Acorn Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Brighton for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in December 2023. Open since 2006, with 60 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Brighton and Hove
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Brighton and Hove from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BN41 2PYWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 29 June 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 18 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children blossom and thrive at this exemplary nursery. Passionate staff individually greet children as they arrive. Staff thoughtfully plan an array of rich experiences, which they skilfully intertwine with children's individual curiosities and fascinations.
As such, children quickly immerse themselves in play, confidently seeking out friends to share experiences with. Staff recognise the importance of children's communication skills. Interactions all children receive from staff are plentiful and of exceptionally high quality. Children delight in their own communication in a variety of ways. Babies bounce rhythmically in enjoyment as they join in with familiar songs. Older children delight in their own back-and-forth conversations, sharing their ideas and thoughts. The highly skilled staff recognise the importance of these moments and take time to extend and build on each child's experiences.
Staff are dedicated to delivering tailored care and learning, recognising the uniqueness of every child. Staff are highly responsive to children's needs, considering their personalities, life experiences and home routines. They interact with children sensitively, nurturing children's self-esteem. As a result, children demonstrate they feel safe and secure, flourishing in self-confidence, determination, and resilience.
- 18 December 2023Outstanding
- 16 May 2018Good
- 23 October 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Acorn Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.