Currently accepting registrations for 2026/2027.

The practical life exercises are fundamental in developing the child's natural drive towards increased independence and build on developing fine motor skills which help in the preparation for writing. Tasks such as pouring, transferring, polishing, washing, cleaning, folding, and sorting are available using real life tools and ingredients. Together with a full range of dressing frames such as buttons, buckles, zips and bows, the practical life tasks help the children in their quest for independence.

This is a crafted range of sensorial materials, attractively presented and designed to enhance the child's natural ability through exercises in contrasting, discriminating, pairing, seriating and grading. Your child will develop a real knowledge of shape and size, volume, sounds, touch and colour. All these exercises prepare a solid foundation for the intellectual activities involved in the proceeding mathematics and language activities.

Your child will have the opportunity to explore a range of specially designed materials that provide a concrete understanding of abstract mathematical concepts. 

Each concept is introduced first in a practical, hands-on way. For example, children are able to hold quantities in their hands or see them represented physically before learning the abstract symbols and making the connection between the two.

Montessori maths equipment helps to reinforce numbers and quantities from one to ten, alongside circle-time mental arithmetic activities, songs, and games. Children then progress to numbers eleven to nineteen, counting in tens, and basic addition and subtraction. As with all new concepts taught at Acorn, each child moves forward at their own pace, learning with enjoyment and without pressure.

 At Acorn, children take part in group circle time twice daily, enjoying discussions, songs, games, stories and themed activities that build confidence, concentration and communication skills. These sessions help children learn to listen, take turns, share ideas and develop a love of books.

Early literacy is introduced gently through Montessori methods, with phonetic learning beginning by tracing sandpaper letters. This is supported by our own successful programme, Elephonics, which caters to different learning styles. Children are encouraged to develop pencil control and fine motor skills, and many leave Acorn reading and writing to a high standard. A range of reading schemes and a well-stocked library further support a love of reading, which we actively nurture..

Children’s natural curiosity about the world is nurtured through hands-on learning about the environment, other cultures, and the natural and man-made world, providing strong foundations for science, geography, history and technology.

Children explore and care for their surroundings through gardening, daily weather observations, seasonal changes, plant growth, animal habitats and simple experiments. 

They also experience real life cycles, such as chicks hatching and observing frogs and butterflies, alongside visits to farms or wildlife parks and on-site animal visits throughout the year.

Children have opportunities to use educational games and apps on the school computer and iPad, helping them develop hand–eye coordination, mouse control and an understanding of safe technology use.

They are also encouraged to explore how things work through hands-on problem solving, including construction activities, using tools such as screwdrivers, working with nuts and bolts, exploring locks and keys, and experimenting with weights using scales. 

Children enjoy daily supervised outdoor play in our large, safe environment, with access to bikes, balls, climbing and balancing equipment. They also take part in structured activities such as gardening, exploring the school grounds and wooded area, and indoor 'Stretch and Move' sessions including Dance and Sticky Kids.

Physical development is further supported through annual events such as our charity obstacle course and Sports Day. These experiences help build strength, coordination and confidence, while encouraging healthy, active lifestyles and an understanding of the importance of exercise and healthy eating.

We introduce the children to French language, songs, stories and cultural awareness on Friday mornings. This heightens their awareness and understanding of another country, and gives them the opportunity to practise spoken French.

We focus on the development of the child's imagination and their ability to communicate and express ideas and feelings in a creative way. This is therefore an integral part of our curriculum and the following areas will demonstrate how the children experience this on a daily basis.

 Children enjoy a balance of guided activities and free creative expression through painting, drawing, cutting, sticking and other art activities, which they proudly take home. 

They explore a wide range of 2D and 3D materials, working independently or collaboratively on group projects. Sensory play is encouraged through regular access to sand, water and playdough.

Regular cookery sessions also allow children to explore food preparation using real tools under supervision, while learning practical skills they see within the home.

Children are free to play, invent and create role play situations and games within our Home Corner area of the classroom. This is an invaluable area that builds social development, creative and imaginative interaction. Throughout the school year, we adapt the home corner into a variety of different venues such as shops, countries and places, to link to our current themes.

Each week our children sing, play instruments, dance, mime and act out musical games to a keyboard accompaniment. We have a large hall where these activities happen and we enthusiastically encourage the children's all round appreciation of music and movement.  

Parents are invited to watch the children take part in Christmas and Easter plays and concerts which foster memory, co-ordination, concentration and confidence.