“Staff are chosen to ensure their ideals match Acorns’ high standards and all undergo a rigorous selection process and training before they are entrusted to the role to which they are appointed”
Angeleen, Nursery Manager.
Our Nursery Team
Our nurseries are managed by an experienced team, with a Nursery Manager, Assistant Manager and Senior Nursery Nurses who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the nursery and liaise with the Company Directors on every aspect of the nursery’s operation.
All our Nursery Management Team started their Acorns journey as Nursery Nurses, gaining invaluable experience to ensure our high standards and expectations are exceeded throughout each of our nurseries.
Recruitment
As part of our standards we follow the ‘Safer Recruitment Process’, whereby all staff are carefully chosen, undertake enhanced DBS checks and complete a formal induction over a 6 month period upon joining Acorns.
For more information on opportunities available in our nurseries, give our Recruitment Team a call on 029 20382009 or visit our employment page.
Ratios
We have a team of full and part time nursery nurses caring for your children, ensuring sufficient cover for absence, holidays and training.
This enables us to maintain and exceed the following ratios:
Babies Under 2- 1:3 ratio of staff to children
Children 2-3- 1:4 ratio of staff to children
Children 3-5- 1:8 ratio of staff to children
Key Carers
Our Key Carer system ensures that children are able to develop a strong bond with staff and support parents’ wishes. Key Carers are responsible for planning for the children in their group, ensuring they meet their individual goals, encouraging links between home and nursery and offering a truly child-centred learning environment.
Continual Professional Development
Over the last 30 plus years, we have developed a strong staff development culture and we ensure staff are fulfilled in their employment by offering continuous professional development opportunities.
We provide bespoke training for all staff in Early Years at Acorns, sharing our core aims and values, pedagogy and our child-centred approach.
Our staff are trained to a minimum of Level 3 in Childcare, Learning and Development and all are qualified in Paediatric First Aid, Food Hygiene, Behaviour Management and Safeguarding and many have achieved Level 5 in Childcare and Education..
All our staff undertake regular supervisions and appraisals to identify training needs in qualifications such as the ones below, enabling them to bring a variety of skills to enhance your child’s learning at Acorns.
- First Aid in the Workplace
- Mental Health in the Workplace
- Makaton
- Prevent
- Language and Literacy
- Forest School
- ALN and SEND
All staff, students and regular visitors to the nursery hold an enhanced DBS certificate.
Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinators
Our ALNCo (Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinators), work peripatetically and are actively involved in planning and supporting key carers, parents and children according to their individual needs.
Nursery Chefs
Our chefs are responsible for providing a healthy, nutritious, balanced diet for every child.
All dietary requirements are catered for in accordance with parents wishes.
All our chefs are trained to at least level 3 in Food Hygiene Safety and our nurseries have been awarded the 5 stars on the door award by EHIC.
“Parents need to know that their children are getting high quality, nutritious food at nursery. I love seeing the children try new foods”
Rachel, Nursery Chef Co-ordinator
Housekeepers
Our team of Housekeepers are employed to ensure that our nurseries maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene at all times throughout the nursery day.
Maintenance Team
Our Maintenance Team plays an important part in the general upkeep of all our nursery environments. The team includes painters and decorators, gardeners and handypersons all employed exclusively by us.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Each nursery enjoys visits from our specialist staff who work peripatetically around the nurseries delivering fun engaging sessions to enhance the children’s learning experiences.
Sports Co-ordinator
The Sports Co-ordinators visit each nursery engaging the children in sporting activities designed to support their coordination and physical development.
Play and Learning Co-ordinator
“We encourage language and literacy, music and movement in all areas of learning. I love what I do”
Sarah, Play and Learning Coordinator.
Makaton
Our Makaton specialists engage the children in fun signing sessions to music.
Yoga
The children enjoy the benefits of Yoga on a bi weekly basis with our Yoga Specialist.
The Head Office Team
We have a team of support staff who support the Nursery Managers in the running of each nursery.
Our Directors, Peter and Cherie support each nursery, working with staff to challenge, motivate and update with ideas to promote new and imaginative methods of play and learning.
Our Operational Manager undertakes regular quality audits of the nurseries. Operational Manager: 029 20382009, carly@acornsnurseries.co.uk.
Our HR Manager plans, coordinates and supervises our nursery teams. HR Manager: 029 20382009/07971021376, becca.rees@acornsnurseries.co.uk.
We have a Nursery Placement Team, who allocate nursery places and manage waiting lists according to availability. Nursery Placement Team: 0209 20382009/07427497257, info@acornsnurseries.co.uk.
Our Parent Liaison Manager is available at all times for any parent compliments, complaints or queries. Parent Liaison Manager: 029 20382009/07971021376, becca.rees@acornsnurseries.co.uk.
Our Finance Team is available to discuss nursery payments and advise parents on Government Funding and financial options that are available to parents. Finance Team: 029 20394334
The nurseries are also supported by an administration, marketing and HR team, all can be contacted in Acorns Head Office on 029 20382009.