Full-day nursery in Welwyn, Hertfordshire
Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School
Whitehill, WELWYN, AL6 9FN · 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 April 2013Reference EY458165Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 5 December 2025Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places32 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 13 March 2025Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
Fees 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
- Monday to Friday
- 09:00–15:00
Ages: not published yet.
Getting there
Whitehill, WELWYN, AL6 9FN · More nurseries in AL6
Buses
11 bus stops within 400 m, including School Lane, Hawbush Rise South and Hawbush Rise North.
Parks and playgrounds
- Node Way Gardens Community Green9 min walk
- Playground1 min walk
- Playground3 min walk
NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026 · © OpenStreetMap contributors, 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 Hertfordshire there are about 2.9 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 Playgroup & Pre-School
Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School is a full-day nursery at Whitehill, WELWYN, AL6 9FN, in Welwyn, Hertfordshire. It is registered for 32 children. It opens 09:00–15:00, Mon–Fri. Its Ofsted report card (December 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 from 9 reviews (November 2026).
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Playgroup & Pre-SchoolThis nursery | Report card 2025 | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | not shared yet | This nursery |
| Meadow View ChildcareFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | not shared yet | 1.1 miles |
| Annabel's Montessori SchoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | not shared yet | 1.6 miles |
| Busy Bees Day Nursery at Welwyn Garden CityFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | 1.6 miles |
| Codicote Preschool Nursery ProvisionSessional pre-school | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 1.7 miles |
| Rowan Tree Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | 1.7 miles |
| Busy Bees Day Nursery at Mardley HillFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | 1.7 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Welwyn St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Goodinspected March 2025 0.2 miles
- Tenterfield Nursery School Nurseryages 2–5has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Outstandinginspected March 2023 0.3 miles
- Sherrardswood School ages 2–19has a nursery class 0.6 miles
- Homerswood Primary and Nursery School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Goodinspected October 2024 1.0 miles
- Harwood Hill Junior Mixed Infant and Nursery School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected March 2023 1.2 miles
- Templewood Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected December 2023 1.3 miles
- Oaklands Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Goodinspected July 2023 1.4 miles
- St John's CofE Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected April 2023 1.5 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 are Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School's opening hours?
Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School opens 09:00–15:00, Mon–Fri.
What is Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School's Ofsted rating?
Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School was inspected on 5 December 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 Playgroup & Pre-School take?
Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School is registered with Ofsted for up to 32 children at any one time.
What is the nearest station to Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School?
Welwyn North is the nearest station we know of, 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Acorn Playgroup & Pre-School?
You can call 01438 840132 and visit www.acornwelwyn.com.
Tools for parents in Hertfordshire
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in HertfordshireFees by age in Hertfordshire
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 13 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.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- 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 13 November 2026 · Ofsted URN EY458165 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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