Our Sessions
Our sessions can have a maximum of 33 children with up to 7 practitioners. The session begins with the children placing their belongings on their peg, which displays their name and photograph.
We have a wide range of engaging activities and open ended resources that are available for the children to select and they are able to choose if they want to play indoors or outdoors as soon as they arrive.
The children each have their own Acorn which they use as a name recognition tool at snack time. Snack is available during the morning and afternoon sessions. We ask parents/carers to provide a helathy snack option. There are visual clues on display to encourage independence, but we are always on hand if needed! We ask all children to bring in a filled, named drinks bottle which is available to the children all day.
The outdoor play area is fully enclosed and secured, offering a safe and stimulating place to play and learn.
We do from time to time use the Oaklands school field and the woods.
We have wellies and waterproofs available for the children to use and although we do have spare clothes we do ask that you put a spare set of clothes in your child’s bag, just in-case of any accidents!
We tidy up together at the end of the sessions, using music as a prompt, and then we go in to our small group time with their key person. Small group time can be anything from stories, rhyme time, sharing with the group something they may have made, reflection time or a chance for focus children to share their photos from home on the interactive whiteboard or iPads.
Some children stay for lunch club and 3 or 4 staff always sit with the children to eat. These children will require a packed lunch and we do ask that you encourage your child to have a varied and healthy lunch. We also ask that you don’t use peanut butter due to allergies and please can grapes be cut in to 4 pieces length ways (This is following LA Health and Safety guidelines).
Every Wednesday we have an outside agency come in to run a football session. This lasts for 45 minutes and is always very popular.
We also actively encourage parents, carers or family members to come in to Acorns at any time to share their experiences, skills or expertise with the children.
And that’s our day at Acorns!
Our Session Times
Morning: 9am – 12pm
Morning with Lunch Club: 9am – 12.30pm
Morning, Lunch and Afternoon: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Early Morning, Lunch and Afternoon: 9.00am – 3.30pm
Afternoon: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Our Session Prices
Our unfunded, fee paying
rate for all children
is £8.00 per hour
(Price increase as of April 2025)
We also ask for a voluntary contribution of £50 per term for funded children.
How Our Fees Work
Fees are reviewed annually and payable every term in advance. We will always give half a terms notice if we are planning on increasing our prices.
All 3 and 4 year olds are currently entitled to 15 hours free early year education per week for 38 weeks per year. Under Wokingham District Council rules, 3 years olds are entitled to this funding from the term following their third birthday.
30 hour funding for working families is also accepted at Acorns. To find out if you are eligible for this funding please visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk.
For children who are eligible for funding, they will receive up to a maximum of 15 hours (or 30 if eligible) free of charge regardless of whether they attend morning, afternoon or 6 hour sessions.