Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Pre-School & Toddler Care in Ely, Cambridgeshire
Established in 1975, Little Thetford Acorns & Toddler Group has served the local community for nearly five decades, providing high-quality, child-led care in a nurturing environment. Our purpose-built facility near Ely, Cambridgeshire, features extensive outdoor spaces designed to foster exploration and learning through play. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, integrating Forest School sessions to promote outdoor education for children aged 2 years 3 months to 5 years. Our highly qualified team tailors activities to individual developmental needs, ensuring each child receives personalized attention. We prioritize flexible booking options, including half-day, full-day, and wrap-around care sessions during term time.Our commitment to healthy eating is reflected in our nutritious meal offerings and educational focus on balanced diets. As a registered charity (No: 1132906), we reinvest all funds into enhancing facilities and resources for the children's benefit. Our partnerships with families and emphasis on mutual trust create a secure atmosphere where children thrive. We maintain rigorous safety standards and operate transparent communication channels for parental engagement. With over 40 years of collective staff experience, we combine traditional childcare values with modern educational practices.
Services
Pre-School Sessions
Forest School
Toddler Group
Wrap-around Care
Healthy Eating Program
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- We offer 50 years of local childcare expertise in a purpose-built facility
- Our Forest School sessions promote outdoor learning in a natural environment
- Highly qualified staff provide personalized attention to each child
- Flexible booking options accommodate working parents' schedules
- Nutritionist-approved menus support healthy eating habits
Associations and certifications
- Early Years Foundation Stage
- Forest School Association
Services
Pre-School Sessions
Structured learning programs for children aged 2 years 3 months to 5 years. Sessions follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum with qualified staff. Activities combine play-based learning with developmental milestones tracking.
Forest School
Weekly outdoor education sessions for children over 3 years. Focuses on nature exploration, risk assessment skills, and environmental awareness. Limited spaces available with specialized instructor supervision.
Toddler Group
Monday afternoon sessions for younger children. Includes age-appropriate play activities and parent interaction. Small charge applies with discounted rates for childminders.
Wrap-around Care
Flexible care options before and after regular sessions. Includes breakfast club from 8:15-9:00am and lunch club with healthy packed meals. Available Monday to Thursday.
Healthy Eating Program
Balanced meal planning and nutrition education for children. Features seasonal ingredients and dietary requirement accommodations. Includes lunch club with educational eating sessions.
Questions
What age range do you accept?
We accept children aged 2 years 3 months to 5 years, with Forest School sessions available for over 3s.
Are meals provided?
Yes, we provide healthy snacks and meals. Parents must supply packed lunches for lunch club attendees.
Do you offer flexible hours?
Flexible booking options include half-day, full-day, and wrap-around care sessions during term time.
Is funding available?
We accept Working Parents' Entitlement funding (15 and 30 hours) for eligible children starting September 2025.
How do you support child development?
Our curriculum combines play-based learning with Forest School outdoor education, tailored to individual developmental needs.
What safety measures are in place?
We maintain rigorous safety standards with qualified staff ratios and emergency contact procedures during operating hours.
Reviews (7)
Lana Elbrow
Oct 07, 2020
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My little boy has just started he has only been 2 days so far but I’m so happy already. I’m looking forward to reading his tapestry online to see what he’s been up to
Emily Bradley
Jan 31, 2020
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My son started at LTA in 2018 and always gets excited about going to preschool. His confidence has grown massively and he's made lots of friends. The staff are very nuturing and always looking at ways to help the children learn through play to get the very best out of them. He is certainly well prepared for starting school in September.
Rachael Jacobs
Jan 24, 2020
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My eldest first started at LTA in 2017, I was incredibly nervous leaving him but they were amazing with him and he thrived there. The staff there worked hard to prepare him for ‘big school’ and did such a good job he walked in on his first day with no hesitation. He made some lovely friends at LTA that moved with him to the Primary school, it really started his academic life well. I now have my twins at LTA and have both settled in well and love going. The staff are kind and nurturing with the children. A lovely environment.
Bex Well Dunne
Jan 03, 2020
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Highly recommended, the highlight of my daughters week are her days spent here! Lovely setting with wonderful staff and a huge outdoor area.
Julie Ingle
Dec 19, 2018
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I chose Little Thetford Acorns because of the positive reputation it has. The staff were friendly and professional at our taster session and made us feel very welcome. Our daughter struggled with being left for some time and the staff were understanding, supportive and reassuring throughout this time. They would even call to let me know she was ok. We have seen our daughter develop in leaps and she loves her time there. The staff are dedicated to making the first introduction to learning a happy positive experience. The outdoor area is fantastic and our daughter has loved going to Forest School
Sam Warren
Dec 15, 2018
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My son currently attendance Little Thetford Acorns. I can not praise the setting and staff enough. Ellis has grown in confidence since being at the pre school and he loves attending. They have just recently started doing Forest Schools on a Monday which I highly recommend.
James Granville
Jul 25, 2018
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When my daughter turned 2 years 5 months me and my partner started exploring several different Pre-Schools in our local area so we could flexibly work. It was a really hard decision enrolling to a Pre School; especially being first time parents. It was important finding the right school that my daughter can blossom in from a large choice in our local area. From the taster session in September 2017 with our daughter at LTA Pre School we were immediately impressed by the setting:
A clean well presented building ,clear up to date notice boards and the amazing outdoor setting including a mud kitchen
A clean well presented building ,clear up to date notice boards and the amazing outdoor setting including a mud kitchen
