Little Acorns
Little Acorns is a residential care home in Eastbourne, East Sussex (BN20 7AT). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Little Acorns
Little Acorns provides residential care in Eastbourne for older people and younger adults, including people living with dementia, people with mental health needs and people with physical disabilities. We also take planned respite stays. We are a home rather than an institution, and most of what we do is ordinary. Helping people wash and dress, seeing that medicines are taken properly, cooking meals people actually want, keeping an eye on health, and making sure nobody spends the day waiting for somebody to speak to them. Residents get up when they choose, spend their time as they wish, keep their own things around them and have visitors whenever it suits. For residents living with dementia, familiarity does most of the work. The same faces, a recognisable shape to the day, and time to do things at the pace somebody can manage. For residents with mental health needs, consistency and a lack of fuss count for a great deal, along with staff who notice early when somebody is less well than they were. Where somebody has a physical disability, we agree together how they want to be helped. Respite stays give family carers a proper rest and let people try us without any longer commitment. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. We ask residents and relatives what they think, and we act on the answers.
Care provided at Little Acorns
- Older person care
- Dementia care
- Mental health care
- Physical disability support
- Younger adults care
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 17 October 2025
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How Little Acorns compares in Eastbourne
Measured against the 53 care homes for older people registered in Eastbourne. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 15 places. Smaller than 47 of the 53 homes. The local average is 37 places.
- CQC rating
- Good. 42 of the 53 homes (79%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across East Sussex the figure is 75%.
- Latest report
- 17 October 2025. 13 of the 53 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- June 2023. One of the newer homes in the area. Only 7 of the 53 have registered more recently.
- Care offered
- Dementia care. Of the 53 homes, 30 offer dementia care.
- Food hygiene
- 5 out of 5. The top rating, shared by 43 of the 47 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes for older people in Eastbourne.
The local picture: Eastbourne
What the numbers say about care for older people in Eastbourne, in East Sussex.
What care costs in East Sussex, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|
| Residential care | £929 | £1,500 to £1,809 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 107 homes. Median £1,600.) |
| Nursing care | £994 | £1,617 to £2,080 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 63 homes. Median £1,933.) |
| Residential dementia care | Not published separately | £1,571 to £1,942 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 82 homes. Median £1,709.) |
| Nursing dementia care | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 (South East figure, because too few East Sussex homes publish this price. 37 homes. Median £2,050.) |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price.
- People aged 75 and over: 14,800. Rising to 17,000 by 2035, up 15%
- People aged 85 and over: 4,300. Rising to 6,400 by 2035, up 47%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,000. Rising to 2,400 by 2035, up 25%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 72%. The NHS ambition is 67%. East Sussex as a whole is 61%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 114. East Sussex average is 88.
- Care homes, last 12 months: 0 opened, 0 closed. 6 changed owner, covering 336 beds.
- Care home beds filled across East Sussex: 83%. The 12 month average is 83%.
- Who pays, across East Sussex (estimate): 33% council, 47% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Planned and recent building work within 5 miles
- 1.1 miles: Shalom 8 Carew Road Eastbourne East Sussex. Application for a 11 bed care home through a change of use. Submitted 18 December 2025. Approved 30 December 2025.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, dementia estimates, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.
Good to know about Little Acorns
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 13 June 2023, so 3 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 5 out of 5. Very good. Last inspected by the local council on 25 August 2026.
- Run by
- Specialist Care Limited, which runs this service only.
Sources: CQC register, Food Standards Agency, OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are in a straight line from the postcode, not walking or driving routes.
Local services near Little Acorns
The closest places to this home, measured in a straight line from its postcode. They are the nearest, not necessarily the ones the home uses. Ask the home which GP, dentist and pharmacy its residents are registered with.
Nearest 24 hour A&E
- Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne, 1.9 miles away
It is about 1.9 miles in a straight line from the postcode. The drive is usually longer. In an emergency call 999; the ambulance may take you elsewhere.
Nearest GP practices
Nearest dentists
Nearest pharmacies
Nearest railway stations
- Eastbourne Station, 0.7 miles away
- Hampden Park (Sussex) Station, 2.5 miles away
- Pevensey & Westham Station, 4.4 miles away
Around Little Acorns
- H: Little Acorns
- A: 24 hour A&E
- G: GP practice
- D: Dentist
- P: Pharmacy
- S: Railway station
Straight line distances, not routes. Places very close to the home are spread out slightly so they can be told apart.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice and pharmacy details from the NHS England Organisation Data Service. A&E sites from NHS England A&E data and the Organisation Data Service. Railway stations from the Department for Transport NaPTAN dataset. Distances are straight line and approximate.
Common questions about Little Acorns
Where is Little Acorns located?
Little Acorns is a residential care home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7AT. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Little Acorns provide?
Little Acorns is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Older person care, Dementia care, Mental health care, Physical disability support, Younger adults care, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Little Acorns's CQC rating?
Little Acorns is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 17 October 2025. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Little Acorns provide dementia care?
Yes. Little Acorns supports people living with dementia. We recommend contacting the home directly to discuss your individual situation.
Does Little Acorns offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Little Acorns offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Little Acorns
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
Yes. Little Acorns is registered for dementia care, so someone whose needs increase can usually stay rather than move.
Is there a nurse on site if health needs change?
No. Little Acorns is a residential care home without on-site nursing. District nurses and GPs visit, but someone who needs daily nursing may have to move to a nursing home.
Can they try a short stay before deciding?
Yes. Yes. Little Acorns offers respite and short stays, which is a good way to see whether the home is the right fit.
Will they support end of life care, so there is no move at the hardest time?
Ask the home. End of life care is not listed on the register. Ask the manager whether residents can remain in the home with hospice or district nurse support.
Can she bring her cat or dog?
Ask the home. The home has not told us its pet policy yet. Ask directly; some homes allow small pets in residents' rooms or welcome visiting dogs.
Can a couple stay together?
Ask the home. We do not know whether the home has rooms for couples. Ask about shared or adjoining rooms if this matters.
Will the council help pay, or is it self funded only?
Ask the home. The home has not told us which funding it accepts. Most homes take both council funded and self funded residents; ask about council rates and any top up.
Do they take younger adults as well as older people?
Yes. Yes. Little Acorns supports younger adults as well as older people.
Can I visit before deciding, and are there visiting hours?
Ask the home. Every home should welcome a visit. Call to arrange one, ideally at a mealtime or during an activity, and ask about visiting hours for family.
Typical weekly fees in the South East
Little Acorns has not published its fees yet. These are typical weekly fees for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Residential care: £1,100 to £1,450 per week per person, typical range
- Dementia care: £1,200 to £1,550 per week per person, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Little Acorns. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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