Acorn Early Years

Carolyn shares the benefit of being a trustee:
"Seeing Acorn’s impact on thousands of children’s lives and using my skills to support its growth and recognition. It’s been the highlight of my career."

👉 Learn more: https://shorturl.at/jEDit

#TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees

Katy shares the most rewarding part of being a trustee:
"Applying my skills to support Acorn’s social impact and working with a diverse, values-driven team. It’s a privilege and a fantastic learning experience."

👉 Learn more: https://shorturl.at/jEDit

#TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees

Vanessa shares the benefit of being a trustee:
"Even after retiring from paid work, it’s rewarding to stay connected as part of a successful leadership team and contribute as a critical friend on the board."

👉 Learn more: https://shorturl.at/jEDit

#TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees

Emma shares what matters most as a trustee:

"Listening to different perspectives and staying open to learning."

👉 Learn more about our trustees and their impact: https://shorturl.at/jEDit

#TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees

Narendra on his role as Chair:

"Supporting trustees’ diverse talents, encouraging constructive debates, and keeping our focus strategic and aligned with Acorn’s mission."

👉 Learn more about our trustees and their impact: https://shorturl.at/b88Ph

#TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees

Suzie shares what inspired her to become a trustee:

"Seeing the incredible impact Acorn has on children, families, and contributing to something that makes a positive difference."

👉 Learn more about our trustees: https://shorturl.at/b88Ph

#TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees

Laura shares the most rewarding part of being a trustee:

"Seeing nurseries grow, new sites joining, forest schools added, and high standards upheld."

👉 Learn more about our trustees and their impact at Acorn:

https://shorturl.at/thAq3

#TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees #AcornEarlyYears

“Connection matters."

 Olivia’s advice for future trustees: feel linked to the mission and vision through passion, experience, or both. Learn more about our trustees and the impact they make at Acorn:

https://shorturl.at/thAq3

 #TrusteesWeek2025 #ThankYouTrustees”

This Trustees’ Week, we celebrate and thank our amazing trustees for their passion, guidance, and commitment to Acorn."

#TrusteesWeek #ThankYouTrustees #TrusteesWeek2025 #TerifficTrustees

Pumpkin carving 🎃, conker skeleton crafts, muddy potions, and campfire cooking!

Our Salcey Forest holiday club was full of Halloween magic! 🍂 Follow us so you never miss the next woodland adventure!

#ForestSchool #HalloweenFun #AcornEarlyYears #NaturePlay

Say cheese! 😁 Our Oaks at Kents Hill had a brilliant time learning how to brush their teeth! From toothpaste tips to brushing for two minutes — healthy habits start early! 💙🪥
#EarlyYears #BrightSmiles #HealthyHabits

Jamie Barnes is back! With over a decade of experience, plus credentials as an author and former Ofsted inspector, his training is dynamic, high-impact, and inspiring. We’re ready to be empowered!

What makes CPD feel truly empowering?

#JamieVictoriaBarnes #EarlyYears #CPD #AcornEarlyYears

Ben Kingston-Hughes returns next week for staff training! His award-winning CPD is praised by Ofsted and local authorities, and now internationally. This isn’t just training, it’s transformative.

What makes CPD truly transformative for you?

#EarlyYears #CPD #BenKingstonHughes #AcornEarlyYears

Kirstine Beeley is back for Acorn’s staff training day! With 20+ years in early years and her Empathy Dolls Approach, her sessions are always inspiring, practical, and emotionally intelligent.

How do you nurture empathy in your setting?

#EarlyYears #EmpathyInPractice #AcornEarlyYears

A joyful week at Salcey Forest! 🌳 Our Forest School team led conker hunts, caterpillar crafts & music-making in nature. Singing, dancing & exploring what a way to start the weekend! 💚

Drop a 🌿 if you love forest fun!

#ForestSchool #SalceyForest #AcornEarlyYears

Yoga, hot choc & nature crafts? Yes please! 🧘‍♀️🌿
Our children in Oaks at our Brafield nursery had a magical day with Tracey’s yoga, Forest School fun, conker spiders, berry hunts & nature ink art. Calm minds & muddy hands = happy hearts! 🍫🕷️🍁 #EarlyYears #ForestSchool #NaturePlay #MindfulKids

🎉 What a way to end the week!
Big congrats to Lani at our Rowans nursery & Caitlin at our Jubilee Wood nursery on completing their Level 3 Qualification! 💚
💬 Send them a shoutout or share your own wins from the week!
#AcornEarlyYears #TeamAcorn #FridayFeeling #CelebratingGrowth
#FridayWins

This week, the children in Oaks at our Rowans nursery made their own pizzas and enjoyed them outside in a sunny picnic! 🍕🧺
Yes, we know it’s tea time  and now we’re all craving pizza. 😄
#AcornEarlyYears #RowansNursery #PicnicFun #LittleChefs

Our Rowans & Brafield nurseries celebrated Grandparents Day with joyful Stay & Play sessions! 

Children gave tours, made introductions & shared crafts with their grandparents. A beautiful reminder of the love & learning between generations 🧡
 #GrandparentsDay #AcornEarlyYears

Did you know conkers can be made into soap? 🍂🧼
Our children tried it today and loved the process especially using it to wash their hands before lunch! Nature’s full of surprises. 🙂

💡 Got a favourite nature craft? Share it with us!

#EarlyYears #ConkerSoap #AutumnPlay #EcoCrafts #NatureLearning

As a follow-up to Monday’s World Habitat Day, Our children in our Burton Latimer’s Oaks gorup explored our pocket park, spotted horses 🐴 (from afar!), and built dens for wild animal puppets.

💬 What’s your child’s favourite animal?

#WorldHabitatDay #NaturePlay #EYFS #EarlyYears

🌻 Our final sunflower at our Westcroft nursery has bloomed! 5 flowers out, 5 buds waiting, and it’s grown so tall. The children cared for it all summer 🌞💧
🌱 Got a garden win to share?
#WestcroftNursery #EarlyYears #NatureLearning #BlueskyKids #GrowingTogether #MiltonKeynesNursery #NatureInNursery

We were thrilled to welcome @emily4mk.bsky.social  MP to Acorn at Kents Hill, following our second Outstanding Ofsted rating! She congratulated our team and spoke with CEO Zoe Raven about expansion plans and early years challenges.

#OfstedOutstanding #EarlyYearsMatter #SocialEnterprise

It’s #WorldHabitatDay 🌍 At Acorn, we build urban resilience through veggie gardens, litter picks, food bank support & visits to the elderly.
Drop a 🌍 to show support & help us grow greener, kinder communities. 🌱

#EcoEducation #CommunityCare #GreenLearning #EarlyYears

Smiles are signs of joy, safety & care at Acorn. 😊
On #WorldSmileDay, we invite you to share what made your child smile today!
Tag us or reply with a smile emoji. Let’s fill the feed with joy!
 #PuttingChildrenFirst #AcornEarlyYears #ShareASmile

Brafield had a calming Yoga & Wellness session! The children listened closely, tried every movement, stretched big & small, and relaxed their bodies...even wiggled toes & fingers 🌿

💬 What helps you unwind?

#WellnessForKids #YogaInSchools #MindfulEducation #StretchAndGrow #MindfulKids #KidsYoga

Today we celebrate music’s power to inspire and connect...especially for children. Remembering Acornbury, our Glasto-style concert where little stars shone bright. 🎶

💬 Got a favourite childhood song? Share it with us!

#InternationalMusicDay #Acornbury #MusicForKids #EarlyYearsJoy #CreativeKids

Leigh started at Level 2 and is now working toward Level 5.
At Acorn, we invest in our staff as much as our children. Proud to be named a Best Workplace in Charity & Not-for-Profit 2025 by @greatplacetowork.bsky.social
What makes a workplace great to you?

#CareerGrowth #StaffDevelopment #TeamAcorn

🍂 Our Tots Stay 'n' Play kicked off with leaf rubbings, mini habitats & the ever-popular mud kitchen...messy, magical fun! 🧑‍🍳

✨ Next session: 29 September — spots go fast, so don’t miss out on the Autumn adventure!

#StayAndPlay #MudKitchenMadness #LeafRubbings #AcornNurseries

🎧 New episode: Building a Culture of Care

Explore how Acorn Early Years nurtures inclusion, deep listening, and shared responsibility in early education.

Click link in bio to listen now on Spotify!
#EarlyYears #CultureOfCare #AcornPodcast #ChildDevelopment #InclusiveEducation #EYPractitioners