Welcome to The Acorn Nursery School & Forest School

The Acorn Nursery School is an independent, term-time nursery and Forest School in the heart of Cranleigh, welcoming children from 12 months to five years.

Through play, exploration and warm, nurturing relationships, we help every child develop confidence, independence and a lifelong love of learning.

Learning Through Play

We believe that young children learn best when they feel happy, secure and inspired. Our traditional nursery-school approach brings learning to life through purposeful play, creativity, movement and outdoor exploration.

Children are encouraged to follow their interests, try new experiences and develop at their own pace, supported by our caring and experienced practitioners.

Our children enjoy Forest School, outdoor learning, PE, yoga, music and movement, creative activities and imaginative play. We also use the Thrive Approach to support children’s social and emotional wellbeing, helping them to feel understood, confident and ready to flourish.

A Proud History and an Exciting New Chapter

Under its previous registered provider, The Acorn Nursery School achieved Outstanding judgements at four consecutive Ofsted inspections in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2025.

The nursery entered an exciting new chapter under new ownership in August 2026. We are proud to build on its long-established strengths while continuing to provide the nurturing, high-quality early education for which The Acorn is known.

Our experienced team is passionate about early childhood education and includes three qualified Early Years Teachers.

Forest School and Enrichment

Our pre-school children enjoy regular Forest School sessions, giving them opportunities to explore nature, develop resilience, take appropriate risks and build confidence.

Children also take part in PE, yoga, music and movement, alongside a wide variety of creative, physical and educational experiences.

Flexible Sessions

We are open Monday to Friday during term time and aim to offer families as much flexibility as possible.

Breakfast Club is available from 8:00am, subject to sufficient demand, with Early Bird drop-off options at 8:30am and 8:45am.

Nursery sessions begin at 9:00am and are available for three, four, five or six hours. Children can attend between 6 and 30 hours each week.

We also currently offer an After School Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Please contact us to discuss the session pattern that would work best for your child and family.

Funded and Self-Funded Places

We welcome children accessing eligible government-funded early education.

Eligible working parents may receive up to 30 hours of government-funded childcare each week, for 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their child turns nine months until they start school. The Acorn welcomes children from 12 months, and eligible families can use their funded hours with us from this age.

We also accept funding for eligible two-year-olds receiving additional support and the universal 15-hour entitlement for all three- and four-year-olds.

Self-funded places are also available. All funded places are subject to eligibility, availability and our funding terms. Please contact us for full details of our fees, funding arrangements and chargeable extras.

Preparing for the Next Step

We are proud to be part of the Cranleigh community. Our children move on to primary schools throughout Cranleigh and the surrounding villages, including both state and independent schools.

We help children develop the confidence, independence and social skills they need for a happy and successful transition to school.

Come and Meet Us

Choosing a nursery is an important decision, and the best way to discover The Acorn is to come and experience it for yourself.

We would be delighted to show you around, introduce you to our team and answer any questions you may have. Please visit our Contact Us page to request further information or arrange a visit.

You can also follow our Facebook page for nursery news, photographs and weekly updates.

The Acorn Nursery School
Church Lane
Cranleigh
Surrey
GU6 8AR

Just a few minutes’ walk from Cranleigh village centre.