Sandymount, Dublin 4 · Ages 1–5

A garden, a real kitchen, and forty-six children who own the place

Little Acorns has been on the Green since 2004. We take ECCE places, we cook everything on site, and you are welcome to look around any Wednesday morning.

Book a look around

Since 2004

Small, and staying small

Little Acorns was started by two early-years teachers who wanted a nursery where children could be outdoors every day and eat food someone had actually cooked. Twenty-two years on we have three rooms, forty-six places, and a waiting list we manage honestly — if we cannot offer you a place, we say so rather than leave you hoping. We follow Aistear and Síolta, we are Tusla-registered, and we take ECCE places for both preschool years. Nine of our thirteen staff have been here longer than five years, which probably tells you more than any policy document could.

Two early-years teachers in a nursery room

What is included

All meals

Breakfast, hot lunch and two snacks, cooked on site. Allergy plans agreed in writing.

Outdoors daily

Garden and covered yard. We supply the waterproofs and the wellies.

Daily notes

A short written note each day and a proper developmental review each term.

Nappies & wipes

Included in the fee, so there is nothing to remember at eight in the morning.

Who looks after your child

Every room lead holds a Level 6 qualification or above. All staff are Garda-vetted and first-aid trained.

Aoife Brennan

Aoife Brennan

Manager & co-founder

BA Early Childhood Education. Here since the first day in 2004, and still runs the Wednesday tours personally.

Tomás Ó Riain

Tomás Ó Riain

Oak room lead (preschool)

Level 8 in Early Years Practice. Runs the garden beds and the wildly popular worm project.

Grace Adeyemi

Grace Adeyemi

Sapling room lead

Level 7, seven years with us. Specialist training in speech and language support.

Marta Kowalczyk

Marta Kowalczyk

Acorn room lead (babies)

Level 6 and an infant-massage qualification. Settles new babies better than anyone we have met.

Declan Fitzgerald

Declan Fitzgerald

Cook

Twelve years in restaurant kitchens, now cooking for forty-six much harder critics.

Priya Menon

Priya Menon

Inclusion & AIM coordinator

Coordinates Access and Inclusion Model supports and liaises with visiting therapists.

Opening hours (Europe/Dublin)

Monday 07:45–18:15
Tuesday 07:45–18:15
Wednesday 07:45–18:15
Thursday 07:45–18:15
Friday 07:45–17:30
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Closed for two weeks at Christmas and on public holidays. Sessional ECCE places run 9:00–12:00.

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Fees, policies and the practical bits

Fees for 2026
Full day (7:45–18:15) €1,180 per month. School day (8:30–14:30) €890. Sessional ECCE (9:00–12:00) is free for eligible children during term. The National Childcare Scheme subsidy is applied directly to your invoice — bring your NCS code to the enrolment meeting and we handle the rest.
Settling in
Three short visits across a week before the first full day, at no charge. A parent or carer stays for the first, stays nearby for the second, and leaves for the third. Some children need six visits instead of three, and that is entirely normal.
Illness
We ask that children stay home for 48 hours after a temperature above 38°C or any vomiting. We ring you if a child becomes unwell during the day and ask for collection within the hour. Prescribed medication is administered with a signed form.
Waiting list
We take names up to twelve months ahead with a refundable €100 deposit. Siblings of current children come first, then date order. If we cannot realistically offer you a place we will tell you within a fortnight rather than leave you waiting.

Book a look around

Tours run Wednesdays at 10:00 and Thursdays at 15:30, twenty minutes, no appointment pressure. Tell us your child’s age and roughly when you would need a place.

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