Tag Archive for: preschool

Primary School Offers Day – a Guide & Options for Parents

Primary School Offers Day – a Guide & Options for Parents

Most families find out if children have received an offer for their preferred primary school in mid-April.When April is on the horizon, there is a buzz amongst parents whose children will receive school offers that month. It’s quite a milestone in the lives of families as it’s the time they’ll find out if their children have received an offer for their top school choice. If not, will they be offered another “preferred” school listed lower on their application? It will often have felt like a long wait to find out the results, too, with families having applied in mid-January or potentially months earlier. Because we are an early years nursery, today’s guide focuses on primary school offers. We’ll explain in detail when to expect your child’s primary school offer, criteria that may have affected it, and your options if you’re not happy with the school place offered. To keep things as simple as possible, we’ll concentrate on applications for a standard school start date in the September term (rules and dates for ‘in-year’ applications are slightly different). If your child is due to start primary school this year, take a look.

School Place Statistics

The good news is that nearly all primary school applications result in an offer for one of the ‘preferred’ schools as listed in your original application. Indeed, the results from 2024 for the 2024/25 academic year showed some encouraging statistics:

  • 93.2% of children achieved an offer for their topmost preferred primary school.
  • 98.6% achieved an offer for one of their top 3 preferred schools.
  • 98.8% achieved an offer for one of their preferred schools (applicants can list from 3 to 6 or so schools, depending on the local authority).
  • Only 1.12% did not achieve an offer for any of their preferred primary schools.

The percentages shown above were for the 555,600 primary school applications received for the 2024/25 academic year.

When is Primary School Offers Day?

Primary school offers for children starting in the September term, whose applications were submitted by the mid-January deadline, start to arrive with parents on the 16th of April. (Secondary school placement offers arrive a little earlier, on or soon after the 1st of April).

What If You Don’t Receive Your Child’s Offer on the 16th?

If you don’t receive your child’s primary school offer on the 16th of April, it could be for a number of reasons. These include:

  • Families have a number of options if they don't receive the primary school offer they had hoped for.The 16th of April arrived on a weekend or public holiday that year. If so, offers will usually start to arrive on the next working weekday.
  • You applied ‘in year’ i.e. outside the usual timing for a school start date (usually the beginning of the September term). For example, families who move house often fall into this category as their child then needs to move school perhaps mid-year and/or mid-term.
  • Your application was late or was submitted, for some reason, after the mid-January deadline. School places are prioritised for those who submit on time, i.e. by the standard mid-January deadline.
  • You changed your mind after submitting the standard form and were then required to use a ‘late application form’ to submit your revised choices.
  • You applied by post rather than submitting electronically. Postal results are sent by second-class post, so are likely to arrive two or more days after emailed offers.
  • You did not include a valid email address on your application form.

So, to ensure you receive your child’s primary school offer as early as possible, submit your application online and on time (by the mid-January deadline) and include a valid email address as part of that application. Those without them, or who submitted by post, may have to wait a few extra hours or days to receive their offers.

That said, some local authorities allow parents/carers to log into their admissions portal to view school offers online.

Accepting an Offer

Important: If you’d like to accept the school offered to your child, there is a deadline for that too. If you miss it, the school place you were offered may be offered to someone else, for example, someone on a waiting list or who submitted their application late. The deadline may vary from location to location. So, it’s important to read your offer closely as that communication will confirm the deadline for you to accept your offer. That’s all the more important for oversubscribed primary schools, which may have a queue of people ready and waiting for a place.

Rejecting an Offer

You also have the right to reject an offer, of course. However, that may not be the most sensible option as it could then leave your child with no school offer at all. Acceptance of any offer given may be the best option, so your child has a primary school place to fall back on, in tandem with an appeal, which we’ll come to next.

Appealing

Families can appeal if they’re not happy with an offer, for example, if the child was not offered a school on their preferred list, or if the one offered was lower down on their preferences. You may be required to submit evidence to support the reasons for your appeal, which also has a deadline. Once submitted, the appeal hearing must be held within 40 school days of that deadline. You usually receive a decision within 5 school days. You can appeal the decision if you have a valid complaint about the way the appeal process was carried out. Learn more about the appeals process here.

School Waiting Lists

Another option for those whose children didn’t receive the offer they’d hoped for or, in a tiny number of cases, any offer at all, is to apply to be put on a preferred school’s waiting list. It’s also an option for those who have a change of mind. For such people, it’s a good idea to register an interest with the school they’d like and contact the local authority to officially apply for that school’s waiting list. Note that they can do so even if they have received and accepted an existing offer; apparently one does not affect the other.

Criteria for Offers

It will be useful for parents to know some of the key criteria local authorities use when weighing up primary school offers. One of the foremost is your child’s proximity to the school; the closer the better. Also, if your child has an older sibling already at the school, that will be a huge benefit to your application. Your child’s faith/religion will also be a deciding factor if applying to a matching faith school. Disadvantaged children who are eligible for the Pupil Premium grant and, for families in the armed forces, those who are supported by the Service Pupil Premium (SPP) will also be looked upon favourably. Another factor that will really help children’s applications is when a parent has worked at the school in question for two or more years. However, other factors may also apply, so be sure to research the criteria for your particular local authority and specific schools that you have in your sights.

Guide to Primary School Applications

Guide to Primary School Applications

If your child has not yet applied for a primary school place and is approaching the age of 3 or 4, you may want to check out our Guide to Primary School Applications.

We wish all parents of children expecting primary school offers good fortune and hope their children are offered the places they’d hoped for. Good luck on Primary School Offers Day!

Under-5s Get School-Ready at Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyLittle Acorns Nursery is rated as a 'Good Provider' by Ofsted.At Little Acorns Nursery and preschool in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, we ensure children are given all the tools and encouragement they need to become the very best versions of themselves. With our approach as early years practitioners, they are set to thrive in every area of their learning and development. By ensuring that every child is as school-ready as possible by the time they leave us, we know they have everything they need to settle in well and hit the ground running from the moment they begin primary school. We wish our preschoolers good luck with their school offers this April, safe in the knowledge that, wherever they go, they are set for success.

Get in touch today to apply for a nursery place, arrange a visit to see the setting, or ask us a question — we’re here to help!

Little Acorns is a nursery and preschool in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley, Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham (Central Lancashire).

Children's Activity Ideas for World Wildlife Day

Children's Activity Ideas for World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day arrives in early March each year — just around the corner at the time of writing. The annual event is hugely important and very worthwhile. It is also a great opportunity to inspire children to get more interested in the natural world. By doing so, they will benefit wild animals and plants — as well as themselves through fun, learning and discovery. What’s more, many of the nature-inspired activities that we’ll suggest today are totally free.

Spending time in and around nature is incredibly good for children and World Wildlife Day offers families many opportunities to get much closer to it. As well as being great fun, such activities can open children’s eyes to humanity’s impact on the planet and help them understand the importance of looking after nature’s incredible flora and fauna. Learning about the plight of some of the Earth’s wild animals and plants will also nurture a greater respect for the natural world. It will help to encourage greener values, greater empathy, and a sense of responsibility in even the youngest children. It is also likely to instil in them a love for the great outdoors and encourage outdoor play, which is also hugely beneficial to children. With all that in mind, let’s dive into what World Wildlife Day stands for and then explore some of the children’s activities inspired by the initiative. Families right across the UK can take part, explore and discover. In so doing, they will self-improve, become more responsible citizens, and evolve into more effective stewards of this irreplaceable planet.

About World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day (‘WWD’) always arrives on the 3rd of March. In 2025, that will fall on a Monday, then in 2026 it’s a Tuesday — and so on. WWD is an initiative born in late 2013 at the United Nations General Assembly and is closely related to CITES, which is all about the conservation of endangered species of wild flora and fauna. So — it’s incredibly worthwhile and families can each play their part in raising awareness.

“UN World Wildlife Day has now become the global annual event dedicated to wild animals and plants.”

Activity Ideas for Children & Families

Children and families can get involved in World Wildlife Day in a variety of ways. For example, they can simply get out for walks in local parks and countryside to see some of nature’s flora and fauna, embark on activities to attract wildlife to their own gardens or, if the weather is inclement, get creative at home with some wildlife art. The only limit for possible wildlife-related activities is the imagination! That said, we’ve got some suggestions below to inspire families and children to get started.

Create Some Wildlife Art!

Children love creating wildlife art.Children will love creating wildlife art. Whether it’s drawing animals and plants, making a collage, or constructing an animal out of cardboard or origami, wildlife art is a wonderful way to get children involved. What’s more, they will get a sense of satisfaction from the activity and it can help them appreciate wildlife more.

TIP: Use IFAW’s International Youth Art Contest art competition as possible inspiration. Although it’s now closed in 2025 for judging in readiness for the March event, you can view some previous entries to give your child inspiration (scroll to the bottom of that linked page to see the full gallery of examples).

Another great wildlife-related art activity is to challenge children to combine 2 or more creatures, thereby creating their own, new hybrid animal. Results can be inventive, endearing, or sometimes hilarious! [Examples].

Support a Wildlife-Related Charity

An incredibly worthwhile activity that children can get involved in is fundraising for a wildlife-related charity.Another incredibly worthwhile activity that children can get involved in is fundraising for a wildlife-related charity. This can be done, for example, through a sponsored activity of some kind. That could be a sponsored walk, hop, swim, or whatever children and families choose (under supervision, of course, for the youngest). A sponsored fundraising activity will not only raise funds for a wildlife charity of choice but also spread the word. Furthermore, children will get an enormous sense of achievement at the end when their actions raise vital funds for animals or conservation. Volunteering for local wildlife charities is also hugely worthwhile, of course, but it is more suited to when children are older.

“With over 1 million species estimated to be threatened with extinction, and facing the intensifying triple planetary crisis, innovative finance for wildlife conservation is more urgent than ever.”

Storytelling With a Wildlife Theme

Little girl telling her cuddly toy a story.Challenging children to create stories involving wildlife and nature is both creative and fun! Adults/parents can lead by example, to begin with, so that the youngest children can get the idea. Whether the story involves feeding hungry squirrels in the forest, swimming with dolphins, going on an adventure in the jungle, or something entirely different, it’s sure to pique children’s interest. It will stimulate children’s imaginations and natural spirit of adventure as well as helping to raise awareness of some of the issues facing wildlife.

Challenge the Family to Live More Sustainably

Children and families can challenge themselves to live more sustainably.World Wildlife Day brings into focus the enormous challenges that affect nature’s flora and fauna. Sadly, many of those challenges are caused by humans, whether it’s due to habitat loss, global warming, or something else. By raising awareness through World Wildlife Day activities, children and families can also challenge themselves to live more sustainably. This is a whole topic in itself! However, some easy measures can be things like:

  • cutting out food containing palm oil, which is responsible for the clearance of huge swathes of forests and jungles;
  • stopping the use of harmful chemicals in the home and garden (slug killers, pesticides and weedkillers, for example);
  • eating more vegetarian and vegan food options, which is better for the environment and, of course, animals;
  • recycling more waste;
  • using more sustainable, wildlife-friendly products in the home;
  • and reducing the use of plastics.

It’s a huge topic, so some research will be needed although our examples are a great starting point and are good things to bring to children’s attention.

Visit a Local Zoo or Wildlife Sanctuary

Children can get closer to wild flora and fauna if they live near a wildlife sanctuary, zoo, or National Park.Children can also get closer to wild flora and fauna if they live near a wildlife sanctuary (or zoo) or somewhere like a national park. Nothing can really replace seeing animals and plants in real life and so it’s worth researching to find somewhere to visit close by. In Lancashire, just five miles from Little Acorns Nursery, for example, is Turbary Woods Owl & Bird of Prey Sanctuary, which is well worth a visit. There, kids can see owls, falcons, hawks and more. Visiting will support this non-profit enterprise, educate little ones and give them a wonderful day out.

Plant & Food Growing

Children can learn how to grow their own food.Teaching children how to grow their own plants and, better still, food is a wonderfully educational and fulfilling activity. As well as learning to appreciate wild plants growing in parks and the countryside, learning how to grow their own, at home, is also great fun. Luckily, we have a whole blog post dedicated to Food Growing for Kids, so do take a look.

Take Children on a Nature Scavenger Hunt!

Nature scavenger hunts are fun and educational.A nature scavenger hunt is also great fun and is sure to get children interested in nature, wildlife, and the outdoors. The activity involves looking out for specific natural things, for example, a pine cone, a robin, a squirrel’s drey (i.e. nest), a winged seed, or animal tracks. It will also give children exercise and get them closer to nature in a fun, engaging activity. To make it easier, check out our free Nature Hunt activity reference sheets; our Winter Nature Hunt activity is here and, for later in the year, our Autumn Nature Hunt can be found here. We’ll be adding more to that series in due course.

Animal & Bird Spotting

Encouraging children to look for different types of animals, birds, and insects is a wonderful way to get them interested in nature.Encouraging (and supervising, where appropriate) an activity where children try to see different types of animals, birds, and insects is also a wonderful way to get them interested in nature. To make it easier, we have published some free, downloadable reference sheets, which also double as posters, for families to use during this activity. These include one for British birds, another for British land mammals, one for British butterflies, and one for minibeasts that children are likely to find in gardens and compost heaps.

Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden

Making simple bird feeders is one of several ways children can encourage wildlife to gardens.If children like the idea of attracting birds and other wildlife to their own garden, there are many easy ways to make this possible. As well as putting out suitable food to attract birds, children can help make a quiet, wild area with a compost heap to attract minibeasts. There are so many ways to attract wildlife so, to get you started, check out our wildlife-friendly flower-growing activity here, our make-your-own bird feeders activity and then be sure to read our guide to bird feeding for under-fives. And don’t forget — ditch the harmful chemicals like weedkillers, pesticides, slug and snail killers. After all, if a bird or animal eats something affected, it will also then be in danger from such poisons — and beautiful pollinators like bees and butterflies are being decimated by pesticides. Our children are tomorrow’s stewards of the planet, so it’s important to educate them to form good habits and show empathy towards wildlife.

These are Learning Opportunities

As a parent, you’ll notice that these activities are learning opportunities for children and also include many teachable moments. Through such activities, children will begin to understand the impact that they have on other living things around them and the environment as a whole. They can then adopt greener values, improve feelings of empathy, and understand how to be more responsible citizens. In short, they can self-improve while making the world a better place. Such is the power of the opportunity that World Wildlife Day offers to families who celebrate it. Enjoy!

A Childcare Place at Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods

Weekday Childcare for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers Near Chorley

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Little Acorns Nursery is rated as a 'Good Provider' by Ofsted.The staff at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods hope that families enjoy today’s post and the activities suggested therein. We know how important nature is to children and, indeed, have our own gardens where children can connect with nature and enjoy the freedom of outdoor activities.

If you’d like to consider a possible nursery place for your baby or child at Little Acorns, please get in touch using one of the options below. We support many of the government’s childcare funding schemes including free childcare for eligible babies from 9 months of age. As well as being a nursery and preschool for families in Clayton-le-Woods and Chorley, we may also suit those nearby in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland and Penwortham.

Get in touch today:

Children Get Ready for National Storytelling Week!

Children Get Ready for National Storytelling Week!

National Storytelling Week for 2025 begins on Saturday the 1st of February and ends on Sunday the 9th.With the start of the new year now behind us, it’s time for children to get ready to take part in National Storytelling Week. This year it begins on Saturday the 1st of February and ends on Sunday the 9th. It’s a wonderful initiative that brings children and families together to use their imaginations, get creative, and entertain one another. What better time of the year to do that than during mid-winter? National Storytelling Week is perfectly timed to be a fabulous antidote to cold, blustery, winter days and is a wonderful way for children to escape through the power of the mind.

National Storytelling Week

Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th February 2025

This year’s theme, as set by the National Literacy Trust, is Reimagine your world. It’s an open-ended theme that will allow children of all ages the freedom to create stories in an unconstrained way. With so many possibilities available to them, they can stretch their imaginations and get their creative juices flowing. They can choose to imagine anything from small, subtle changes to the world they live in, right through to worlds that are completely transformed from the reality that they’re familiar with. Imaginations can run riot and the possibilities are infinite!

Great Reasons for Children to Get Involved

Storytelling is hugely powerful and benefits children in a myriad of ways.Whether listening to another’s story or creating it themselves, storytelling is a fun activity for children and adults alike. In either case, imagination is a powerful thing that will allow children to immerse themselves in new worlds, new situations, and new adventures. What’s more, it can even allow them to temporarily become someone or something else. That’s hugely powerful!

Storytelling is incredibly beneficial to children:

  • Storytelling stretches children’s imaginations, allowing them to see new possibilities that might otherwise never have occurred to them.
  • It boosts children’s creativity and critical thinking skills.
  • It enhances literacy skills including speaking, listening, reading, and writing, including vocabulary.
  • Through all of the above, storytelling helps to improve children’s communication skills.
  • It teaches them about the world and helps them to make sense of it.
  • It encourages empathy by allowing them to step into the shoes of another person, animal, or thing.
  • Storytelling helps children relax, enjoy quality time, and escape from their usual life for a while — great if they’ve had a challenging day or week.
  • Storytelling is a wonderful vehicle via which children can express themselves, feel seen, and feel heard.
  • It is also a superb way for children to learn about topics they might otherwise have not experienced.
  • It opens their eyes to possible careers in the creative industries, for example, writing for fiction/non-fiction books, the media, journalism, copywriting, blogging, travel writing, etc.
  • Storytelling is free — and huge fun!

Such benefits will help children during childhood as well as when they’re older — potentially even enhancing their careers.

Starting Points & Storylines

With a theme as open-ended as reimagining their world, children have free reign to come up with all kinds of storylines and scenarios.With a theme as open-ended as reimagining their world, children have free reign to come up with all kinds of storylines and scenarios. When it comes to creating stories the world is, as they say, their oyster and it’s only limited by their imaginations. They could perhaps come up with some kind of fantasy with colourful landscapes, magic, and weird, wonderful creatures. Or perhaps the story revolves around a futuristic city where travel by hoverboard is the norm. Or maybe the storyline is something more simple and subtle that’s not so different to reality. It’s entirely their choice and, for supervising adults and parents, it’ll certainly be interesting to see what they create.

“The most extraordinary story can come from the most ordinary place: it just needs someone to find it.” — The Literacy Trust.

Tips for Storytelling Success

  • A well set up storytelling corner or nook will encourage children to regularly read, tell stories, get creative, and spend quality time.First-time storytellers may better grasp the idea if an adult/parent first tells a story as an example. This will help them see what’s possible — and indeed show that anything is possible.
  • New storytellers may also find it easier, initially, to base their story on an existing one that they’ve perhaps seen on TV or read about. Once they get the hang of it, they can adapt more and branch out into new, unique, stories created from scratch.
  • Encourage interaction. Creativity will be boundless, fun, and insightful if listening children can ask questions of the storyteller or even suggest plot twists and storylines.
  • Children can brainstorm ideas, whether individually, with parents/carers, or in friendship groups.
  • One child could start the story and the next child could add to it as a way of allowing the story to unfold in unexpected ways. In this way, the story could gradually build up through team effort.
  • Props really bring stories to life — for example hand puppets or using cuddly toys as placeholders for characters in the story. Children will love this!
  • Encourage the use of different voices and even accents for different characters in the story. This makes the story more realistic and immersive.
  • Different volumes and reading paces bring stories to life too. Examples include whispering to build suspense, speaking faster when the story gets more frantic, using a louder voice when a character needs to be more animated, altering one’s spoken cadence, and so on.
  • A scrapbook of storytelling ideas can be useful. Perhaps clip images from magazines or from print-outs to stick into the scrapbook as a possible reference to spark ideas. It’s a great way of getting children going on the storytelling path.
  • Set your child up a storytelling and reading corner somewhere in the home. This could be somewhere in a quiet corner, alcove, or nook, away from noisy areas or main thoroughfares. Children will also love it being inside something like a tent or teepee. And, when age/safety appropriate, it could include cushions, soft toys and blankets scattered around to make it cosy and even inspiring. A storytelling corner or nook will encourage children to regularly visit the area to read, tell stories, get creative, and spend quality time.

So families, grab this opportunity to bring some magic and creativity to the otherwise cold, wintery days that can otherwise feel so limiting for children. They will enjoy the escapism, the adventure, the possibilities and the entertainment that storytelling brings. And, when they have been active participants, they’ll feel empowered by the discovery of creative skills they may not have realised they even had. Storytelling is immersive and magical for both speaker and listener and is beneficial in so many ways. So, make the most of National Storytelling Week this year and get children involved. Watch as they realise the endless possibilities that await them. Then, if it’s successful as surely it will be, consider extending storytelling to the whole year!

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyLittle Acorns Nursery is rated as a 'Good Provider' by Ofsted.We love storytelling with the children at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods! We know how valuable it is to their development, knowledge, and abilities, and how it boosts key EYFS areas of learning. Communication and language, literacy, expressive arts and design are just some examples of this. With that in mind, we ensure every child is nurtured, encouraged, and given every opportunity to garner a complete range of skills that will stand them in great stead as they grow older. And, when the time comes to leave us to begin school, they will have all the tools and abilities they’ll need to thrive independently and with confidence.

Get in touch today to request a guided tour of the nursery, ask any questions, or begin an application for a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns:

Little Acorns is a perfect choice for those seeking high-quality nurseries and preschools in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. We are also convenient for children living in nearby towns and villages. These include Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.

 

Glowing Ofsted Feedback for Little Acorns Nursery, Chorley

Glowing Ofsted Feedback for Little Acorns Nursery, Chorley

Our post today spotlights some of the many glowing comments made by the Ofsted inspector following her recent visit.Today we look at the wonderful Ofsted report published recently for Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. Ofsted is The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Their inspector visited this fabulous Lancashire childcare setting in late August and released its official report a month later on 25 September 2024. Our post today spotlights some of the many glowing comments made by the inspector therein, following her visit. It also highlights the reasoning for ‘good provider’ ratings across all areas of the Ofsted report. Take a look and you’ll see why babies, children under five, and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities absolutely thrive at Little Acorns.

How Does Ofsted Rate Little Acorns Nursery, Chorley?

It’s a clean sweep across all sectors of the Ofsted report:

“The provision is good” — Ofsted

  • Ofsted report for Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, LancashireOverall effectiveness: Good
  • The quality of education: Good
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Good
  • Personal development: Good
  • Leadership and management: Good

Let’s look at some of the wonderful comments made by the Ofsted inspector in her latest report for the setting:

  • Children are Happy at Little Acorns Nursery

    It’s great to see that the Ofsted inspector picked up on just how happy children are at Little Acorns Nursery, Chorley:

    “Children are welcomed warmly by the friendly staff. They arrive happily and are excited to spend time with staff and their peers.” — Ofsted

  • Little Acorns Children are Confident

    We also do everything we can to ensure that children feel confident and valued at Little Acorns and it’s good to see that this was also abundantly clear to the Ofsted inspector:

    “Children are confident, and those who need reassurance receive it in abundance from staff. This helps to enhance children’s self-esteem.” — Ofsted

     

  • Tailored Learning & Support for Children with Special Needs/Disabilities

    Little Acorns Nursery’s support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (‘SEND’) was particularly well regarded by the Ofsted Inspector. In her report, she commented:

    “All children, including those with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points.” — Ofsted

    And later …

    “Staff are knowledgeable about the individual needs of all children attending the nursery, including those with SEND. They ensure that, if needed, children are referred to other professionals in a timely manner. Staff work collaboratively with a range of outside agencies. This helps to ensure that the curriculum meets children’s individual needs. — Ofsted

  • Safeguarding — Child Safety at Little Acorns Nursery

    The safety and well-being of children is of paramount importance in any setting. Ofsted recognised the good safeguarding policies and measures taken at Little Acorns Nursery, where staff ensure child safety at all times, including mealtimes:

    “The arrangements for safeguarding are effective […] There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first.” — Ofsted

    “Staff notice and minimise risks to children’s health and safety in the nursery. They complete effective risk assessment and take swift action when they identify hazards. Staff show a good understanding of children’s dietary requirements and allergies. Each mealtime, staff check that children only receive food appropriate for their dietary needs.” — Ofsted

  • High-Quality Staff

    The quality of staff at childcare settings is critically important in so many ways. The Ofsted inspector’s comments demonstrate the quality and suitability of the team at Little Acorns Nursery:

    “… staff ensure the smooth running of the setting […] Children are welcomed warmly by the friendly staff.” — Ofsted

    “Staff form close bonds with children. Their nurturing interactions help children settle quickly into nursery routines.” — Ofsted

    Being a good role model to children is also hugely important, especially in the early years. Little Acorns Nursery staff were recognised in this regard as well as in respect to the high-quality curriculum that’s tailored for each child:

    “Staff are positive role models.” — Ofsted

    “Staff create an ambitious curriculum for all children.” — Ofsted

  • Good Behaviour at Little Acorns Nursery

    Nurturing good manners and appropriate behaviour amongst little ones benefits everyone including the children themselves.Any good nursery or childcare provider will ensure that children understand right from wrong and are mindful of the effect their actions have on others, including peers. Nurturing good manners and appropriate behaviour amongst little ones benefits everyone including, of course, the children themselves. Ofsted’s latest report recognised that Little Acorns is very successful in this regard:

    “Staff are positive role models. They help children learn how to share the toys and resources […] children behave well, they understand some rules such as having kind hands. ” — Ofsted

  • Good Support for Children’s Emotional Development

    Sound emotional development goes hand-in-hand with good behaviour. Staff were recognised by the Ofsted inspector for facilitating good emotional development in the children under their care:

    “Staff support children’s emotional development well. Pre-school children […] take turns to discuss what makes them feel happy and why. Children understand about different feelings and they are learning how to regulate their own emotions.” — Ofsted

  • Encouraging Creativity

    Staff provide plenty of opportunities for children to engage in a variety of activities that boost creativity, motor skills and more.Children find messy play hugely rewarding as well as being immense fun. Messy play nurtures children’s imaginations, creativity, dexterity, and self-expression and benefits them in many other ways. It is therefore a crucial part of early years learning and development — and more important than it perhaps sounds. Ofsted picked up on the quality of messy play activities at Little Acorns Nursery within its report:

    “[Staff] provide plenty of opportunities for children to engage in messy play. For example, babies splash in the raspberry filled water tray and explore the lemon and flowers inside. Pre-school children dip their fingers in paint and create their own colour monster. ” — Ofsted

    What’s more, such activities are good for their motor skills and coordination:

    “These opportunities help to develop children’s hand muscles in readiness for early writing.” — Ofsted

  • Nurturing Physical Development in Children

    Physical development is a crucially important part of a child’s early years and, as such, staff at Little Acorns Nursery are always keen to nurture it amongst children under their care:

    “Babies have plenty of space to crawl and to learn to walk. They beam with joy as they climb up the steps before coming down the indoor slide … Toddlers use spades to scoop up sand and fill their buckets. Pre-school children practise their hand eye coordination as they throw balls through hoops with staff outdoors. This helps to develop children’s larger muscle movements.” — Ofsted

  • Nurturing Independence

    Learning how to be more independent is hugely important for children, particularly in their early years. Not only does it help them learn to be more self-sufficient, but it also boosts confidence and self-esteem and helps to better prepare them for school.

    “Staff promote children’s independence well. Toddlers try to put their own superhero costumes and masks on as they dress up. Pre-school children serve their own food at mealtimes. Children are learning how to manage their own personal hygiene. These opportunities help children to feel proud of the tasks they can complete by themselves.” — Ofsted

  • Well-Promoted Communication & Language Skills

    Communication and language are two of the major keystones of child development. Without such skills, children will really struggle. It is therefore heartening to see that the Ofsted inspector recognised the successes of our approach at Little Acorns:

    “Children’s communication and language skills are promoted well.” — Ofsted

  • Good Partnerships with Parents

    Early years education is more successful when all the adults in a child’s life are pulling in the same direction. That’s why staff at Little Acorns Nursery nurture partnerships with children’s parents and it’s good to see both Ofsted and parents recognising this:

    “Overall, partnerships with parents are good. Staff work closely with parents to share updates on their child’s development using the parent app. Parents discuss the positive relationships staff have built with children.” — Ofsted

View or download the full Ofsted Report for Little Acorns Nursery here.

Little Acorns Nursery: a Good, Caring Childcare Provider in Clayton-le-Woods

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyLittle Acorns Nursery is rated as a 'Good Provider' by Ofsted.As you can see from the wonderful Ofsted comments in their latest report, Little Acorns is a high-quality nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. Children have a fabulous start at the setting, in a warm, loving, caring and nurturing environment where the best is brought out in each child in readiness for school. If this sounds like something you’d like for your baby or child under five, contact us, register for a place, or request a free guided visit today:

As an award-winning childcare provider located in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley, we may also suit those living in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, Penwortham and Central Lancashire.

Applying For a Primary School Place: a Guide for Parents (Time-Sensitive!)

Applying For a Primary School Place: a Guide for Parents (Time-Sensitive!)

If your child is 3 or has just turned 4, it’s time for you to apply for their primary school place.If your child is 3 or, at the latest, has just turned 4, it’s time for you to apply for their primary school place. What’s more, you only have until about mid-January to do so. That’s all true whether you intend them to start school at 4 or leave it until they’re 5. In today’s guide, we explain the rules around applying for a primary school place, the key dates you need to know, what to expect, and the various options open to you and your child.

When to Apply for a Primary School Place

Applications for starting at Primary School need to be made when your child is 3 or, as we said above, has just turned 4 at the very latest. When they have reached this age range, the application needs to be submitted during the period between the 1st of September of the current year and the 15th of January of the next year. So, at the time of writing (October 2024), applications are already open and parents have until 11:59 pm on the 15th of January 2025 to apply. Don’t leave it until the last minute, though, just in case there are technical issues if applying online or postal delays if using the paper version of the application form.

Legal School Age & Your Child’s Starting Options

‘Compulsory School Age’, the legal age by which children must begin school, is the 31st of December, March or August (whichever of those arrives first) after they’ve turned 5. However, starting earlier is also an option and one that is taken up by many.

Starting ‘Early’ at 4

Compulsory School Age begins on the 31st of December, March or August (whichever arrives first) after children have turned 5.Most children in England start primary or infant school earlier, in ‘Reception’ year. For most, this will be in the September term when they’re still only 4. That’s just one reason why applying for a primary school place is so important while they’re only 3 or, at the very latest, have just turned 4.

Whether a child begins school at 4 or 5 depends on several factors including the preference of the child’s parents. Some parents, particularly those with a child whose birthday falls between the 1st of April and the 31st of August (a “summer-born child”), may simply feel that their child is not ready to begin school at the age of four. If born during this date range, they would be amongst the youngest in the year. In such a scenario, parents can decide to defer the child’s start to the later, legal, age of 5 if they so wish.

Deferring Until 5

Where parents do decide to defer their child’s school start to the age of five, it’s worth noting that local admission authorities and schools can decide whether the child will begin school in Reception Year (effectively Year Zero) or Year One. This decision will need to be carefully made, taking into consideration the best interests of the child. For example, their specific needs and abilities will be a factor. Whether it’s best to begin school in Year One with contemporaries mostly of the same age or go into Reception Year with children who are mostly younger, to ensure they have the basics, will be among the various deciding factors. Learn more about deferring until five here.

Note that summer-born children deferring until the following year may be required to submit an extra application form by the same mid-January deadline.

How & Where to Apply for a Primary School Place

Make your official primary school application through your local authority. However, sometimes additional forms are required by some settings, for example, church schools.Registering an interest that you’re interested in a particular primary school is sensible and, indeed, may result in the school supplying some useful information. However, it will not guarantee your child a place even if it’s attached to their nursery or preschool. You therefore need to make your official application through your local authority, which can be identified here by entering your postcode. Once identified, navigate to their site using the green button supplied after your postcode search. For example, if you live locally to Little Acorns Nursery near Chorley, you would arrive at Lancashire County Council’s primary school portal. As that example shows, local authorities supply lots of information about applying — indeed it’s an absolute mine of information – along with a simple button or link to actually begin your application for a primary school place for your child.

You may need to quickly first register with the system if you have not used it before, or enter your User ID and password if you already completed that process. Once applying for a primary school place, you’ll need to enter the kind of information you’d expect (name, address, details about your child including their permanent address, etc.) along with confirmation of whether they will already have a sibling attending any of the schools you are applying for once they start, plus the name of their Local Care Authority if they are receiving care, and so on.

Note that you may need to submit a supplementary information form in some circumstances, for example, with some church/faith schools.

Top 5 Tips for a Successful Application

  1. Make full use of all three of your school preferences during the application process.Research your local primary schools, visit them to get a feel for them, and ask teachers and heads any questions you may have. Schools often have open days or evenings or accept appointments for these purposes.
  2. Check if any of those that you’re considering applying for are usually very oversubscribed before submitting your application. Doing so will help to ensure that you submit choices that are more likely to succeed. You can usually contact your local authority and/or schools to discuss such likelihoods as they will be able to access historical data. Ensure at least one of your three choices stands a realistic chance of success i.e. is unlikely to be oversubscribed although, of course, nothing is guaranteed.
  3. Make use of all three of your school preferences available during the application process. Don’t be tempted to put the same school for all 3 of your choices. Doing so will not increase your chances of obtaining your top choice and will obviously mean you have no viable second and third choices, leaving you more open to disappointment.
  4. Be sure to enter a valid email address that you have access to during the application process. This will allow you to receive your school offer as soon as possible once released in April of the following year, rather than having to wait for a postal notification.
  5. Don’t be late with your application. Priority for school places is given to those who applied on time.

What Happens if You’re Late With Your Primary School Application?

What happens if you are applying for a primary school place for your child, want them to start in the standard September term, but miss the mid-January application deadline? In this scenario, you’ll need to fill in a ‘late application’ form. This will be available via your local authority website. Note, however, that priority for primary school places will be given to those who applied on time. This means that late applicants stand less chance of achieving their desired choice of schools because, potentially, there may no longer be available places by the time the late application is processed.

What if You Want to Change Your School Choice After Applying?

Sometimes, for one reason or another, a parent will wish to change the choice(s) they originally applied for. In such a scenario, check your local authority website for guidelines, which may require use of an alternative application form or, if beyond the mid-January deadline, even a ‘late application’ form. Again be aware, though, that applying (or re-applying) late may lower your choice of achieving your preferred choice(s).

Criteria for School Place Offers

Criteria by which admissions are judged vary a little from school to school, so parents will need to do their own research. However, such criteria have to be transparent and fair and adhere to legislation laid down by the Department of Education (DfE). Generally speaking, the following are typical factors that will usually affect admissions:

  • The child's proximity to the school is usually one of the key admission criteria.The child’s proximity to the school;
  • Whether or not the child will have a sibling already at the same school;
  • Whether or not it’s a church/faith school and whether that matches your child’s faith/religion;
  • Whether the child has a parent who has worked at the school for 2 or more years;
  • Whether the child qualifies for the Pupil Premium grant, for disadvantaged pupils, or the Service Pupil Premium (‘SPP’), for children of parents in the armed forces. (More info).

‘Offers Day’ for Primary School Places

For primary school places, offers are released on the 16th of April each year or on the next working day if that falls on a public holiday or weekend.For primary** school places, offers are released around the 16th* of April each year, the exact date depending on whether the 16th otherwise falls on a weekend or public holiday. For 2025, 2026, and 2027, primary school ‘offer day’ will therefore fall right on target on the 16th of April as each is a weekday for each of those years. Those applicants who had applied online, on time, and supplied an email address during the application process, will be the first to receive offers via email. Later the same day, others who supplied an email address will also receive offers via email. Those who applied without supplying an email address will have their offers posted via 2nd Class post, meaning they may find out what school their child has been offered a day or two later than the 16th of April. That said, some local authority portals allow all parents to log in to view school offers online.

** The date of ‘National Offer Day’ for secondary school places is a little different, but today we concentrate purely on primary school places.
* Those parents who apply late, via post, or for a primary school place starting ‘in year’ (rather than in the September term) are likely to receive offers for their children on a different date.

What to Expect on Primary School Offers Day

When it gets closer to April and the Offers Day for primary school places is closer, parents may appreciate our separate guide about what to expect on the day. We have included details about how and when to accept offers, what happens if you don’t accept an offer in time, how to reject them if you feel they are unsuitable, and what your options are if your child has not been offered the school you had hoped for. It also includes how to appeal a decision, waiting list options, and more. To learn more, head on over to our new article: Primary School Offers Day – a Guide for Parents.

The vast majority of parents secure one of their three preferences.

Our Clayton-le-Woods Nursery Gets Children ‘School-Ready’

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyLittle Acorns Nursery is rated as a 'Good Provider' by Ofsted.Little Acorns is a fabulous nursery and preschool in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. With wonderful facilities, extensive grounds, and caring ‘early years’ practitioners, we nurture children to bring out the best in each area of their learning and development. In this way, we help them to become as ‘school-ready’ as possible by the time they leave us to begin primary school.

If you would like to explore the possibility of a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery, get started by choosing a button below:

Little Acorns is a high-quality nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. As such, we may also be a convenient choice for families in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, Penwortham and Central Lancashire.

 

Free Childcare for Children Aged 9 Months+ (for Eligible Working Families Living in England)

Free Childcare for Children Aged 9 Months+ (for Eligible Working Families Living in England)

Since September 2024, eligible children as young as 9 months have been able to access free childcare in England.With September 2024 arriving, eligible children aged as young as 9 months can now access free childcare in England. The new childcare ‘hours’ are available where working families are eligible for the support and, in tandem, where local childcare providers are set up with appropriate staffing ratios and capacity. The good news, however, is that Little Acorns Nursery, in Clayton-le-Woods, supports the new scheme. It’s therefore with great pleasure that we’re now beginning to welcome children as young as just 9 months of age for free childcare hours at the Chorley setting.

In today’s guide, we’ll explain who is eligible and how much free childcare they can access right now — and in a year’s time when the scheme expands further.

When Does the New Childcare Support Start?

The new childcare support began at the start of September 2024, so it is already available for eligible children. It will expand yet further in September 2025 and we clarify what that means below.

What Free Childcare Can Babies (9m +) & Children of Eligible Working Families Access?

  • From September 2025, eligible children aged from 9 months to 4 years (incl.) will be able to take 1140 hours of free childcare per year.From September 2024 (so already active), eligible children aged from 9 months to 3 years of age can access 570 hours and eligible children aged 3 and 4 can access 1140 hours of free childcare support per year. The free hours are usually taken over the course of 38 weeks (equating to 15 and 30 hours per week respectively). However, some childcare providers may allow the hours to be spread over more weeks of the year by reducing the number of hours per week. Speak directly to your specific childcare provider about the availability of this more flexible option.
  • From September 2025, eligible children aged from 9 months to 3 years will also be able to take 1140 hours of free childcare per year, again usually taken as 30 hours per week. As before, it may be possible to spread the hours out over a greater number of weeks of the year by reducing the number of hours taken per week. Again, speak with your specific childcare provider to see if that option is available if it’s of interest.

Summary:

Available NowAvailable From Sept ’25
Eligible* children 9 months – 3 years570 hours (usually 15 per week)1140 hours (usually 30 per week)
All children 3-4 living in England (‘Universal Entitlement’)570 hours (usually 15 per week)570 hours (usually 15 per week)
Eligible* children 3 to 4 years1140 hours (usually 30 per week)1140 hours (usually 30 per week)

* Subject to eligibility criteria outlined below. Additional charges may apply (e.g. for food/nappies – ask your provider if these cost extra).

Note that some 2 and 3-year-olds are also eligible for 570 hours of childcare funding under a different scheme where they fall into certain ‘additional needs’ categories or their parents receive qualifying government benefits. Today’s guide, however, focuses primarily on the more widely available scheme for eligible working families.

*Eligibility Criteria for Working Families

The free childcare scheme for children aged from 9 months to 4 years (inclusive) applies to children of eligible working families. But what constitutes an eligible working family? The following rough guide explains:

As a rough guide, to be eligible, both you and your partner (if you have one):

  • Families need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the free childcare hours.Must not have an adjusted net income above £100k in the current tax year;
  • Must each expect to earn at least the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 or more hours on average per week, over the next 3 months;
    – for those aged 21 or over, this currently equates to £183 per week and £2,380 over 3 months;
    – for those aged 18-20, it currently equates to £137 per week and £1,788 over 3 months;
    – for those either under 18 or in an apprenticeship, it currently equates to £102 per week and £1,331 over 3 months;
    Figures are before tax and are correct at the time of writing (September 2024)
  • Must have a National Insurance number;
  • Must be applying, of course, for a child of the appropriate age for the scheme.

There are additional rules around specific scenarios, for example, for foster carers, those starting a new job, those whose earnings do not form a regular pattern, the self-employed, and those receiving one or more government benefits. Immigration status is also a factor. Learn more about the eligibility rules here.

“Some children from working families can now receive free childcare from just 9 months old until they begin school.”

Get Started!

Learn more about when and how to apply and when you can start using the free childcare hours here. Staff at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, are also happy to discuss the childcare needs of local parents, including the various funding options available to those who are eligible.

High-Quality Childcare Services in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Central Lancashire

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyAn outstanding childcare providerLittle Acorns is a wonderful childcare nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire. We provide a high-quality childcare and ‘early years’ education service for babies and children aged up to five, giving them the very best start in a home-from-home environment. As well as being perfectly located for local families in Clayton-le-Woods, we may also suit 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.

Register your child for a nursery place today, arrange a guided tour, or ask us any questions — we’ll be happy to help:

Let's Get to Know Butterflies – An Educational Nature Activity for Kids (with Free Poster!)

With the UK’s Big Butterfly Count happening from roughly the second half of July right through to early August, we thought now was an excellent time to release our free butterfly poster for families to download. This is designed to encourage children and families to get outdoors to see how many of the UK’s most commonly seen butterflies they can see and identify. Our identification poster features 36 of the 59 butterfly species found in Britain (we have excluded butterflies that families are unlikely to see as some are quite rare or limited to small areas of the nation). That’s a much more comprehensive number of butterfly species than surveyed in the Big Butterfly Count (just 19 types of butterfly and 2 daytime-flying moths are included in that survey this year). We therefore wholeheartedly encourage children and families to download our free butterfly poster today, so they can get started on getting to know British butterflies. It’s educational as well as being a wonderful way to get children outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and all the profound benefits that nature will bring them.

Download the Free Poster

Click the poster preview below to either view or save the poster file. (Whether you need to left-click or right-click depends upon which web browser you use and its specific settings, so perhaps try both to get your desired outcome). The poster can then be printed out as large as A3, in full colour and fine detail. Choose your best paper and finest settings for the best results.

Download your free British butterfly identification poster (click to download or view).

The free poster is in Acrobat Reader (PDF) format. If you do not already have that application on your device, it is available free, here.

Children’s Interest in Nature is Crucially Important

Nature teaches children so much and is hugely important to them — in so many ways. When children spend time in and around nature, benefits include improved attention and engagement during lessons, reduced stress, better social skills, stimulated imaginations and creativity, improved well-being, better sleep, improved academic performance — to be honest, the list of benefits goes on and on! Click the bold link for more details because nature is a real powerhouse for children.

Teaching children to become interested in flora, fauna and the natural environment has never been more important. Because of problems like climate change, habitat loss, and nasty chemicals being used in gardening and farming, many creatures like butterflies, birds, and others, are severely under threat. The Big Butterfly Count takes place in July and early August each year, when most butterflies have reached adulthood.For many species, population numbers have plummeted over recent decades. Introducing your child to today’s butterfly spotting activity and the annual Big Butterfly Count are therefore very simple ways to get them interested in nature and the importance of looking after the natural environment. They are also more likely to go on to have more sustainable lifestyles when they spend time in and around nature during early childhood. That’s crucially important because today’s children will become tomorrow’s guardians of our beautiful planet — and it will need to be looked after well.

More free nature-based posters for children to download.

More Free Nature-Themed Activity Posters to Download

Other free nature-based posters that children/families can download free from this website include birds, mammals, minibeasts, and an autumn nature hunt. As well as getting children outdoors to benefit from nature, these activity posters are all educational, hugely worthwhile — and great fun!

Little Acorns Nursery – the Natural Choice

Outstanding Childcare in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

An outstanding childcare provider

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Little Acorns Nursery is an outstanding provider of childcare and early years education. As well as incredible facilities indoors and a self-contained preschool block, we have no less than two gardens outside where children can explore, learn from, and enjoy nature. And, of course, we support many of the Government’s free childcare schemes, making it more affordable for eligible families.

Get in touch with Little Acorns Nursery today to register your child for a place, express an interest, arrange a visit, or ask any questions — we’ll be delighted to help:

Little Acorns Nursery is located in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, and is also conveniently close by for families in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland and Penwortham.

Maths Concepts for Under-5s — & Why They're Important

Maths Concepts for Under-5s — & Why They're Important

Introducing under-5s to simple maths concepts early will benefit them hugely and lay the foundations for future learning.Once babies have transformed into toddlers, it’s never too early to introduce them to maths-based concepts and language. Indeed, introducing under-fives to such concepts in the earliest years will benefit them hugely as it lays the foundations for future learning. That’s one of the main reasons it is a part of the EYFS curriculum. Continuing this learning at home will also help them instinctively understand that mathematics is a normal and integral part of everyday life. As such, there is no need for it to be perceived as a daunting topic. With all that in mind, today’s guide explores why the early introduction of mathematics is so beneficial to under-fives and how parents and caregivers play a vital role in encouraging their mathematical curiosity, knowledge, and confidence.

The Benefits of Understanding Maths Concepts in the Early Years

As well as the obvious advantage of improving numeracy skills, learning mathematical language and concepts at an early age has several key benefits for under-fives.

Enhanced Vocabulary Development & Language Skills

Children exposed to rich mathematical language will naturally have stronger vocabularies. This, in turn, will facilitate enhanced communication skills, for example, through the mastering of such things as descriptive, comparative, and positional words.

Improved Cognitive Skills

Learning numeracy skills is like a subtle workout for the mind. Such activity is known to stimulate brain development and improve memory, attention, and critical thinking skills. Each of these benefits will allow children to make connections and solve problems more easily.

Stimulated Creativity & Imagination

Mathematics isn’t just about numbers; it also involves creativity. For example, children can explore patterns, shapes, and spatial relationships, each of which has maths at their heart. Indeed, maths is integral to design, art, music, dance, and many other creative areas that children can immerse themselves in.

“Studies show a direct correlation between early mathematical skills and later educational achievement.”

A Foundation for School Success

Familiarity with mathematical terms and concepts also helps to prepare children for school.Familiarity with mathematical terms and concepts also helps to prepare children for formal education, including in many areas other than pure mathematics. Understanding maths concepts from an early age will allow them to confidently engage in number-related exercises and discussions, greatly enhancing their school readiness across multiple topics. Such preparation will allow them to take maths-based challenges in their stride right from the moment they begin Reception Year in primary school. What’s even more striking is that studies show a direct correlation between early mathematical skills and later educational achievement.

What Kind of Maths Concepts Can Parents Teach Tots?

As you’ll see below, there are many different types of maths-related words and concepts that parents can help children grasp. As we said before, maths is all around us, so there are many opportunities to help little ones master mathematical concepts and language — even from an early age. Aside from learning the actual numbers, some examples include the following:

  • Counting fingers, toes, and objects like building blocks is an obvious way to help children master the most simple maths-related vocabulary.Counting is the most obvious example. Counting can be introduced and practised by your little one in many, many situations, from counting how many more mouthfuls of food a child should eat, to the number of Lego blocks in a tower they’re creating.
  • Size is another maths-based concept where, given some parental guidance, little ones can soon begin to understand whether something is tiny, medium-sized, big, gigantic, tall, short, thin, or wide.
  • Measurement is another maths-related concept for children to grasp, so encouraging them to learn when something is full, empty, long, heavy, light, etc., will stand them in good stead both linguistically and in terms of mathematics.
  • Similarly, comparatives will be useful for children to understand. It’s essential for them to grasp concepts and language like more, less, equal, different, the same, identical, and so on.
  • Maths concepts can be found by children in shapes, sizes, measurements, comparatives, positions, patterns, time and, of course, numbers.Shapes also have roots in maths, so children should get familiar with 3-sided triangular shapes, 4-sided shapes like squares and rectangles, and so on.
  • Positions are also founded in mathematics, so children should be encouraged to recognise when something is on, off, inside, outside, up, down, and suchlike.
  • Finally, time also has its roots in numbers and mathematics. Therefore, it will help children to not only tell the time eventually but also understand the meaning behind words like early, late, now, later, soon, etc.

How to Go About It

Parents, caregivers and relatives can help children under five learn about these mathematical concepts and the language that surrounds them. Games, books, and even songs, for example, often include facets of maths and maths language that adults can draw children’s attention to and get them involved in. Counting fingers, toes, and objects like building blocks is another obvious example and one which can be extended to include much of the maths-related vocabulary that we mentioned earlier (numbers, comparatives, positions, shapes, etc.). Mathematics language and concepts can be learned through everyday activities like games, reading books, cooking, playing with building blocks, helping with shopping, and so much more.Creative endeavours can also be vehicles through which supervising adults can highlight elements of mathematics that are built into designs and creations that children may generate. Patterns and shapes are obvious examples of that. Last but not least, parents can involve children in maths facets which are integral to everyday life, for instance, counting items when out shopping, or measuring when putting ingredients together for a meal. Children will love being more involved in such activities and will learn about maths in a fun, natural, and engaging way. Doing so will create the strongest foundations for their future learning.

We may follow up at a later date with some in-depth activity ideas that will help children learn more about maths and the language surrounding it, so watch this space!

Little Acorns: an Outstanding Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Award-Winning Childcare in Central Lancashire

An outstanding childcare provider

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Little Acorns gives babies, toddlers and preschoolers the very best start in life at their Clayton-le-Woods nursery near Chorley. That’s backed up by being rated an Outstanding Provider by Ofsted and a prestigious National Nursery Award too. So, if you want the very best for your child, choose Little Acorns Day Nursery for their weekday childcare and we’ll ensure they absolutely thrive and are prepared for success.

Get in touch today to register your child for a nursery place, set a date for a guided tour of the setting, or ask any questions:

Little Acorns is an outstanding nursery and preschool located in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, near Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland and Penwortham.

 

How to Help Your Child Transition to School

Today's post aims to help make children's transition to school as easy and stress-free as possible.Beginning school is a huge milestone for any child as well as for the child’s parents or guardians. Whether transitioning from nursery/preschool or straight from home, beginning school can be a daunting step in a child’s life — especially if they’re unprepared. Today’s post therefore aims to help parents/guardians make the transition to school as easy and stress-free as possible for their child, so they are empowered to feel at home and hit the ground running from the moment they begin. Take a look, therefore, at our guide on How to Help Your Child Transition to School. Following the advice should help make this milestone plain sailing for everyone involved.

Prepare Your Child Well in Advance

The most impactful measure for a smooth transition to school is thorough preparation. As the old saying goes, “Fail to prepare — prepare to fail” meaning you should ensure good preparation if a successful outcome is to be achieved. And, by definition, preparation is required in advance of the school start date. The remaining tips below are all part of that preparation and, as you’ll see, some will be required well in advance.

Well in Advance:

Ensure a Good Early Years Education for Your Child

One of the most critically-important steps for a smooth transition to school is to ensure your child receives a comprehensive early years education.One of the most critically important steps for a smooth transition to school is to ensure your child receives a comprehensive early years education. By this we mean they need to have been nurtured between birth and school age in all areas of their learning and development — ideally including the seven key areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In essence, they will need help with their communication and language, physical development, personal, social & emotional development, literacy, mathematics (watch out for our separate post on that coming soon), understanding of the world, and expressive art and design. With such skills and knowledge under their belt before the age of five, they will be incredibly well-equipped once they begin school. Without them, they will find the transition difficult and may even be held back.

Early Years Education at Nursery & Preschool

Such an early years education is also available, of course, via outstanding childcare services like those available at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods. High-quality settings like ours nurture every aspect of children’s learning and development. Through a programme that’s tailored for every child, we do everything we can to ensure they achieve personal bests in every area and are as school-ready as possible by the time they leave us to begin school. With all that achieved, they are sure to thrive from the moment they start. Learn more about why children benefit by going to a good nursery/preschool here.

Close Parental Involvement in Your Child’s Education

Parents/guardians can and ideally should help with this early years education from home too. Indeed, close parental involvement in a child’s education has been shown to be hugely beneficial to that child, with far-reaching short- and long-term benefits. Studies have shown that such children are much higher achievers at school than those who did not receive regular educational support from parents. Follow the bold link to learn more.

Read With Your Child to Super-Charge Language Skills

Reading with your child from an early age has also been proven to be hugely beneficial to children. Studies show that, by reading with them regularly – including before the age of five – their language skills will receive a massive boost and this will help them enormously once they begin school. Reading with (not just to) children can boost the language skills of preschoolers by the equivalent of 8 months — incredible when you think about it. Comprehension, vocabulary, creativity, knowledge, literacy, and even empathy skills are improved when parents regularly read with young children. A love of books and reading is also a natural extension of this and, again, this can only help children once they’ve started at school. Learn more about how you can Super-charge Your Child’s Education Through Reading here.

Nurture Independence, Social & Soft Skills

It's important to nurture children's independence, social skills and soft skills before they begin school.During their journey from birth to school age, it’s also important to nurture children’s independence, social skills and soft skills.

  • Ensuring independence will make them feel more in control and self-assured once they start school. For example, help them learn to wash hands, tie shoe laces, use zips and buttons on clothing and be able to dress themselves. Parents can help children accomplish all of these by demonstrating each and encouraging practising at home.
  • Parents can also encourage good social skills in children while at home, so they are polite and naturally more likeable once they start school. So, try to nurture skills like good manners, understanding right from wrong, mastering negotiations with peers, sharing, helping others and generally being able to make and keep friends. Parents can encourage socialising with friends and relatives of a similar age to accomplish such things.
  • Additional soft skills will help little ones thrive as well as fit in and be positively viewed once they begin school. Examples of soft skills to nurture in children before they begin school include good communication (verbal as well as non-verbal), listening, an understanding of empathy, cooperation, teamwork, negotiation, problem-solving, resilience, adaptability, good organisation, creativity, resilience and time management. Mastering these will stand children in very good stead at school.

In the Weeks Running Up to Starting School:

One of the small but impactful things you can do to better prepare your child for starting school is ensuring they have a friend joining at the same time.When starting school is only a few weeks away, there are several small but impactful things you can do to better prepare your child for the transition:

  • Forewarn your child that they’ll be starting school soon and give them further reminders as the start date draws closer. This will avoid any nasty shock when the day arrives and help prepare their mindset.
  • Talk about it often as the day draws nearer. Encourage questions, answer them, and listen to any misgivings your child may have. Reassure your child whenever they seem apprehensive.
  • Focus on the positives of school, such as all the new friends they’ll make, all the new activities they’ll participate in, new play equipment and sports facilities, and how school can be a huge adventure.
  • Show them the school, initially through a brochure or website and later during an organised visit where you can both ask questions during the tour. This will help them feel more at home when they arrive as well as helping them know what to expect.
  • Find a friend who will also be attending the same school and the same class. Perhaps one of their peers from nursery/preschool may be attending — perfect if so. If not, ask around to find someone who is and arrange play dates so the children can get acquainted in advance. Knowing they will have a friend there in advance is going to help your child hugely once they start school.
  • Ensure your child gets ample sleep, especially in the run-up to starting school, otherwise, they’ll struggle to stay awake or concentrate at school. Sleep is incredibly good for children anyway.
  • Allow children to sync their body clocks with the hours they’ll be awake once they begin school. So, set a suitable bedtime and getting up time for your child in the weeks before school starts — and stick to it. Towards bedtime, allow your child to gently wind down and ensure they avoid the use of electronic screens (TVs, iPads etc.) during this period. It will help your child get to sleep.
  • Purchase/source any uniform, Wellington boots, shoes, clothes, backpack and PE kit required for school, ensuring it’ll all be the right size for your child once they begin. It’s a good idea to put your child’s name on each item too. Check with your child’s school what else they may need, for example, stationery, lunch box, etc.
  • Practise the school route. A dummy run along the route to school on a weekday is a great idea during the week before your child begins school. Time it to coincide with the real schedule you’ll be following once your child is attending so that you’ll get a feel for how much traffic there will be. Make any adjustments needed so you’ll not be late when the time comes.

On the Day Before the 1st Day of School:

  • Ensure your child knows what's in their backpack and that it's all labelled with their name.Pack your child’s backpack and ensure it includes everything they’ll need. For example, perhaps a snack and/or lunch box, any spare clothes, PE kit, stationery if needed, and so on.
  • Ensure everything is labelled with their name, as appropriate.
  • Go through the backpack with your child so they know what’s in there and where everything is.

On the Day:

  • Be on time. Dropping off or picking up late will stress both you and your child out!Be on time. Dropping off or picking up late will stress both you and your child out!
  • Don’t fuss; it’ll only make your child more nervous.
  • Remind your child that you’ll be there to pick them up at the end of the school day.

Outstanding Childcare & Early Years Education in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Award-Winning Weekday Childcare Services in Central Lancashire

An outstanding childcare provider

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Little Acorns is an outstanding nursery and preschool located in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. This is backed up by our prestigious Best Individual Nursery Award and an ‘Outstanding Provider’ status from Ofsted. So, if you’d like your baby, toddler, or preschooler to have the very best start in life, consider Little Acorns Day Nursery. We’ll bring out the very best in them and do everything possible to ensure they’re as ready as possible by the time they leave us to begin school.

Please select an option from the buttons below to get started on your application, ask a question or request a guided tour with your little one.

Little Acorns Nursery is also conveniently close by for families in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland and Penwortham.

Tips for potty training tots: when to begin, how to encourage toddlers, toileting aids and more.

Tips for potty training tots: when to begin, how to encourage toddlers, toileting aids and more.

Achieving potty training success will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child's care.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.

First: Some Toileting Milestones

Appropriate timing for starting potty training varies from child to child and situation to situation. That said, the following are rough guidelines for the milestones for many:

  • Most tots stop doing number twos at night by the age of 12 months.
  • Between 2 and 3, some children become dry during the day.
  • By the age of 4, most are completely dry during the daytime.
  • By the age of 6, most are avoiding accidents during both the day and nighttime.
  • Some children, however, may still wet the bed at night beyond the age of 5.

Children cannot help occasional accidents and may indeed be upset by them. It’s essential, therefore, not to scold them or make a fuss about such incidents.

When Should You Begin Potty Training?

Potty training can start any time from 18 months to the age of 3 but most begin between the ages of 2 and 3.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.

One of the biggest clues that a child is ready to begin potty training is when they become obviously aware of what’s in their nappy. They may, for example, take a peak when being changed, or make it clear they are not comfortable when in need of a change. It could also be as simple as indicating that they are aware when they’re going to the loo in the nappy. Some children may show this by going somewhere quiet and more private when going. Others may do the opposite and make strong eye-to-eye contact with a parent as if to let them know that something is afoot! Such awareness may be key to starting potty training.

Children may also take a lead from parents/relatives or even other children:

A 2½-year-old, who had begun potty training, recently wanted to sit on the “big boy’s toilet” because he’d seen slightly older children doing so at nursery. This was a toileting turning point following what had been, until then, quite a challenging process. (Anecdote from a parent)

There are some practical considerations too. For example, quite a few parents will begin potty training in the warmer months of the year. At such times, there will be fewer clothes worn by children day-to-day, less, therefore, to wash if an accident happens, and likely a working washing line outside to dry everything on. So, by starting during the summer, you can cut down on the workload and potentially save on water and energy.

Encouragement

There are lots of ways to encourage children when potty training.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.

Getting them involved when shopping for toileting products may also give them a deeper interest in potty and toilet training. For example, they may like the look of a potty with a dinosaur on it, or perhaps one featuring their favourite TV character. Other children may like the idea of one of those potties that plays a song when it’s been successfully used.

If there are challenges, families can often get some great success using a reward system. When the youngster successfully uses the potty, they could be awarded a sticker on a colourful, fun-looking potty training chart. Such things are available commercially if you do a quick web search. Another type of reward to be used sparingly could be to award the child a piece of their favourite snack when successful. There’s no doubt this works as an incentive for some little ones.

Another method of encouraging toddlers to use the potty is to walk the child to the potty every 30 to 60 minutes to see if they’re ready to go. The length of time between visits can be gradually extended once that’s working. Visits to the potty are also wise before and after bedtime, following daytime naps, and immediately after mealtimes.

Potty Training/Toileting Aids

Various toileting aids may help with potty and toilet training. Examples include:

  • Various toileting aids may help with potty and toilet training.Potties with designs that are attractive to toddlers e.g. dinosaurs, licensed TV characters etc.
  • Musical potties where a sing-along song is activated on successful use.
  • Portable travel potties — some look like a child’s travel case.
  • Clip-on trainer seats, which attach to adult toilets.
  • Steps to help children reach trainer seats attached to toilets, also allowing them to reach the sink to wash hands afterwards.
  • Pretend toilets and potties that children can use to ‘toilet train’ their own dolls and toys. Such activities can greatly encourage little ones in their own toilet training.
  • ‘Pull-ups’, which are somewhere between nappies and pants/knickers. These may be useful early on or when a child still has occasional accidents but no longer wears nappies.
  • Interestingly, toilet training-themed videos, books, games and songs can also be useful tools to encourage little ones when toilet training as they ‘normalise’ the process.

More Tips for Potty Training Success

  • Making sure that potty training times are fun will help.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).
  • It’s best to start during a quiet time, so there are no distractions.
  • Set a potty training schedule and try to stick to it, so you’re consistent in your message.
  • Try to ensure that your potty training schedule does not conflict with your child’s existing routines.
  • Make potty training fun! (See the Encouragement section above for ideas).
  • Let your child choose their own potty at the store.
  • Buy more than one so you have one in each bathroom/cloakroom and a travel potty.
  • Keep a potty in the bathroom and encourage your little one to use it (or initially even just sit on it) when you pay a visit yourself.
  • Reward your child when successful. Sticker books using fun stickers and a colourful toileting chart can work wonders, for example.
  • Praise your child and their output – it will encourage them.
  • Accidents will happen but don’t make a fuss when they do. Potty training needs to be as stress-free as possible for little ones.
  • Last but not least, remember to encourage good hygiene in your toddler, through handwashing etc.

We hope that our potty training tips are useful and help your child transition smoothly. As we said before, success will lead to more self-confident, independent, and happy children. What’s more, it will also improve the quality of life for parents and caregivers.

An Outstanding Childcare Service in Central Lancashire

We are an outstanding nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

An outstanding childcare provider

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

We are an outstanding nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley and offer babies and children under five the very best start in life in a warm, nurturing, home-from-home environment. We also support a range of Government-funded hours and childcare schemes for eligible families. If you’d like to explore a possible childcare place for your child in perhaps the best nursery in Central Lancashire, please get in touch:

As well as being perfectly located for babies and children under five in Clayton-le-Woods (PR6) and Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery is also convenient for those requiring childcare in nearby towns and villages. These include Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland and Penwortham.