LOCAL FACE: LITTLE ACORNS

Local Faces: Little Acorns Kindergarten

Mel Armstrong (photo below) moved to Wendover with her family 20 years ago. Mel is the Manager of a much-loved early years setting on the school campus, Little Acorns Kindergarten.

This year, Mel and her team will be celebrating 30 years serving the Wendover community. Over the years, Little Acorns has evolved from a small pack-away pre-school to the thriving setting it is today.

In January 2020, Little Acorns was the first early years setting in Wendover to be inspected under the new Ofsted inspection framework. Mel said, “The new inspections were more rigorous than ever before and focused on our ability to provide quality education and care. We were delighted to be awarded Outstanding in All Areas and I couldn’t be more proud of this achievement.

“My team and I are firm believers in learning through play - watching a child’s face light up as they grasp a concept or learn a new skill is hugely rewarding. It’s wonderful to be able to play such a big part in a child’s development and all of the staff here are committed to providing a safe, happy, stimulating environment for every Little Acorn we welcome.”

Mel continued: “Every child who walks through our door is unique. We encourage children to become good citizens by respecting the diversity of their fellow preschoolers. We want them to develop caring attitudes and respect towards themselves, other children, and their wider community.

“I am always keen to share how we maintain the high standard of care and education that we provide. In July, I will be a key speaker at a conference to help practitioners fully understand the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

“My talk is all about how we challenge our children and ensure that every child is making progress. The conference will be run by Nursery World who are the UK’s leading national publishers for Early Years Education and Early Years Professionals. To highlight Little Acorns and all of the amazing work we do on a national stage is a fantastic opportunity.”

Over the past 30 years, Wendover has grown, and today’s families are fortunate to have a varied choice of excellent Early Years provision. Even after all these years, Little Acorns continues to flourish. Many of the families who attend Little Acorns come to them through recommendations. They recognise that although times change, curricula and guidelines come and go, their core values remain the same; to ensure that every child reaches their highest levels of personal achievement and development. Ultimately, their aim is to inspire and celebrate each child. The high ratio of experienced staff to children means that the individual needs of every child is always considered.

Little Acorns is always keen to strengthen their links within the community. In the past, they have supported the local foodbank, forged links with the Wendover Dementia Support Group and teamed up with John Colet School for sports day. They would love to continue to make links with other organisations or companies to continually enhance their children’s learning experiences. Please do get in touch if you think you can help.

As a non-profit making charity, Little Acorns, like many other charities, have missed their fundraising events this past year. They are hoping that in the coming months, they will be able to hold many events including a 5K fun run, fashion show and Gala Dinner. With the local community’s support, they hope to ensure their future viability for another 30 years. Please see their Facebook page for details, Little Acorns Kindergarten, Wendover.

Little Acorns are so excited to be finally able to celebrate their 30-year anniversary. If you, or any of your family, attended Little Acorns over the past 30 years, they would love to hear from you. Please email, enquiries@littleacornswendover.org. Little Acorns are delighted that one of the first Little Acorns is now sending their daughter to the setting, what a wonderful family tradition to uphold!

Little Acorns are keen to support the next generation of Early Years Practitioners. Would you be interested in an apprenticeship? If so, please contact enquiries@littleacornswendover.org.