The Old Station Nursery

The Old Station Nursery is a United Kingdom day nursery group founded by Sarah Steel, OBE. Its identity is rooted in the site of its first nursery in Faringdon, next to the railway tracks, and the group has grown from that single setting into a line of 78 nurseries across the UK. The brand describes itself as a place where children, parents and staff come together as one community, and its logo carries subtle references to the station and railway tracks as a nod to that history. A jackdaw — chosen for being playful, social and intelligent — sits at the heart of the identity, representing the group's people. The group provides early years education and childcare, following the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework across all its nurseries. Beyond the EYFS, it has developed its own bespoke enrichment programme called the All Aboard Approach, which complements the core pedagogy with activities, clubs and an enhanced curriculum including Forest Schools, Organic, Cookery, Languages and Montessori-inspired learning in some nurseries. The group frames its nurseries as 'stations of possibility' and positions its work as being about more than care and education — creating everyday moments of discovery, expression and connection. A central part of the offer is the transition to primary school, which the group brands as 'Next Stop School'. It works with families as a joint home-and-nursery team to prepare children for the change. Parent partnership is emphasised through promises around communication, including verbal updates at pick-up time and digital updates via a parent app, alongside a strong focus on safety and security. The group also stresses recruiting, training and retaining high-quality nursery staff. The Old Station Nursery operates as a private nursery group with a local-at-heart, nationally connected structure. Its stated belief is that children, families and its people always come first, and that its people stay because making a difference feels meaningful.

The Old Station Nursery was founded by Sarah Steel, OBE. Its identity is built on over 20 years of history, beginning at the site of its first nursery in Faringdon, next to the railway tracks. From that single station came a growing line of 78 nurseries across the UK, each connected by the same belief: 'We grow good humans — little and big — and the communities they help shape.' The group's roots remain an important part of who it is. Subtle references to the station and railway tracks appear within its logo, a proud nod to its history and the idea of people coming together as one connected community. The jackdaw, chosen to represent its people, is described as one of the UK's most playful, social and intelligent birds — curious, fun and quick to learn, qualities the group sees in both its children and its Nursery Practitioners. The Old Station Nursery frames its nurseries as 'stations of possibility', places where small humans and big humans come together, where ideas are exchanged, curiosity is sparked, and meaningful relationships grow. Its work is described as not just about care and education, but about creating everyday moments of discovery, expression and connection that help shape individuals and society. The group describes itself as a station, a hub, a community that is local at heart and nationally connected, built on the belief that children, families and its people always come first. Across its settings, the group follows the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, through which children learn across seven areas of learning and development: three prime areas (communication and language; physical development; personal, social and emotional development) and four specific areas (literacy; mathematics; understanding the world; expressive arts and design). Complementing the EYFS, the group developed its own bespoke enrichment programme, the All Aboard Approach, which enhances and enriches the core pedagogy and curriculum. The group also offers numerous activities, clubs and an enhanced curriculum including Forest Schools, Organic, Cookery, Languages and Montessori-inspired learning in some nurseries. A key part of the group's work is preparing children for primary school. It brands this stage 'Next Stop School' and works together with families as a joint home-and-nursery team to ensure children are more than ready for the change. The group also commits to training and retaining the best nursery staff, and to parent communication through verbal updates at pick-up time and digital updates via a parent app.

• Founded by Sarah Steel, OBE, at the site of the first nursery in Faringdon, next to the railway tracks.

• Grew from a single nursery into a line of 78 nurseries across the UK.

• Developed the bespoke 'All Aboard Approach' enrichment curriculum complementing the EYFS framework.

• Introduced the 'Next Stop School' transition programme to prepare children for primary school.

A community-minded UK nursery group offering bespoke, enriched early years education with a strong emphasis on parent partnership and school readiness.

• All Aboard Approach

  A bespoke enrichment programme complementing the Early Years Foundation Stage, enhancing the core pedagogy and curriculum.

• Next Stop School

  A transition programme supporting families and children through the move to primary school.

• Forest Schools

  Outdoor learning activities offered as part of the enhanced curriculum in some nurseries.

• Cookery clubs

  Cookery activities offered as part of the enhanced curriculum.

• Languages

  Language learning offered as part of the enhanced curriculum.

• Montessori-inspired learning

  Montessori-inspired learning available in some nurseries.

1. 1The Old Station Nursery Group | We grow good humanstheoldstationnursery.co.uk
2. 2About Us | The Old Station Nurserytheoldstationnursery.co.uk
3. 3Our Curriculum | EYFS & All Aboard Approachtheoldstationnursery.co.uk
4. 4Why Choose Us | Quality Early Years Educationtheoldstationnursery.co.uk
5. 5Day nursery wins national award for its top reviewsoxfordmail.co.uk