Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

Olney Road, Emberton, Olney MK46 5BX
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10 16 Reviews
  • Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton), Olney
Located in Emberton, Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre is set in a previous school and has been refurbished to offer day care for children aged from 4 months to 5 years, with both full and part time places available. The Outdoor Learning Centre also offers an outdoors holiday club for up 24 children.

With a focus on the outdoors, the nursery will offer regular forest school sessions as well as meals and snacks prepared using locally sourced ingredients.

The Nature Kindergarten offers 16 places and operates term-time-only for children aged 3-4 years of age.
Children have a hands-on approach whilst being being supported by the highly qualified staff who are nurturing, have a passion for the outdoors and strive to create a positive, stimulating, safe and secure environment for children to learn and grow in.

The Kindergarten is perfect for little explorers who love to be outside, based within the grounds of the day nursery and outdoor learning centre. Taking place completely outdoors, children can participate in a range of activities from mini-beast hunting, den-building, natural crafts, wood work skills and cooking on a campfire! Over the next couple of years their aim is to plant over 500 trees and shrubs, build several outdoor shelters and other wooden structures and sculptures, develop an orchard and allotment area, developing a range of other outdoor provisions that will enhance the activities and sessions on offer.

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Care Provided by Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

  • 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
  • Amy (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 12
  • Registered Charity Number
  • 1145108
  • Total Places for Children
  • 57
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 4 months
    • to 4 years 11 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-15:00
    Tuesday 09:00-15:00
    Wednesday 09:00-15:00
    Thursday 09:00-15:00
    Friday 09:00-15:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays, 1 week at Christmas & Staff Training Days

Funding & Fees Guide for Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

  • Full time place starting from £1,560
    Full day from £81.50
    Morning session from £45.50
    Afternoon session from £41

  • 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 is a small car park attached to the nursery for drop off and pick up. There is a large car park opposite the field for parking for the Nature Kindergarten.


Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) Reviews (16)

10

Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) has a Review Score of 10 (9.974) out of 10, based on 13 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) has 16 reviews.

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Review from C Q (Mother of Child) published on 28 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son absolutely loves his time at this nursery - he is always so happy to arrive and goes straight to his seat for breakfast! From the picture updates we receive and handover feedback, our son has lots of variety throughout the day from playing in the garden to reading books, messy play, soft play
etc. The nursery has been great with him and even purchased some props which suit his interests specifically - a broom because he seems to like cleaning! There's lots of variety with food and I love getting all the updates about what he has been eating throughout the day - he loves his food there. The staff are all very friendly and caring.

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Review from J H (Father of Child) published on 25 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are all lovely and love the kids. The kids enjoy going as well. Great communication both on pickup and on the app. When the kids are unwell they do their best to keep them in. The outside space they have is fantastic.

Reply from Amy Moulton, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

Thank you so much for your kind words. We love it when parents recognise all the hard work that goes into day-to-day nursery life. We love what we do.


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Review from Sarah H (Mother of Child) published on 6 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Incredible staff, an extended part of our family. Our little one learns so much with the team and has made brilliant friends. Nothing is too much for the staff, always really well cared for. Thank you.

Reply from Amy Moulton, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

Thank you so much for your lovely comments. We love hearing from parents and always value your opinions and views.


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Review from Amanda H (Mother of Child) published on 6 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been at Acorns coming up for 2 years now and even from the first emails we had to arrange visits whilst in the middle of a stressful house move we knew this was the setting for him. Every single staff member genuinely cares about the children and their development. We saw our son's verbal
communication come on leaps and bounds within a matter of weeks of starting and his confidence and independence grow. The team's values and approach to child development align so much with ours and it really does feel like he is with family when he's there. They have also helped us navigate trickier parts of raising a toddler so that we can best support him as he learns his way through the world. I can't thank the team enough for everything and I recommend Acorn Emberton in a heartbeat to anyone needing childcare.

Reply from Amy Moulton, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

Thank you so much for your kind words. It is lovely to hear that what we are implementing has been recognised by you and your child.


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Review from P M (Father of Child) published on 22 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending Acorn Nursery for just over a year now and she absolutely loves it there, she has learnt so much from being there and surprises us everyday by what she has learnt!
The team are very nurturing and caring, and always welcomes us with a friendly approach. Always putting
the children and their needs first!
Everything that my child does is logged and tracked using an app which they also log her learning journey and photos on which we can see at the end of the day, it’s lovely to see what she’s been up to and enjoyed whilst at nursery.

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Review from Adam G (Father of Child) published on 19 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending this nursery for over a year and I cannot recommend it enough! Before starting at this nursery my daughter didn't eat any fruit or vegetables, now she eats most vegetables and some fruits, her favourite at the moment being watermelon, which is what they had for a snack
at nursery today! Everyday she wakes up asking if she is going to nursery, even on the weekends, which just goes to show how incredible they are! When my daughter arrives at nursery all the staff make an effort to say good morning to her before she goes to find her favourite grown-up for a cuddle. This nursery thrives on being outdoors in all weather, which is what I love. They have a big open field for the children to explore and when I pick her up and she is really muddy or has a wet bag full of clothes, that is when I know she had had a really good day! The staff are all welcoming and always tell me about her day when I pick her up at home time. Keep up the great job guys!

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Review from K K (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Amazing staff, very caring, friendly and communicative.
I am so happy my daughter settled very good!
They are always there to listen if we have any concerns and explain how much progress your daughter is making.
Also, their app is very good, allows the parents to see what their child ate or to see
some pictures of what they were playing that day.

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Review from Jenna-may D (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Beautiful setting, very good staff, my daughter enjoyed her time here and always came out smiling. Forest School is another great addition. Lots of play activities and dancing, messy play etc, great outdoor space and a huge field.

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Review from Vanessa L (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is an outstanding nursery.
We are so happy we decided to send our son here.
The nursery itself is in a beautiful location. The setting has a real emphasis on natural resources as well as outdoor play with its forest school.
The staff are nurturing, kind and highly experienced. It is very obvious
they enjoy being with the children and their careers in childcare.
The manager is highly engaged within rooms and the children - I really feel this has a positive influence in the nursery.
We receive regular photos, videos and updates on our son’s development. They also track his day on the app (when his nappy changes are, what he eats etc).
He adores his key worker and the other staff.
He eats so well at nursery, and the food smells delicious.
We thoroughly recommend this nursery!

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Review from C B (Mother of Child) published on 8 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Emberton Nursery was brilliant. The staff were all very caring but also imaginative and creative and helped shape activities to our son’s interests. The team encouraged the children to be outside as much as possible, which also really suited our son - and helped burn off lots of energy! I highly
recommend it!

Reply from Kirby Green, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

Thank you so much for your kind review. We hope you and the family are doing well.


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Review from C P (Father of Child) published on 4 December 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending the nursery for almost a year now. She absolutely loves being outdoors, and the Emberton Nursery has the most wonderful outside spaces. Im also a fan of the level of independence my daughter is given; it gives me hope she will be more than capable when it comes to school.
They always seem to be doing lots of fun and different activities, e.g. police officer visits and going on walks outside of the nursery, to name the most recent. The staff are amazing, and my daughter loves going in each day. Highly recommend!

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Review from Natalie W (Mother of Child) published on 7 August 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has attended Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) since April and we have been very impressed with the nursery. The settling-in process was well organised and worked well. The staff are all very caring towards our child and she seems to have a lovely time whilst there.
They serve nutritious meals and snacks which is important to us. The children spend a lot of time outside playing getting fresh air and have lots of activities and toys to choose from. We would not hesitate to recommend Acorn Day Nursery to any parent looking for a nursery setting for their little one.

Reply from Kirby Green, Manager at Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

Thank you for your kind words Natalie, it has been a pleasure having you and the family as part of our nursery.


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Review from Amy B (Mother of Child) published on 24 May 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

From the first moment we visited the nursery back in November last year we were made to feel so welcome and part of the family. The settling-in sessions were fantastic and my son felt so at home straight away. Now six months later he still loves going in, he has built strong bonds with all the staff
who make him feel happy and safe and cared for everyday.
The staff go above and beyond to make fun and varied activities every day and I know my son has a great time whilst learning through play. He’s also a big fan of the food which is healthy and nourishing.
I particularly love the emphasis on the outdoors and nature, all the natural materials and bringing nature inside, I think it’s so important for children to appreciate and understand the natural world around them.
I couldn’t be happier with the nursery and the staff and leaving my little one for the day I know he’s going to have a lovely time.

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Review from R O (Mother of Child) published on 8 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

As a new nursery, Emberton continues to go from strength to strength delivering outstanding childcare for my little boy. From day one we have always felt like part of a family at Emberton, with easy drop-offs and friendly collections.
The team are fantastic in their approach to child care, and the
fun never stops for the children.
Due to the size of the nursery, everything feels like a personal experience for your child rather than a number or name in a larger setting. Plus the countryside setting and focus on nature is also such a great part of the Acorn ethos, teaching an appreciation for the outdoors from an early age. I can't recommend Acorn Emberton enough!

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Review from Rachel F (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

What an amazing nursery Acorn Day Nursery Emberton is! Before my son started at Emberton, he was at home with me. We came for a visit to the nursery, and he felt so comfortable straight away! All the staff were welcoming, calming and positive. They made us feel excited and relaxed about my son starting
nursery. When my son started at the nursery and was settling in, the staff went above and beyond to make sure he was happy, comfortable and settled. He loves going to nursery and will regularly ask to go to nursery on our days off! My 2-year-old son's development has progressed so much since starting at Acorn Day Nursery Emberton. He is trying to talk in small sentences and is counting and identifying colours. Having a child born during the Covid lockdown, he has developed great social development skills. The staff are informative and supportive, making sure they keep us updated regularly and will adapt to the needs of my son without any hesitation.

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Review from M N (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Acorns Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre, Emberton, go above and beyond to make my child feel safe and happy, she's gaining more and more confidence since attending the setting, when children are poorly they check in to make sure they're okay, I cannot fault this nursery so far. The staff
are fun, exciting and engaging in all elements. Couldn't recommend this setting enough!

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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.974)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.974) out of 10 for Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 13 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 13 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 4.974 for Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) is calculated as follows: ( (153 Excellents x 5) + (2 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 156 Ratings = 4.974

  • 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 and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) is based on 13 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 57 number of registered child places is 11.4, which has been reached with 13 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.

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Awards / Recognitions (13)

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Meet the Team (3)

Amy

Amy Moulton

Job Title: Manager

Joined: 2025

Manager -Amy has 19 years of experience in early childhood education and brings passion, dedication, and a wealth of knowledge to her role. Amy takes pride in creating a nurturing, stimulating, and safe environment where children can thrive and has an approachable nature, creative flair, and commitment to supporting both children and staff.
Amy loves building strong relationships with families and making every day an opportunity for growth, discovery, and fun.


Emma

Emma Jones

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2019

Deputy Manager - Emberton
Emma is the Deputy Manager of the Emberton Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre. Emma started with Acorn in 2019 and in that time she has achieved her level 3 Forest School Lead qualification and been part of the team to open two nurseries, most recently Emberton itself.


Paula

Paula Zaremba

Job Title: Administrator

Joined: 2025

Paula joined the Acorn team in 2024.


Frequently Asked Questions about Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton)

What is the Age Range of Children that Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) accepts?

Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) accepts Children aged from 0 years 4 months to 4 years 11 months.

What Days & Hours is Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) Open?

Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) is open: Monday 07:30-15:00, Tuesday 09:00-15:00, Wednesday 09:00-15:00, Thursday 09:00-15:00, Friday 09:00-15:00.

How many Children does Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) have capacity for?

Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) has capacity for a total of 57 Children.

How far is Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) to the centre of Olney?

1.1 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 and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Acorn Day Nursery and Outdoor Learning Centre (Emberton) has a Platinum Service – more info.