Nursery | Nursery Berkshire | Crosfields School

Welcome to Little Acorns

Little Acorns offers an exceptional start to your child’s education, nurturing natural curiosity, building confidence, and laying the foundations for life-long learning. Located within the wider Crosfields School campus, our nursery and pre-school provide a warm, welcoming, and well-equipped environment where young learners truly flourish.

If you’re seeking a vibrant, nurturing setting with flexible enrolment and extended-care options, Little Acorns is the ideal choice for families looking for high-quality early years education in Reading.

Children can join Little Acorns from their third birthday, with new admissions for children aged two opening June 2026. An early start supports a smooth transition into school life with personalised guidance every step of the way.

Discover Little Acorns

A purpose-designed environment

Our nursery and pre-school enjoy dedicated, purpose-built spaces nestled within the Crosfields campus. Designed specifically for children aged 2–4, the environment supports both independent exploration and adult-led learning in a calm and secure setting. Neutral tones, natural materials and soft lighting create a peaceful backdrop where children’s work and achievements can shine.

Learning experiences and specialist teaching

At Little Acorns, children enjoy a rich blend of specialist-led sessions and engaging daily experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence and a love of learning. Even our youngest learners benefit from specialist teaching in Music, French, PE & Games, Forest School and Dance, giving them a broad and exciting start to their education.

Each day combines structured activities with free exploration. Children take part in sessions such as:

Dough Disco – Fine motor development through music and movement
Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle – Fun physical activities supporting early writing
Talk 4 Writing – Imaginative play, outdoor learning and storytelling
Maths – Play-based activities that develop early mathematical thinking
Phonics – Songs, stories and games that introduce early reading skills

Children also enjoy weekly swimming lessons in our modern indoor pool, featuring a variable-depth floor for comfort and safety. Our beautiful woodland provides an inspiring setting for Forest School, where children build independence, resilience and teamwork through meaningful outdoor experiences.

Food and nutrition

Our children enjoy freshly prepared, home-cooked meals made on-site.

Pre-school pupils dine in the Junior Dining Hall, while our younger children eat in the nursery. Meals are designed to suit young palates and meet nutritional needs.

Flexible care options

We understand the demands of busy family life, which is why we offer:

Core Nursery Hours: 08:15 – 15:15 (term time)
Breakfast Club: From 07:30
After-School Care: Until 17:50
Access up to 30 hours of government Early Years Funding for Nursery and 15 hours for Pre-School (subject to eligibility)

These flexible options can be added at an additional cost to suit your routine.

Please see our Fees page for full information on cost.

Our Nursery: Ages 2-3 years

Little Acorns Nursery welcomes children aged 2–3 into a brand new, thoughtfully designed space where curiosity and confidence can grow. Each day combines gentle routines with plenty of time for free exploration, helping children feel secure, supported and ready to learn through play. Our nurturing, playful environment is full of discovery, imagination and early friendships.

We support every child through a wide range of enriching activities that build communication, physical development and confidence. These include sensory play, music and movement, early mark-making and outdoor adventures. Children also enjoy healthy, freshly prepared meals, shared with their teachers to encourage independence, positive social skills and good eating habits.

Our Pre-school: Ages 3-4 years

Little Acorns Pre-school welcomes children aged 3–4 and supports them as they take confident steps towards school. Our days balance thoughtful, adult-led activities with time for independent exploration, helping children develop focus, resilience and self-reliance within a calm, warm environment.

Alongside strong early foundations in phonics and maths, our highly experienced staff, including qualified teachers, place a particular emphasis on communication and language, supporting children to express their ideas, listen to others and develop a genuine curiosity about the world around them. Children also take part in a range of engaging creative experiences, including:

Dough Disco – Developing fine motor skills through music and movement
Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle – Fun, physical exercises that support early writing
Tales Toolkit – A creative approach to storytelling, imaginative play, and outdoor learning

Pre-school children also enjoy lunch in the junior dining hall alongside older pupils at Crosfields School. Meals are freshly prepared on site, nutritious and appealing to young palates, helping children develop independence, confidence and positive social skills at mealtimes.

To find our more, please contact our Admissions Team at admissions@crosfields.com.

At a Glance

Learn

Specialist teachers for music, French, swimming, PE/games, Forest School and dance

Splash!

Swimming pool with variable depth floor

Explore

40 acres of land to explore with six Forest School sites

Eat

Nutritious, freshly prepared meals cooked on site

Play

Open year-round with term-time options available

Visit Us

Experience Little Acorns first-hand at one of our Stay and Play sessions. Meet our nurturing team and explore our vibrant learning environment. Visit our main Events page for further information and to book your place.

Book a Visit

Explore

Nursery Fees

Nursery FAQs

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