Little Acorns @ Our Lady & St Oswalds
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Oswestry for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:00, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2003, with 24 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
What childcare usually costs in Shropshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Shropshire 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
SY11 2TGWhat 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 happy to arrive at this calm and welcoming setting. Staff know the children well and greet them with a smile. For children who may need extra support leaving parents and carers, staff offer extra reassurance and cuddles. The bonds staff have with children ensures they soon settle and are ready to enjoy their day. Children show confidence to choose from a varied range of resources that cover all the areas of learning. They move freely between the indoor and outdoor areas and quickly engage in their play. Staff encourage children's independence throughout the day. For example, children put on their own coats to go outside. At snack time, they peel their own bananas and pour their own drinks.
Children are polite and behave well. They learn to respect each other and the resources they use. Staff are good role models. Children learn to take turns and share. They follow instructions well and are keen to help. For example, they help to set up the junk modelling and then tidy away afterwards. Staff remind children of the rules. They encourage and praise the children constantly throughout the day.
This helps to support children's self-esteem and emotional development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- focus even more closely on children's individual next steps in learning to help them make even better progress n provide even more support for children to build on their increasing vocabulary and language skills.
- 5 October 2022Good
- 23 November 2016Good
- 11 September 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Acorns @ Our Lady & St Oswalds
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- 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.