the meals, to the music sessions, and walks around the village - are thoughtful and just what I would want for my son. I couldn’t
recommend it more highly.

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Review from Dominique R (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Acorns is a wonderful, nurturing nursery. My son is very happy here, and he loves to excitedly tell me about his day when I pick him up. All the staff are very friendly, caring and passionate about early years education. There is excellent communication and support between the nursery and parents, so
I feel very involved in my child's development.

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Review from Georgina B (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been so lucky to watch our two children thrive and grow in confidence while at Acorns in Lindfield. Both the children love Acorns and run inside each morning without barely saying goodbye. There are always tons of stimulating and creative activities available, as well as plenty of opportunities
for free play, exploring nature, climbing and being adventurous in the beautiful garden. The staff are always very friendly, motivated and are fully engaged in the children's education and welfare. I highly recommend The Acorns.

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Review from Ratan B (Mother of Child) published on 10 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter absolutely loves going to The Acorns. The staff provide a friendly, encouraging environment, and my daughter has absolutely thrived at The Acorns, growing more confident of herself. I especially commend how the staff takes a keen interest in the growth, potential and areas of improvement
for each child, individually. The Acorns is the most excellent foundation for building a child's future.

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Review from Petra H (Mother of Child) published on 10 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has attended The Acorns Nursery since she was 2.5 years old. She loves going.
The environment is home from home and makes the children feel very comfortable.
The staff to child ratio is amazing, the children get a lot of individual attention.
The nursey provides a delicious warm lunch
meal every day. My daughter has thrived at Acorns; they spend a lot of time outdoors, planting, playing and discovering nature.

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Review from Will O (Father of Child) published on 7 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

It is clear from the first moment you step into the Acorns how much the children and the staff love to be there. The nursery has been wonderful for our son who can be uncomfortable in social situations and yet comes out of his shell as soon as he goes through the door.
I never fail to be impressed
with the meticulous preparation and detail presented to us that goes into each day and I enjoy reading about all the activities in the blog. The regular reports help parents to work in collaboration with the nursery on their children's development and the ethos of learning, caring and enjoyment shines through it all.

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Review from Jo C (Mother of Child) published on 2 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has grown enormously in confidence since attending The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield. The staff are wonderful. Each child has a staff member dedicated to recording their progress and developing their skills to the next level. Parents have termly parents evenings to keep
up to date with the child's progress. The owner and her team genuinely care so much for each child and its clear to see the kids have so much fun at The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield. It's a home away from home environment. We love it.

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Review from Adam P (Father of Child) published on 2 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield is quite simply a fantastic setting for children. The staff and owners truly care and take tremendous pride in the nurturing and development of every child. The homely feel, with home cooked meals every day and the local village to explore ensures
the children are in a caring, loving and passionate environment to develop their skills and prepare them for primary school. Each child has a dedicated member of staff that provides regular updates on your child, ensuring you are kept up to date with their developments and ideas are provided in how to aid the more challenging areas at home. As your child nears the end of their time at The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield the staff start preparing them for school life, with regular one to one reading and writing time. I would take this opportunity to thank The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield for the brilliant work they do.

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Review from Sarah T (Mother of Child) published on 2 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both our daughters attend The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield and love it. It’s such a lovely setting in the owner’s home, which makes it really homely for the children. The owner is very passionate about early years education and is dedicated to the welfare and development of the children
and continually learning and implementing new ideas. There is a beautiful garden with a pirate ship, climbing frame, wendy house and plenty of opportunities to learn about nature. Both girls have developed lovely friendships and talk very fondly about all the staff. There are always a variety of activities on offer for the girls, including crafts and they have daily music sessions. The food is all freshly cooked on site by the staff. It’s not been an easy year with the pandemic but the owner and the staff have coped brilliantly and implemented new procedures in consultation with parents to keep everyone safe. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield.

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Review from Sophie G (Mother of Child) published on 2 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I count my lucky stars every day that my son goes to The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School, Lindfield. The staff are kind and nurturing, the activities are exciting and varied and he is already starting to read. My son loves it there and has made many strong friendships. The owner is so incredibly
passionate about her nursery and always goes above and beyond for the children in her care.

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Review from Georgina M (Mother of Child) published on 14 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Finding The Acorns Nursery was a true blessing when we moved to the area from London. The staff are kind, caring and passionate about what they do. I have watched my daughter settle in with ease and grow in confidence each week. With her knowledge and understanding constantly expanding through the time
and effort put in by the wonderful staff, I believe The Acorns is the perfect setting to equip my daughter for what lies ahead with school.

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Review from David (Father of Child) published on 13 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Acorns have been incredibly welcoming to our daughter, she really looks forward to going there to see the other children and staff on each day. The nursery is well organised and administrated, in a great setting, with friendly, extremely capable staff.

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Review from VictoriaT (Mother of Child) published on 13 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff team here are fantastic. During my daughter's settling in phase, I was made to feel welcome for several sessions and I witnessed the utmost caring and warm approach to the children in their care. They are highly experienced, professional and show genuine care for what they do. The environment
is a homely feel with a lovely garden space, but the most important reason for me to recommend this nursery is the wonderful staff team.

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Review from M S (Mother of Child) published on 10 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Staff knowledgeable and caring. They provide a wide array of opportunities for learning, and my daughter has learnt and developed so much in the past six months since she started at Acorns. She is very happy there and looks forward to going.

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Review from Samantha B (Mother of Child) published on 10 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Acorns team is amazing at providing a safe, caring environment for my daughter to learn and grow. I know that she will start school with all the tools she needs to make the transition as smooth as possible. Thank you so much for being so reliable.
Highly recommend this nursery.

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Review from Lis S (Mother of Child) published on 10 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son took to this nursery instantly and settled straight away. He looks forward to going each week which, for me, is the best review you can get. From my perspective, I’m confident I have left my child in an environment where he’ll flourish. The owner is a highly experienced educator and is passionate
about early years. This shines through into the setting. The staff engage deeply with the children and this is a key element for me. I’ve looked around nurseries where the staff are staring into space and the children are being ignored. Couldn’t recommend it more.

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Review from D D (Mother of Child) published on 7 February 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Acorns provides exceptional care in a forward-thinking context. I always feel my son is safe, secure and well looked after by the outstanding staff, and he loves the wide range of activities on offer.

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Review from Cecilia P (Mother of Child) published on 5 April 2018
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery. I cannot say a single bad thing about The Acorns. The staff nurture the children to become happy, independent children who thrive. If you want the absolute best for your child then this is the nursery to choose.

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Review from Jace (Mother of Child) published on 26 June 2017
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son attended the Acorns at both Lindfield and at the Forest School and did Holiday Fun until he started school. He loved the school and the teachers, who were very supportive and caring, and enjoyed his experience very much. He was very happy to attend the school and every came back home with lots
of stories about what he had learned and experienced all the time.
In addition to learning, he built his confidence and social skills, which also improved his behaviour at home. Furthermore, the head teacher and her team identified early on potential learning difficulties and helped very much with specialised support. This was so useful that we continued private tuition with the head teacher even after he started school, twice a week. We highly recommend the Acorns!

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.892)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.892) out of 10 for The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) 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 10 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 4.892 for The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) is calculated as follows: ( (110 Excellents x 5) + (7 Goods x 4) + (3 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 120 Ratings = 4.892

  • 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 The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) is based on 10 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 + 0.1 = 4

    • 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 21 number of registered child places is 4.2, which has been reached with 10 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

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (4)

Top 20 Small Nursery Groups 2022

Recipient: The Acorns Nursery & Forest School

Date: Friday 29 Apr 2022 More details

Top 20 Small Nursery Groups 2021

Recipient: The Acorns Nursery & Forest School

Date: Friday 28 May 2021 More details

Top 10 Small Nursery Groups 2016

Recipient: The Acorns Nursery & Forest School

Date: Tuesday 01 Mar 2016 More details

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Meet the Team (7)

Janet

Janet Irwin

Job Title: Headteacher and Founder

Joined: 1985

Janet qualified as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge, studied psychology at London University and has been teaching, and offering support and advice to parents ever since. Janet opened The Acorns in 1985 and still enjoys a hands-on role. She was awarded her Early Years Professional Status and MA in education from Brighton University.


Janet has a TEFL Certificate, a qualification for teaching English as a foreign language. She also holds certificates for Paediatric First Aid and Food and Hygiene. She has recently gained a Level 3 qualification in Forest School Leadership.


Janet has a passion for teaching and also for languages. Speaking fluent French, Janet is working on a language project for children. She is the author of the 'At Home with French' and 'At Home with Spanish' activity books for children published by Oxford University Press and also the 'Minilingo' range of audio products.


Christina

Christina Franks

Job Title: Lindfield Manager

Joined: 2014

Christina Franks is in charge of our Lindfield nursery. She has a Higher National Certificate in Childcare and Early Years Education alongside an NNEB qualification. She also has a diploma in leadership and management.


Christina has a natural empathy with young children has worked at the Acorns for many years and continues to establish positive relationships with all our parents.


Sophie

Sophie Mundy

Job Title: Administrator

Joined: 2022

Sophie joined our team in October 2022 to take over the role of Nursery Administrator.


She has worked in admin for many years and brings her skill set to update and simplify our systems. She currently works three days a week.


Sophie also spends time working alongside the children at Acorns 59.


Cristiane

Cristiane Robertson

Job Title: Early Years Practitioner

Joined: 2023

Cristiane joined our team in November 2023.


Cristiane works in Acorns 59.


She is Brazilian and has a level 2 in childcare. She has a young son and is bilingual in English and Portuguese. She loves outdoor play and crafts.


Natalie

Natalie Drake

Job Title: Early Years Practitioner

Joined: 2024

Natalie joined our team in February 2024.


Natalie works at Acorns 59.


She has a level 2 in childcare. She is an experienced practitioner who loves doing arts and crafts with the children.


Natalie plays an active role in planning activities for the children each week alongside Mrs Franks.


Gaye

Gaye Neve

Job Title: Early Years Practitioner

Joined: 2023

Gaye joined us in 2023. She is a very experienced practitioner who has worked with children for over 30 years.


Mrs Neve works in both of our settings after retiring from her role as a teaching assistant in a local school. She offers supply cover.


Katy

Katy Danton

Job Title: Early Years Practitioner

Joined: 2024

Katy joined our team in 2024. ? Katy has worked in both our settings but is currently working at Acorns 25


She is a level 3 practitioner with a wealth of knowledge.


?Katy enjoys spending time outside with the children.


Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Acorns Nursery School & Forest School (59 Denmans Lane) has an Enhanced Service – more info.