About us Our Awards Acorn’s work was recognised nationally and locally during 2025 through a number of awards that reflect its commitment to quality, sustainability, workforce wellbeing and sector leadership. We are super proud of all the awards and nominations we have achieved so far and it is all down to the hard work and dedication of our staff teams! 2025 Acorn Early Years was named one of the Daynurseries Top 20 Large Nursery Groups in the UK for 2025, based on independent reviews from parents and carers. This marked the fifth consecutive year that Acorn has received this national recognition, reflecting sustained high levels of satisfaction across its provision. In addition, Acorn’s Sharnbrook nursery was recognised as one of the Top 20 Nurseries in the East of England, highlighting consistently strong family feedback and the quality of care and education provided. During 2025, 14 Acorn nurseries achieved the Eco‑Schools Green Flag Award, several with Distinction or Merit. Mulberry Bear achieved the award for the first time, marking an important milestone in recognising its sustainability efforts and the start of a journey to build on this work. Kents Hill achieved the award for the fifth consecutive year, reflecting its long‑standing commitment to environmental education and the continuous development of sustainable practice. Across all Acorn settings, these awards demonstrate the successful embedding of sustainability within everyday nursery life. Acorn at Shenley Church End was named ‘Inspiring Nursery’ at the Milton Keynes Inspiration Awards 2025. The award recognised the nursery’s child‑led ethos, inclusive environment and strong relationships with children and families. Acorn was also recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ in Education & Training by Great Place to Work® UK, reflecting high levels of trust, inclusion and positive workplace culture across the organisation. Becky Watanabe, one of Acorn’s Early Years Manager, received the Inspirational Educator Award 2025 for Early Years Education from The Educators’ Trust. The award recognises outstanding contribution, leadership and impact within the early years sector and reflects Becky’s expertise, influence and commitment to high‑quality early years practice. Nursery Group of the Year at the 2024 Nursery World Awards: (September 2024) This award recognises excellence in every aspect of care, learning and development for all children, the provision of inspirational environments, an exemplary approach to staff development and a fostering of warm, supportive relationships with parents and carers. Nursery Operations Manager of the Year at the 2024 Nursery World Awards: (September 2024) Laura Tingey, our Head of Early Years & Compliance, won the Nursery Operations Manager of the Year! This award recognises her exemplary leadership and management skills in enabling consistent high quality across all our nurseries, for the benefit of children, families, staff and the group! 2024 Eco-Schools Green Flag Awards: This is an international accreditation that recognises young people's environmental actions! 13 of our nurseries achieved the Green Flag award in 2024, some of which achieved it for the fourth or third consecutive year, and others for the very first time! 'Top 20 DayNurseries Group Award 2024' (April 2024) This recognises Acorn as one of the top 20 rated large nursery groups in the region, based on the reviews from our parents & carers. Eco-Friendly Early Years Award at the 2023 Nursery World Awards: (September 2023) Alongside winning the Eco-Friendly Early Years Award, which recognises our eco-friendly approach and blossoming sustainability journey in many aspects of our work, ranging from management, to connecting children with nature on a regular basis and educating and inspiring them with what sustainable living can look like, we were also shortlisted for the Nursery Food Award and one of our Early Years Managers was shortlisted for the Nursery Trainer of the Year Award. 2023 Eco-Schools Green Flag Awards: This is an international accreditation that recognises young people's environmental actions! in 2023, 10 of our nurseries achieved the Green Flag award! 'Top 20 DayNurseries Group Award 2023' (June 2023) This recognises Acorn as one of the top 20 rated large nursery groups in the region, based on the reviews from our parents & carers. 'Customer Facing Social Enterprise of the Year Award' at UK Social Enterprise Awards (December 2022) Alongside winning the Customer Facing Social Enterprise of the Year Award, which recognises us as one of UK's most effective and leading social enterprises, we were also shortlisted for the Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise of the Year Award. 'Large Employer of the Year Award' at Milton Keynes Apprenticeship Awards (September 2022) Alongside winning The Large Employer of the Year, which recognises businesses with 250+ employees that offer apprenticeships, we were also shortlisted for the Diversity and Inclusion Award, which recognises employers who embrace equality and diversity in their apprenticeship programme. 2022 Eco-Schools Green Flag Awards: 'Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Merit accreditation' at our Sharnbrook nursery (November 2022) Some of the feedback received from Eco-Schools: "We were impressed to see that your action plan foci were informed by the children's interest and voice!" "We have no doubt that the way your Eco-Schools work is guiding children along their path to becoming curious, caring and compassionate young eco-citizens must be an immense source of pride for you all at Acorn!" 'Eco-Schools Green Flag Award' at our Westcroft nursery (October 2022) Some of the feedback received from Eco-Schools: "We have enjoyed hearing about how involved you have been with the RHS Campaign For School gardening, the RSPB Wild Challenge, the Great Big School Clean 2022 and litter picking - well done! We love that your children have taken their great work beyond the nursery gates and into their homes and local community. This is a very challenging aspect of the Eco-Schools programme, so your Eco-Committee should be very proud of their successes in this area!" 'Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction accreditation' at our Burton Latimer nursery (September 2022) Some of the feedback received from Eco-Schools: "It is wonderful to hear that the children have developed their confidence and skills in leadership, active citizenship and how to work in a team! It is clear that your approach to the Eco-Committee demonstrates a proactive, inclusive and educational approach to the programmes. It is impressive to see!" "It is great that you have worked alongside the local community to create a better environment and that you also have a relationship with your local government to support your local community. This kind of work is a good example of the collaborative approach we will all need to adopt to help protect and improve our environment - your application made us feel really positive for the future!" 'Eco-Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction accreditation' at our Kents Hill nursery (July 2022) Some of the feedback received from Eco-Schools: "From adding more bird feeders and bug hotels, to growing more vegetables and introducing more plant-based meals, everyone involved should be incredibly proud of the changes they have made!" 'Top 20 DayNurseries Group Award 2022' (June 2022) This award means that we are placed in the top 20 of all large nursery groups in the UK, and we are the only nursery group to have received this award in Milton Keynes! 'Top 20 DayNurseries Award 2022' at our Kents Hill nursery (June 2022) Our Kents Hill nursery is in the Top 20 nurseries in South East England! Nominations Finalist for 2024 Women's Leaders' Awards in the category 'Community Impact' - Laura Tingey (our Head of Early Years & Compliance): (May 2024) Finalists for two National Nursery Management Today (NMT) Nursery Awards: (November 2022) 'Indoor Learning Award' (recognises the nursery in the sector which has created an environment that most inspires and excites children, as well as most actively involves children in their learning, and celebrates their achievements) 'Team Award' (recognises the nursery team in the sector that has developed and maintained an excellent standard if childcare showing exceptional group values and a commitment to working together for the common good)