Acorns is a support group for families of young children who have a hearing loss.
About Acorns
Acorns is a specialist pre-school group that supports children with hearing loss aged 0 to 5 and their families. It’s for those living in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset.
We offer our main Acorns group weekly in Westbury-on-Trym and Little Acorns groups once a month in Bath, Easton (Bristol) and Weston-Super-Mare.
The main Acorns group at Elmfield House includes a:
- children's creche for young children and babies with a hearing loss and their siblings, run by Specialist Teaching Assistants and Sign Language Communication Advisers, who organise a range of activities and play experiences
- parents discussion group with visiting speakers and coffee mornings
- buddy system, to welcome you to Acorns
Timings
Wednesday mornings during term time from 10.30am until midday.
- 10:30am: arrive and settle
- 10:40am: circle time and welcome song, parents either stay with their child or go to the parents' discussion group
- 10:50am: free play, explore the different sensory activities
- 11:30am: snack time, share some snacks (provided) or bring a snack from home
- 11:50am: circle time and goodbye song, parents collect children from the creche
Venue
Sensory Support Service
Elmfield House
Greystoke Avenue
Westbury-on-Trym
Bristol
BS10 6AY
Dates
- Wednesday 5 November 2025, 10:30am to midday
- Wednesday 12 November 2025, 10:30am to midday
- Wednesday 19 November 2025, 10:30am to midday
- Wednesday 26 November 2025, 10:30am to midday
- Wednesday 3 December 2025, 10:30am to midday
- Wednesday 10 December 2025, 10:30am to midday
Little Acorns
The Little Acorns groups are run as a Stay and Play session, designed to bring families together who have young children with hearing loss. The sessions run for an hour and a half. Parents can chat together or with a Teacher of the Deaf and snacks and toys are provided for the children.
Bath Acorns
- Address: First Steps, Woodhouse Road, Twerton, Bath, BA2 1SY
- Time: 10:15am to 11:45am
- Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
For more information email julian.shepard@bristol.gov.uk
Easton Acorns
- Address: Bannerman Road Community Academy, All Hallows Road, BS5 0HR
- Time: 1pm to 2:30pm
- Dates: Monday 3 November 2025 and Monday 1 December 2025
For more information email lucy.blatchford@bristol.gov.uk
Weston-Super-Mare Acorns
- Address: Mendip Green Primary School, Greenwood Road, Worle, Weston-Super-Mare BS22 6EX
- Time: 10:15am to 11:45am
- Date: Monday 17 November 2025
For more information email lydia.johnston@bristol.gov.uk
Hartcliffe Acorns: coming soon!
Other useful things to know about Acorns groups
Siblings are welcome.
You do not need to book - just let your Teacher of the Deaf know and turn up!
Feel free to bring someone with you the first time you attend for support.
Your Teacher of the Deaf may be able to come to your first session.
If you have any questions:
- email sensorysupportservice@bristol.gov.uk
- call 0117 903 8441/2