Widcombe Acorns, a pre-school and forest school in Bath’s city centre, is celebrating its fifth consecutive Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’.
Catering to children aged three until school age, the pre-school was awarded ‘Outstanding’ in all categories during its recent July inspection. This recognition reflects continued excellence across the board, from quality of education to leadership and overall effectiveness.
The Ofsted report praised the, ‘wonderful atmosphere at Acorns,’ highlighting the ‘highly skilled team’ who deliver a ‘progressive curriculum’ and ‘make learning fun, offering children rich, exciting activities and experiences.’
Inspectors highlighted how, ‘Children develop a keen curiosity, a love of learning and a strong desire to achieve. They show skills well above their age and are exceptionally well prepared for their move on to school.’
Helen Harvey, Widcombe Acorns Joint Manager, said, “We understand how important early years education is to a child’s life chances. Our wonderful team shares a deep commitment to nurturing each child. What makes our team work so well is that we work collaboratively, we are constantly reflecting and training so we can adapt and meet the needs of the children.”
Operating from St Mark’s Community Centre, Acorns offers a unique forest setting filled with trees, dens, mud kitchens and rope swings. Children are encouraged to explore and experiment through open-ended resources that spark imagination and creativity. The pre-school’s ethos centres on knowing each child individually, fostering emotional wellbeing, building confidence and self-esteem, and forging strong and happy relationships with staff and peers – all of which underpins the child’s ability to learn and thrive.
The report comes at a challenging time for early years settings across the country, many of which face financial pressures due to rising running costs and insufficient government funding. Widcombe Acorns relies heavily on community support through fundraising events and voluntary contributions to enable it to continue to provide high-quality education to young children.
Emma Dodds-Smith, Widcombe Acorns Joint Manager, commented, “We are really grateful for the incredible support of our community. Their belief in our vision to provide a safe, inspiring, learning environment tailored to the needs of each child is what enables us to thrive. Together, we’re giving children the strongest possible foundation for their future.”
