COMMUNITY is key at Acorns Nursery and Pre-School, in Minehead. Being situated in the grounds of the Skills and Enterprise Centre at West Somerset College, Acorns benefits from students currently undergoing vocational courses at the college.

Not only are the children taught by a team of highly-qualified staff, they also benefit from students studying their Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education.

The course regularly places students in the Acorns setting for work placement but also works closely together in other aspects such as confidentiality workshops, safeguarding workshops and EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) workshops.

Acorns currently has 70 children enrolled at the nursery.

Julie Lindley, manager at the nursery, said: “Not bad, as in September 2012 we aimed to have 50 children on the books!”

The next big project for Acorns is making the garden an all-natural play area.

Over the Christmas break, staff will be removing all plastic equipment from the garden with the intention of increasing the number of ‘natural’ play equipment such as logs.

“We’ll soon be building a withy-hide which has been designed by a local artist,” said Julie.

“It will be really good for the children to learn while they play because the willow will sprout leaves in the summer and they will fall off in the winter.

“And withy willow is something quite special to Somerset.”

And the community spirit does not stop there. Angela Gardner, nursery adviser, said: “We are keen to have people from the local community to come in to the Acorns at least once a term.

“For example, we’ve had the dentist come in to teach the children how to look after their teeth properly and a PCSO to talk about safety.”

Acorns caters for children aged from three months to school age.