Welcome

Little Acorns Pre-School has been registered since 2000 and operates from the Father’s House Shaftesbury. The pre-school is run by the trustees of the Father’s House Shaftesbury and provides care for up to 26 children, in each session, from age two years nine months to the end of the early years age group. The aim of Little Acorns Pre-School is to provide a safe secure and stimulating environment where children feel happy and confident in their surroundings. Our desire is for children in our care to have fun while learning and developing through play. All activities are carefully planned meeting the needs of all individual children.

We recognise that parents are the first and foremost educators of their children and we work towards parents feeling welcome and valued.

For more information you can contact the pre-school office: (01747 853715)
or e-mail: littleacornspreschool9@gmail.com

Statement from the trustees of Father’s House, owners of Little Acorns Pre-school (Thursday 13th March 2025)

It is with great sadness that the trustees of Father’s House, Shaftesbury have made the difficult decision to close Little Acorns Pre-school at the end of the Summer term 2025.
 
Little Acorns Pre-School has been serving the families of the local community for 25 years, providing happy, nurturing, high quality early years care and education. Owned and supported by Father’s House church it has operated as a not-for-profit setting.
 
However, in common with many other childcare providers we have found that our running costs have increasingly been outstripping the income we receive from the Government in Nursery grants. This and the prevailing economic climate have made it increasingly difficult for the Pre-school to manage its operating costs.
 
The change in family’s needs, towards full day care, has played a part in our decision to close at the end of this academic year. As has the rise in the minimum wage and changes in National Insurance being implemented on the 1st  April 2025. Regrettably the Pre-school is no longer financially viable, and without the financial support of the Church it would not have been able to continue running for the last 2 years.
 
Over the coming months we will be unwavering in our commitment to support all our staff, children and families through this period and ultimately ensure a smooth transition to School or another early years setting.
 
This decision has not been made lightly; we are aware of the impact the closure will have on our staff and the wider community. But we are thankful for the last 25 years and for all those who have worked here and the families who we have had the privilege to know and serve.

For session times - please scroll down

For the Little Acorns Pre-school aims click here

For fees and information about free funded places please see our fee policy here

For our Safeguarding Children Policy please click here

For our Privacy Notice please click here

For our Data protection policy click here

For our Prospectus please click here

Booking Forms

Click the links below for the Booking form or information about Pre-School:

Booking Form

Booking Form – Polish

About Pre-School