Acorn Under Fives (Birstall)
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Leicester for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 1983, with 26 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 Leicestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Leicestershire 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
LE4 3DLWhat 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, 19 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are supported to gain the skills that they need for moving on to the next stages of their education, and beyond. They develop their creativity and ability to express themselves through art as they paint using their hands. Children go on to independently wash their hands after this activity, showing that they are learning to take care of themselves. Children develop their physical skills as they confidently explore the exciting garden, which staff have thoughtfully designed in a way that promotes their safety and learning. They build strong relationships with friends using a see-saw, where turn taking and playing with another child is essential.
Children engage in conversations as they invite friends into their game saying,
'Would you like to play on the seesaw with me?'
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to develop children's sense of responsibility by consistently reinforcing messages about taking care of their learning environment n help staff to identify when they can develop children's understanding further around playing in a safe way.
- 19 May 2022Good
- 27 October 2015Outstanding
- 3 November 2009Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Acorn Under Fives (Birstall)
- 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.