Acornwood Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Farnborough for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2025. Open since 2000, 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 Hampshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hampshire 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
GU14 0NAWhat 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.
- 16 December 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 7 July 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their time at the pre-school. They build strong bonds with the nurturing and supportive staff. Where children need extra help with settling into morning routines, staff offer reassurance to help less confident children. They recognise and respond to the differing needs of children well. Children quickly immerse themselves in self-chosen play, as staff create a welcoming environment.
Staff are positive role models and have high expectations for children's behaviour.
Children listen to staff and respond to their requests, such as tidying up toys before mealtimes.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- extend opportunities for children to learn to resolve conflicts for themselves to broaden their social skills n continue to embed the curriculum to have a focus on clearer learning intentions, particularly around mathematics n provide further opportunities for children to learn about equality, diversity and inclusion so that children know what makes them unique.
- 7 July 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 26 March 2025Inadequate Safeguarding: No
- 11 July 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Acornwood Pre-School
- 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.