Annas Acorns

Really helped our son come out of his shell

We moved our 2 year old son to Anna and John's in the summer of 2020. He had been attending a nursery before the Covid crisis, but was not really speaking there or interacting with the other children or staff, although he did speak well at home, so we thought a setting with fewer children would suit him better. He settled in after less than a week and was soon happily chatting and playing with Anna, John and the other children and making friends. Anna and John are forest school members and it was great to see daily photos of the children out in the open air, climbing on logs and jumping in puddles. We were very impressed when our now three year old could identify more species of plants and mushrooms than we could on family walks! In very bad weather Anna and John also entertain the children with indoor play equipment, crafts and lots of other toys and games. We are only leaving due to a house move and we will be very sorry to say goodbye to this very caring setting.

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by Anna on 18/04/2021

Highly recommended Childminder, the best there is!

I cannot recommend Anna’s Acorns enough.
Both of my children have been with Anna and John and we were all sorry to leave them (my children went to school). I felt so comfortable and at ease leaving my children with Anna, my children enjoyed going there and felt safe and comfortable too. Not only do Anna and John provide a loving, caring environment, they educate the children inside and outside of the setting, which is brilliant! Thank you for everything you did for us, we appreciate it all and will definitely stay in touch. Get a place at Anna’s Acorns whilst you can, as I’m sure they are in high demand!!

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by Michs79 on 29/10/2020

Fantastic Childcare!

Cannot thank Anna and John enough for all the amazing childcare they have provided for Varenya. It has been an absolute pleasure to send Varenya to them and see her develop as a result of all the indoor and outdoor activities. We sincerely endorse every bit of the hard work Anna and John have invested in to make sure the kids are comfortable, happy, safe and have lovely experiences along the way. From since Varenya was 9months old to now 3yrs of age, she has made so many friends, developed a sense of social bond, curiosity and has grown to be adventurous. Special thanks to Anna's Acorns for arranging daily walks in the woods irrespective of the weather conditions to make sure kids are given that free environment to explore. I loved reading their daily notes and updates and watching Varenya grow from and timid infant to a confident toddler. Thank you Anna and John.
You have laid a solid foundation for our daughter and it shall always stay close to our hearts.

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by Neha on 29/09/2020

If I could leave more stars, I would !

Anna's Acorns will be severely missed by my daughter (and myself)!

My daughter was only a couple of months old when she started her time with Anna, and from the very beginning, knowing that she was with Anna and her husband when I was working, was a real reassurance.

The home is very warm, clean welcoming, tidy and cosy, with lots of toys and activities for children of all ages. Anna is bubbly and professional at all times, whilst maintaining this wonderful smile that has the ability to relax even the most anxious of parents on the most stressful of days!

Every day, my little one came home excited to tell me all about her time at Anna's; where they went, what they played, the art they did etc, and due to Anna sending me photos of my child throughout the day, I got to see it all too.

After 4 years, Anna, her husband, and all the children there, became an extended family to my daughter, one I am very grateful for.

There are no words to sum up how wonderful Anna's Acorns has been for us, they have been overwhelmingly brilliant.
The one last thing I can say with absolute certainty is this: If I ever have another child, Anna will be one of the first to know!!

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by Megan on 24/09/2020

Excellent Childcare

My son absolutely loved goingvto Annas Acorns, he was there nearly 4 years before starting school. He learnt lots of things, made friends and enjoyed going places and the walks to the woods.
A great setting and Anna and John provided a warm welcome to both parents and children. Always kept us informed of updates and milestones he reached.
Highly recommend them to any parents looking for local childcare

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by JaiW on 18/09/2020

Fantastic! Look no further

We have been with Anna and John since 2015, when our little boy was 9 months old. Being first time parents, we were very anxious about leaving him. From the very beginning, Anna made us feel comfortable and her confidence and warm nature was just what we needed! Noah has benefited from the outdoor activities, making friends, arts and crafts, educational activities and general interaction with the other children. I loved reading the progress reports! When we left, Anna gave us a record which we love going through as it reflects his changes from a 9 month old till the age of 4.
Anna and John make you feel part of the family and have gone above and beyond the call of duty when we have had issues with drop off or day changes.
We have now left the UK, however Noah continues to remember his fond memories with Annas' Acorn and the gang. As far as we are concerned they are life long friends and a huge part of our little boys life. Do not worry, you are in good hands!

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by Parent on 15/10/2018

Highly recommend

My son has been with Anna’s Acorns (Anna and her husband, John) since April 2016. He attended 5 days per week for 2 years. From January 2018 we reduced him down to 2 days as he alternated with nursery school. He starts reception this September.

I have been extremely happy with the care my son has received, and the great progress he has made whilst in Anna & John’s care. Their home is always welcoming, clean and well organised and my son has great fun playing with all the toys available and with the other children in their care. Beyond all this though, it is their warm and friendly, but no nonsense approach, which sets them apart from other childminders we have experienced.

They provides a wide, fun range of activities including plenty of outdoor exercise and soft play centres. I know my son has recently enjoyed sand and water play, drawing and sticking, reading and puzzles as well as outings to the park, trips to feed the ducks and walks in the woods. Last week he decorated a card to give to his Daddy for Father’s Day.

Both Anna & John are great communicators and have no trouble in gaining my son’s confidence and therefore encouraging good behaviour and kindness and compassion to others, both skills which are important to us at home. When my son steps outside his boundaries, they respond with firm but kind discipline explaining what they would like to see in terms which he understands. When he is hurt or feeling under the weather I know that he feels happy to be comforted by them and I am confident that they can administer either first aid or medication following all the correct procedures and completing the necessary records to ensure his health and safety.

I am also aware that they ensure good personal hygiene in encouraging all the children to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. I’m sure that it is this practice together with the cleanliness of their home which has ensured that my son has remained healthy and bug free for as long as I can remember.

They complete an online app diary detailing what my son has done each day. From this I have a complete picture of his whole day including what he has eaten, how long he has slept, all his activities, his EYFS steps progress and even photos which the greater family in South Africa benefit from too! This helps me to feel involved with his care and that I can talk to him about his day.

All in all I am thoroughly happy with the level of care my son receives and I’m certain that being in such a positive and happy environment is helping him develop into a confident and self-assured little boy.

I would absolutely recommend Anna’s Acorns as great and reliable childminders.

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by HelbK on 22/06/2018

Second-to-none!

Anna and John took care of our daughter for 14months until we moved out of the area (the only reason she is no longer cared for by them). We wished we could have taken them with us!

With our family living so far away, and both my husband and I working full time, we were given such consistent and flexible support, which was invaluable to making our lives easier to balance. From snow storms to train strikes, our daughter's well-being was always the priority, and our minds were at ease from the very first time we met Anna and John.

Our daughter enjoyed the excursions to soft plays, farms, bowling or even just a walk to the park - every day there was a different activity planned. Her learning progressed rapidly, and she has become a bright, polite and charismatic little girl, thanks to Anna and John. She loved her interactions with the other children, and still talks about "AnnaJohn" often.

The package on offer from Anna was second-to-none. Pick-ups and drop-offs were amazing, and flexible for us to suit our commuting. The food on offer for the children was also varied and delicious (by all accounts!), and the regular updates on what they were up to kept us entertained (we really miss this!). If ever our daughter was unwell, Anna was straight on the case, leaving us no concerns whatsoever.

Many thanks for all you did for our little family. We will always be grateful to the wonderful start you gave our daughter.

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by Parent on 14/02/2018

Wonderful childminder

A loving, fun and stimulating environment. Highly recommended.

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by Parent on 04/11/2017

Excellent Childcare

My boy loves his days with Anna and the gang, excellent childcare. Flexible pickups. Couldn't ask for better. Very pleased :)

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by JaiW on 16/10/2017