A fabulous new Ofsted report is out for Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. Published on 30 September 2025, it follows an inspection earlier that month. Parents and local families will be delighted to learn that, once again, Little Acorns Nursery was rated as ‘Good’ across all categories. That’s a high rating for overall effectiveness, the quality of education, the behaviour and attitudes of those attending, the personal development of staff, and the quality of leadership and management at the setting. A clean sweep! It’s news that will instil confidence in families that are considering enrolling a child at the nursery, and a clear demonstration that little ones who attend will benefit enormously — and be kept safe.
“What is it like to attend this early years setting?”
“The provision is good” — Ofsted.
Overall effectiveness: Good- The quality of education: Good
- Behaviour and attitudes: Good
- Personal development: Good
- Leadership and management: Good
Overall effectiveness: GoodLet’s take a look at some of the positive findings and encouraging comments from the Ofsted Inspector who prepared this latest report.
Children Feel Happy, Settled,
Safe & Secure at the NurseryThe Ofsted Inspector could clearly see that children at Little Acorns are happy and feel at home at the nursery:
“Children are happy and settled at the nursery… Staff help children to learn important language, such as to describe their feelings. This helps children to feel safe and secure at the nursery.” — Ofsted.
She later also remarked that staff “are responsive to children’s needs, feelings and moods” and “encourage children to express and say what they feel,” later concluding in the report that “Children’s well-being is supported effectively.”
A Positive Attitude to Learning
As the Ofsted Inspector said in her report, “Children make good progress in their learning of the nursery’s curriculum”, and she recognised the positive approach to children’s learning at the setting:
“Leaders are ambitious for children’s learning and development. They are clear about the knowledge that they want children to learn and why.” — Ofsted.
And, with that in mind, it was clear to the Inspector that children’s learning and development are nurtured well by thoughtful and attentive staff:
“Staff know the children well. They provide meaningful learning opportunities that build on children’s interests effectively… Children demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning.” — Ofsted.
Children’s Personal Development is Promoted Well
Ofsted’s report also points out that children’s personal development is nurtured very effectively, resulting in them becoming independent and “confident in their own abilities.”
“Leaders make certain that staff promote children’s personal development well. Children benefit from the many opportunities that staff provide to help them to become independent.” — Ofsted.
Help Making Friends
The Ofsted Inspector also recognised the nursery’s positive role in helping babies and children socialise and make friends:
“They develop important knowledge about how to make friends because of staff’s skilful help. Babies show curiosity and are inquisitive about others. Older children are confident when meeting new people.” — Ofsted.
Help Developing Physical Skills
The way the nursery and its practitioners help children develop physical skills was also picked up in the latest Ofsted report. The Inspector sang the praises of the ‘thoughtful’ early years practitioners and the appropriateness of equipment:
“The nursery provides plenty of opportunities for children to develop essential physical skills. For example, staff working with babies provide climbing equipment, such as low-level steps, for babies to explore how they can move their bodies. Staff working with older children provide them with access to large equipment, such as the outdoor slide and wheeled ride-on toys. Children delight in testing out how strong they have become because of the thoughtful help of the nursery.” — Ofsted.
Strong Safeguarding at the Nursery
Ofsted’s inspector applauded the nursery’s “effective” safeguarding arrangements:
“There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first.” — Ofsted.
She also recognised recent safeguarding enhancements. With regard to possible allergens, for example, she remarked:
“The provider ensures that known allergies for children are identified, understood and managed well… It is now a nut-free nursery. Staff have attended relevant training and leaders have strengthened risk assessments.” — Ofsted.
And, with regard to security, she noted the excellent measures in place:
“The provider ensures that the premises are safe and secure […] additional locks and entrance bells have been added to the nursery’s external gate. Staff understand their responsibility to ensure that external doors are locked and that they adhere to the nursery’s risk assessments. Leaders ensure that children are adequately supervised. This ensures the safety of children.” — Ofsted.
Little Acorns Nursery: a High-Quality Childcare Service in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley
As the latest Ofsted report testifies, Little Acorns Nursery is a great choice if you’re looking for a high-quality childcare service in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. We’re open virtually all year round, support funded childcare places for children aged 9 months to 4 years (inclusive), and give under-fives the best start in life. Contact us today to arrange a guided visit to the nursery, ask any questions, or enrol your child for a nursery place. We can’t wait to meet you!
Little Acorns is an award-winning nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley, Central Lancashire, and may also represent a convenient choice for families living nearby in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.
One of the key tasks all tots must face, in tandem with parents, is potty training. It’s something we all had to master as toddlers and therefore we know it’s 100% achievable — despite it sometimes seeming to be rather a challenge. Achieving success, though, will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child’s care. Learning to master the use of the potty and later the toilet will also be a major boost to self-confidence and independence when the child is at nursery, preschool, and later school. With that in mind, today’s guide outlines our top tips for successful potty training.
Children become ready for potty training at different times — every child is different in that respect, with some starting as early as 18 months and others not training until the age of 3. That said, the majority of little ones begin potty training between the ages of 2 and 3. There are some signs to look out for that will help parents decide when the time is right and we’ll look at those below.
Ensuring children understand the language around toileting is helpful, of course. So, it’s healthy to help children learn the various terms involved, whether talking about a potty, wee-wees, or anything else. Learning appropriate words will empower children to ask for what they need, at appropriate times.
Potties with designs that are attractive to toddlers e.g. dinosaurs, licensed TV characters etc.
Only start potty training when your child shows signs that they’re ready. (See the When Should You Begin Potty Training? section above for details).
As we discussed in our recent post 
Designate an area in your home for play. It doesn’t need to be elaborate — even a corner with a few age-appropriate toys, books, and art supplies may be sufficient. Ensure, of course, that the space is safe and free from hazards before your child embarks on their play activities.
Outdoor play also offers a wealth of learning opportunities. It promotes physical health, stimulates the senses, and allows for unstructured exploration, which all contribute to holistic development. Take your child to the park, explore nature, or simply play with them in the back garden if you have one. Outdoor activities will also foster an appreciation for the natural world. Indeed, we wrote a whole post about 
Reading is a wonderful way to support learning through play. Choose age-appropriate books, of course, and be sure to engage in interactive storytelling. Ask and encourage questions about the story, encourage your child to predict what might happen next, and ask them what they might do if it were them in the story. Books and reading teach children so many things and, like pretend play above, truly encourage their imaginations and get their creative juices flowing. 
Arrange play dates with other children or involve siblings in play activities at home. Social play helps children learn essential social skills like cooperation, sharing, and conflict resolution. It’s also a great way to make new friendships, learn from each other, and become a closer member of friendship circles.
In the world of child development and early education, there is a simple yet profound truth: children learn best when they are learning through play. Play is the universal language of childhood and, indeed, it transcends both borders and cultures. Whether it’s building sand castles on a sunny beach or arranging blocks on the floor at home, play is the gateway through which children explore, discover, and grow.
As adults, we often associate learning with classrooms, textbooks, and structured lessons. However, for children, the process of learning is a dynamic and ever-evolving adventure, with play being their very best companion during the journey.
Do babies benefit from play? Absolutely. Play is the first way through which infants start understanding their world. They use their senses to explore toys, grasp objects, and make sense of the environment around them. Sensory play, such as touching different textures or listening to soothing sounds, stimulates their developing senses and lays the groundwork for future learning.
During the run-up to the age of 5, play is integral to children’s development. During this phase, children are like little sponges, soaking up information from their surroundings. Play allows them to experiment, make connections, and refine their cognitive and many other skills. Skills enhanced through play include:
Creating playful environments — we understand the importance of a conducive environment for learning through play. With that in mind, we provide carefully designed play spaces that are rich in stimulating materials and resources. These spaces allow children to engage in various types of play, from imaginative to sensory, in a safe and supportive setting.
As promised in our recent 
Microgreens, also known as micro leaves, are the young shoots of growing plants that are edible. Examples include the seedlings of herbs like basil and coriander, red cabbage micro leaves and the shoots from root vegetables like beetroot. When growing, the seedlings form a thick and rich ‘carpet’ of shoots that, when ready, can be snipped off en masse and used in meals as salads or garnishes. What’s more, they’re delicious, highly nutritious and make meals look amazing. The entire activity can also be accomplished indoors in any home. You do not need to have a garden because a well-lit windowsill or counter top will more than suffice.
Microgreen seeds. These are available inexpensively online or at places like garden centres and even some supermarkets. You can buy microgreen mixed seeds or choose seeds for rocket, beetroot, spinach, red cabbage, fennel, broccoli, radish or mustard. Each has a distinctive look, when growing, and flavour, when eaten. Read the packets for more detail or just have fun and experiment!
Different microgreen seeds grow at different rates but usually a dense carpet of growing shoots and tiny leaves will cover the trays or pots within one or two weeks. Generally speaking, when you can see small, immature leaves at the top of shoots about 1 to 1¼ inches tall, they are about ready to be harvested. For young children in particular, snipping them off is best done by parents, to avoid injury. The carpet of microgreens can be snipped off, using scissors, low down near where the shoots begin. It’s best to snip them off rather than to pull them up by the roots because then they have the chance to regrow and give you/your child a second crop later on. The microgreens can then be washed in a fine colander, under a cold tap, to remove any remnants of soil.
Your child can then continue the fun by helping with meal preparation (with adult supervision for safety). Microgreens make wonderful garnishes, are lovely in salads and sandwiches and can also be added to things like soup, risotto, pasta, baked potatoes and burgers. They are incredibly attractive to look at, jazzing up any meal and also giving children extra nutrients to consume. They are also a great way to encourage children to try new tastes and food textures.
