Acorn Nursery
Good★ 3.5 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in London for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2022. Open since 2010, with 24 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 Merton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Merton 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
SW19 3QBWhat 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.
Ofsted inspector, 5 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are extremely happy in this nurturing, inclusive environment. Staff work as a team to carefully plan sessions for children. They use daily observations to ensure activities meet the needs of all children, allowing them to become confident and independent learners. Targeted interventions are in place to support children's language and social and emotional development, ensuring all children make good progress.
The key-person system is highly effective, and children quickly form secure bonds with staff. Staff sing to children, follow their interests and work closely with parents. This helps children feel safe and secure. Parents receive daily communication from staff and feel fully involved in their children's learning. Parents know their children's targets and are given ideas as to how to help at home.
Parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities feel particularly supported with the area of speech and language development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- further promote the development of independence around mealtimes n further support staff in planning activities with age-appropriate pace to ensure all children can access the learning.
- 5 October 2022Good
- 7 December 2016Good
- 19 October 2012Good
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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.