Expanding geographically to increase our social impact

With 17 nurseries running successfully across four counties, but with 13 of those in Milton Keynes, Acorn are aiming to establish an expanded network of high quality, affordable nurseries across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and potentially further afield, within the South East Midlands.

As a charitable social enterprise, we have a core mission to provide early years care and education that is high quality, sustainable, affordable and accessible. We want to grow in order to increase our impact, but simply to grow for its own sake, and our cross-subsidy model enables us to develop nursery sites to be sustainable in the long-term.

Several of our existing nurseries have been the result of other nurseries choosing to become part of our group, including some who were at risk of closure. We welcome enquiries from single site nurseries or small groups who might want to explore the option of becoming part of the Acorn family. We are also interested in partnerships with schools, employers or developers who are keen to lease a property to us.

We’re looking for the following:

· Leasehold or freehold properties or sites within the area covered by the map below that have sufficient space for a nursery building of approximately 250 - 300 square metres, and space for an outdoor garden area of at least 100 square metres (or smaller, if there is easy access to a natural environment nearby).

· We are also looking for woodland spaces or natural environments that might be suitable for a forest school site (with access/parking).

· Partnerships with schools, employers, community centres or other sites that have the capacity to host a nursery facility (must have its own outdoor space attached).

· Existing nurseries or nursery groups who would like to join Acorn. This could be via an acquisition or a merger.

If you would like an informal discussion in the first instance, please contact us on [email protected] or call 01908 510309