Full-day nursery in Souldrop, Bedford
Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)
Unilever Research Site, Sharnbrook, BEDFORD, MK44 1LQ · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted report card
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- AchievementStrong standard
- Behaviour and routinesStrong standard
- Children's welfare and well-beingStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingStandards met
What does this mean?
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each nursery a report card. Each area is graded on a five-step scale: urgent improvement, needs attention, expected standard, strong standard, exceptional. Safeguarding is either met or not met. There is no single headline grade, and we never make one up.
Official records
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since August 2017Reference EY550865Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 11 November 2025Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places62 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 4 December 2025Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
Fees, hours and ages: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
Estimate a monthly cost with the council area's typical day rate
Hours and ages
Opening hours and ages: not published yet.
Getting there
Unilever Research Site, Sharnbrook, BEDFORD, MK44 1LQ · More nurseries in MK44
Buses
1 bus stop within 400 m, including Colworth Science Park.
NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Bedford there are about 3.6 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
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Write a reviewAbout Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)
Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) is a full-day nursery at Unilever Research Site, Sharnbrook, BEDFORD, MK44 1LQ, in Souldrop, Bedford. It is registered for 62 children. Its Ofsted report card (November 2025) grades inclusion Strong standard, curriculum and teaching Strong standard, achievement Strong standard, behaviour and routines Strong standard, children's welfare and well-being Strong standard and leadership and governance Strong standard; safeguarding standards met. It has a Google rating of 5.0 (November 2026). It is run by Acorn Early Years Foundation.
Run by Acorn Early Years Foundation (charity), which runs 18 nurseries.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)This nursery | Report card 2025 | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | This nursery |
| Harrold PreschoolSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 2.7 miles |
| Little Stars KindergartenSessional pre-school | Outstanding | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 3.8 miles |
| Kiddi Caru Day Nursery and PreschoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 4.1 miles |
| Oakley KindergartenFull-day nursery | Report card 2026 | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 4.2 miles |
| HappytotsFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 4.3 miles |
| Rhymetime RushdenFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 4.3 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Sharnbrook Primary Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected June 2024 1.0 miles
- Pinchmill Primary School Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: Quality of education: Requires improvement; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Goodinspected May 2025 1.5 miles
- Sharnbrook Academy Secondaryages 11–18Ofsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Outstandinginspected February 2025 0.5 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
What is Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)'s Ofsted rating?
Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) was inspected on 11 November 2025 and given an Ofsted report card. Report cards grade each area separately rather than giving one headline grade: inclusion Strong standard, curriculum and teaching Strong standard, achievement Strong standard, behaviour and routines Strong standard, children's welfare and well-being Strong standard and leadership and governance Strong standard. Safeguarding standards met.
How many children can Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) take?
Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) is registered with Ofsted for up to 62 children at any one time.
Who runs Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)?
Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook) is run by Acorn Early Years Foundation, which runs 18 nurseries.
How do I contact Acorn Day Nursery (Sharnbrook)?
You can call 01234 608899 and visit www.acornearlyyears.org.uk.
Tools for parents in Bedford
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
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- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in BedfordFees by age in Bedford
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 5 November 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- Contains Department for Transport NaPTAN data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
Last checked 5 November 2026 · Ofsted URN EY550865 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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