The Acorns Afterschool Club

in the beginning...

The Acorns Afterschool Club started by local mums not able to access suitable childcare to return to work.

Jacqueline Thomson and husband Nigel moved to Warminster in 1994 with their 13 months old son with a little girl arriving in 1995, family completed.

Nina Angove and husband Paul moved in 1993 with their little girl who was 3 months old and their family completed when a baby boy joined them in 1994.

Nina and Jackie met at a local toddler group held at the Pratten hut in the town. Friendship developed between Mums and their children. All four children attending the same playschool, Nina and Jackie taking an active role on the playschool committee. Soon the time came when children started school and finding work was difficult as childcare was not available. Jackie one evening was watching a TV programme on Afterschool Clubs that schools in the north were setting up and Jackie thought they could have one in Warminster for all schools in the area to access.

Jackie and Nina set about researching the requirements of the families in Warminster and what childcare was available. The results showed that it was mostly childminders. So they set about applying for a business grant from the Wiltshire and Swindon enterprise fund. A business plan was compiled and gathering information on parents and carers childcare requirements, they submitted their application and success! Acorns opened in October 1998 in the Civic Centre Warminster.

Due to changes in legislation in required criteria in running after we moved to New Close School in 2006. Changes in headship forced us to relocate to the Children's Centre at Princecroft School Warminster in 2016.

The struggle to maintain this service is a challenge but the support of parents and carers using this care service over the past 21 years has been phenomenal.

When in March 2020 the school acquired funding to turn the Children's Centre which we occupied into a nursery, we moved into the Princecroft school building. The school are welcoming Acorns into their school and the service is to continue. We reopened in September 2020 and are available for all parents and carers to access, whichever school their children attend around the Warminster area. 

Nina and Jackie are aware of the importance of a safe and secure environment for children to  relax and play. The staff that are employed have an important role meeting the children's needs through observation of the child's play in our care. Building a positive relationship with each child attending so they are happy to share their adventures and daily ups and downs with us.

Nina and Jackie value the commitment of all staff that join the Acorns Team, welcoming parent's and carer's suggestions and guidance on the care of their children attending the afternoon session.

Our Acorns logo,

designed by Jackie's husband.