Anna's Little Acorns

11/09/2026

Here’s a little peek at what we’ll be exploring over the first few weeks of our autumn term. We’re loosely following the ReWilding Your Wanderlust themes, using the changing season and the natural world around us as our starting point.

This isn’t a rigid weekly plan, though — far from it! Our curriculum is deliberately loose, leaving plenty of room for planning in the moment, following the children’s interests, and responding to what we find, notice and wonder about together. One interesting mushroom, a particularly beautiful leaf, a puddle after a rainy day… any of these might take us somewhere completely unexpected.

We’ll have stories, baking, creative activities, music and lots of time outdoors, but much of our learning will happen naturally through play, conversation, exploration and simply being curious about the world around us.

I’m also looking forward to watching our nature table evolve throughout the term. We’ll start with a simple autumn landscape, then gradually add the treasures we discover along the way — leaves, sticks, seeds, berries, feathers, stones and anything else that catches our eye. By the end of the seven weeks, it will hopefully tell the story of our autumn adventures. 🍁

The plan is there to give us a direction, not a destination.

https://www.hyggeintheearlyyears.co.uk/wanderlust-nature-study-1-408dfd8b-d1e8-4505-b4a4-f58ebab574df

05/08/2026

I'm delighted to say that I'm now taking enquiries for future places at Anna's Little Acorns! 🌿🍂

If you're looking for a warm, home-from-home childminding setting where children can learn through play, spend plenty of time outdoors and enjoy lots of adventures, I'd love to hear from you.

My new website is coming soon, but in the meantime you can register your interest using the enquiry form below:

👇 https://form.jotform.com/262164572045051

I'll then be in touch to chat about your childcare needs and, if I have suitable availability, arrange a visit to the setting.

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may be looking for childcare in the Frome area. Thank you! 💚

17/04/2026

Feeling very refreshed after a lovely two-week break and so ready to get back to it next week!

I’ve been busy putting together our curriculum map for the term ahead, and it’s full of some really exciting themes—St George’s Day, May Day, Cinco de Mayo, butterflies (with our very own caterpillars to care for!), and World Bee Day. Lots of opportunities for creativity, exploration, and getting stuck into nature.

I’m especially looking forward to getting back out into the garden with the little ones—sowing seeds, tending to our vegetable patch, and watching everything start to grow (including the weeds, but never mind…). We'll also be releasing the froglets we've grown in the tank. So exciting!

We’ve also got some lovely sessions lined up with our visiting music teachers, Heather from Groove Tots and Tanya from Drum It Up, which I know the children will absolutely love.

Can’t wait to see everyone and start the new term!

17/04/2026

Safeguarding CPD

13/04/2026

29/12/2025

🌱 A little lunchtime update 🌱

We’re making a few positive changes to how we do lunch here, and I wanted to share them with you.

We’ve found that the run-up to lunchtime can sometimes feel a bit tricky — hungry children, lots happening, and lunch prep happening right at the last minute. So, to make things calmer (and get food on the table earlier), we’re switching to a new four-week rotating lunch menu, which you’ll find attached to this post.

✨ What’s changing?

Lunch will be prepared earlier in the morning, when children are settled and curious

Children will be actively involved in making lunch, particularly on our slow-cooker days

Meals will be ready earlier, helping avoid that end-of-morning hunger wobble

🍲 What to expect

Home-cooked, low-salt meals

Lots of vegetables, familiar flavours, and comforting favourites

A mix of soups, pasta dishes, curries, tagines, wraps and simple mezze-style lunches

Adaptations made for individual needs, with familiar alternatives always available

This approach supports independence, confidence and curiosity around food — and, just as importantly, helps keep lunchtimes calm, predictable and enjoyable for everyone (including the grown-ups 😉).

Please take a look at the menu and feel free to ask if you have any questions.

01/12/2025

🌿 Spaces Available – September 2026 🌿

We’ll have a couple of rare spaces opening from September 2026, and we’re hoping to welcome some younger little ones (around 9–18 months) who can grow with us over the next few years. Perfect timing if you’re planning ahead… and it could even suit twins beautifully.

Our places are term-time only, running 9am–3pm, with the possibility of some wraparound care between 8am–5pm for those who need a bit more flexibility.

We’ll be arranging visits in the spring term, so I’m inviting families to register their interest now.

We’re aiming to keep a lovely balance of ages in the group, so these spaces are specifically for younger children (we’re already well-stocked with lively twos and threes!). We’re a calm, creative, child-led setting with plenty of time outdoors, lots of loose parts, and a gentle, nurturing rhythm to our days. If your little one enjoys peaceful play, curious exploring, and pottering about in nature, they’ll fit right in.

If that sounds like your cup of tea, pop me a message and we can chat about next steps.

01/11/2025

We’re very excited to share our brand new four-week lunch rotation with all our lovely families — and for any prospective parents who’d like to see the sort of tasty meals your little ones enjoy here!

You’ll notice a mix of warm, home-cooked meals (like Quorn korma and Spanish rice & beans) alongside some simple, healthy lunchbox options. That’s because we’ll be heading out and about more this term — and having a few “grab-and-go” picnic lunches helps us make the most of our adventures without anyone getting hangry on the way home. 😅

Meals are vegetarian as standard, with occasional meat or fish available, and we always provide dairy-free alternatives when needed. There’s also a simple sandwich or breadsticks & hummus on standby for any child who decides that today is a “no to new foods” day — no judgement here!

Fresh fruit and veg are always on the table, and meals are planned with nutrition and happy tummies in mind. 🌱

If you’re curious to see the full menu or have any questions about dietary needs or ingredients, please just ask — I’m always happy to chat over a cuppa. ☕

17/10/2025

Yesterday’s offering from the garden was a very serious “leaf and mud salad” — mixed with great pride and absolutely served to me for tasting! Meanwhile indoors, the ribbons and fabric have made their way around chair legs and across the room in true artistic fashion, and in the kitchen the feathers have been used to create a marvellous playdough bird.

No plastic kits or instructions needed — just imagination, nature, and the freedom to explore. The little ones always show us how much learning happens when we give them space to create…