Little Acorns
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Chatham for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2023. Open since 2000, with 16 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 Medway
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Medway 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
ME5 0QSWhat 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.
- 18 December 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 26 April 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children are very happy, settled and confident at the setting. They have a positive attitude towards learning and staff implement the curriculum well. Children enjoy learning through interesting experiences. For example, children are excited about a story about a stick. They go on to collect sticks and make their own version of the main character in the story. Children are independent. For instance, they confidently choose their own play, initiate games, and complete tasks such as putting on their wellington boots. Children are creative. They learn and explore how to make patterns with paint and vegetables, such as asparagus.
Staff are positive role models and children are polite and behave well. Children are kind and caring. For instance, when children look a little nervous to balance along play equipment, other children gently take their hand and kindly help them across.
Children learn about the benefits of healthy lifestyles. They choose whether to engage in exercise and active play or enjoy rest and quieter activities. All children develop good physical abilities, and staff help teach them the different ways they can move their body. For example, they enjoy regular yoga sessions.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the already good partnerships with parents to help them fully understand their children's next steps in learning and how to support these at home n support staff to understand how to further extend children's knowledge and understanding of people outside of their communities and experiences.
- 26 April 2023Good
- 11 October 2017Good
- 20 October 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Acorns
- 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.