The Old Station Nursery Group - 20 years logo 

time to celebrate

Celebrating 20 years in 2022

In 2022, we celebrated The Old Station Nursery Group’s 20th Birthday. We have put together this page to highlight and showcase our greatest achievements throughout the years.

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5335
Happy Children
79
Nursery settings
200+
Team members
15+
Awards & Accreditations

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Our Birthday Year

In 2022, across some of our nurseries, children took part in creating birthday decorations (using recycled materials) to display at celebrations during Summer. On this page you’ll be able to discover our story, as well as listen to what some of our people have to say about working for The Old Station Nursery Group over the past years.

Group of children running on a field outdoors 
  • The Old Station Nursery Group - Creating Brighter Futures Together
  • Small Friends Day Nursery Logo
  • Sandhills Day Nursery Logo
  • My First Friends Logo
  • Bambino Day Nurseries Logo
  • Townsend Montessori Nurseries Logo
  • The Old Station Nursery Logo
  • Sixpenny Day Nursery Logo
  • ChooChoos Day Nurseries Logo
  • Good Manors Day Nurseries Logo
  • HDC Nursery Logo
  • Little Green Rascals Logo

Our history

Explore our achievements over the past 20 years

Over the last couple of decades, The Old Station Nursery Group has made fantastic progress with the achievement of goals and key milestones. Our mission to Create Brighter Futures Together can therefore be fulfilled alongside our achievements. To the right is just a highlight of the group’s accomplishments, feel free to use the timeline below to discover more.

More about our group
  • February 2019: Joined La Maison Bleue
  • October 2021: Member of Parliament visits Sunhill Colchester
  • March 2022: Nursery World Business Summit: Building for the future- featuring expert speakers including Sarah Steel
  • May 2023: The Old Station Nursery Group grows to 79 nursery settings
  • June 2023: Adelle Taylor becomes CEO at The Old Station Nursery Group
  • June 2023: Sarah Steel becomes Chairperson at The Old Station Nursery Group
  • February 2002
    The Old Station Nursery opens in Faringdon
  • August 2007
    The Old Station Nursery opens in Filkins
  • June 2008
    WASPS opening
  • March 2009
    Sarah Steel publishes “All Aboard: for Fun and Activities with TOSN"
  • February 2010
    The Old Station Nursery opens in Innsworth
  • September 2012
    ITV documentary on childcare costs to feature The Old Station Nursery Group - “the true cost of childcare"
  • April 2013
    The Old Station Nursery opens in Henley
  • October 2013
    Took part in the first Parenting Expo to be held at Lincoln Showground
  • January 2014
    Sarah Steel wrote the first ‘hot topics’ column for Nursery Management Today
  • June 2014
    Filkins nursery listed in daynurseries.co.uk 2014 Top 10 Nursery Awards
  • July 2014
    Sarah Steel wins Nursery Sector Champion Award
  • July 2014
    Mottershead Drive wins Nursery Sector Champion Award
  • July 2014
    Mottershead Drive wins National Top 10 Influencer Award
  • July 2014
    Faringdon became finalists in a National Award
  • November 2014
    Filkins receives 'outstanding' in local press
  • June 2016
    Sarah Steel wins national Top 10 Influencer award
  • November 2016
    The Old Station Nursery Group signs the lease for Oxford Science Park Nursery
  • February 2017
    The Old Station Nursery opens in Oxford
  • March 2017
    The Old Station Nursery opens Mottershead Drive
  • May 2017
    Sarah Steel honoured with 'Top 10' Influencer’s listing
  • June 2017
    Filkins achieve Millie’s mark award
  • September 2017
    Filkins listed in the Tatler School’s Guide
  • February 2018
    The Old Station Nursery opens in Heyford
  • January 2018
    The Old Station Nursery opens in Bampton
  • November 2018
    St Gabriel’s Academy, Houlton Nursery opens, Julie Rees wins ‘Manager of the Year’ at NMT Awards
  • February 2019
    The Old Station Nursery Group joined La Maison Bleue
  • October 2019
    Premier Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • November 2019
    Trade press article on the sale of Lincoln nurseries
  • December 2019
    Sandhills Nursery Group joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • March 2020
    Small Friends Day Nursery joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • July 2020
    Mottershead Drive chosen to participate in the publication of ‘My First Poem 2020 – Creative Stars’
  • July 2020
    Mottershead Dr publication of ‘My First Poem’ Young Writers
  • August 2020
    Alvechurch undergoes huge refurbishment
  • August 2020
    Wombourne raise £140 for NHS
  • November 2020
    Nursery nurse from OSN up for a National Award
  • November 2020
    Sunhill Day Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • February 2021
    Bambino Day Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • March 2021
    Choochoos Day Nursery joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • July 2021
    One of our Nursery Area Managers was shortlisted for the National Nursery World Awards 2021
  • July 2021
    Sandhills Day Nurseries has been awarded a ‘Top 20 Rated Nursery Group 2021’ Daynurseries.co.uk Award
  • July 2021
    The Old Station Nursery has been awarded a ‘Top 20 Rated Nursery Group 2021’ Daynurseries.co.uk Award
  • August 2021
    One of our nursery Room Leaders was selected for the final for the ‘Nursery Room Leader’ category in the national NMT Nursery Awards 2021
  • September 2021
    Sarah Steel, CEO of The Old Station Nursery Group becomes Chair of National Day Nurseries Association
  • September 2021
    Houlton moves site to open bigger, new nursery
  • October 2021
    Member of Parliament visits Sunhill Colchester
  • November 2021
    My First Friends joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • November 2021
    Local MP and mayor of rugby opens OSN Houlton
  • December 2021
    Little Roos joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • January 2022
    Sixpenny joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • January 2022
    Polkadot joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • February 2022
    Both Innsworth nurseries achieve Millie’s Mark Award.
  • March 2022
    Nursery World Business Summit: Building for the future- featuring expert speakers including Sarah Steel, CEO
  • March 2022
    Townsend Montessori joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • March 2022
    Good Manors joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • May 2022
    Townsend Montessori Margate receives Ofsted 'Outstanding'
  • June 2022
    Sarah Steel recognised as 'Woman to Watch' by Business Women in Education
  • June 2022
    The Old Station Nursery Group awarded ‘Top 20 Rated Nursery Group' by daynurseries.co.uk
  • June 2022
    Sandhills Day Nurseries awarded 'Top 20 Mid-Sized Nursery Group' by daynurseries.co.uk
  • June 2022
    The Old Station Nursery Group celebrates 20 Years of Excellence at Faringdon
  • June 2022
    Small Friends Day Nursery receives Ofsted 'Outstanding'
  • July 2022
    The Old Station Nursery in Faringdon receives second Millie's Mark award
  • August 2022
    HDC joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • August 2022
    Catherine House Day Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • March 2023
    Little Green Rascals Joins The Old Station Nursery Group
  • March 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Group Raises £3677 For Comic Relief
  • May 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Group Raises £1800 For Cancer Research UK
  • June 2023
    Sandhills Day Nurseries Win National Daynurseries.co.uk Award
  • June 2023
    Sarah Steel Becomes Chairwoman at The Old Station Nursery Group
  • June 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Group Proudly Welcomes New CEO, Adelle Taylor
  • July 2023
    hdc named as Outstanding Apprenticeship Employers
  • August 2023
    The Brighter Learning Approach Launches Across All Settings
  • September 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Henley Undergoes Major Refurbishment And Features In Local Press
  • October 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Group Raises £1,436.45 For Macmillan Cancer Support
  • October 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Marlow Undergoes Major Refurbishment And Features In Local Press
  • November 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Group Raises Over £1,500 For Children In Need
  • November 2023
    Wylde Green Manager Donna Reid Wins Nursery Manager Award at the Nursery Management Today Awards 2023
  • November 2023
    The Old Station Nursery Group Wins Large Group of the Year Award at NMT Awards 2023

CEO spotlight

Talking to CEO Sarah Steel, about the past 20 years

What our clients say about us

I joined Apricot Day Nursery in March 2021 and since then my confidence has improved massively

“I joined Apricot Day Nursery in March 2021 and since then my confidence has improved massively due to the amazing support and encouragement from my team and management. Since starting my apprenticeship I have gained lots of new knowledge which will help me to further my career and reach my goals of working in childcare. My end goal is to complete my level 3 and give the children the best start in life through the quality care and activities they receive.”

Alyssa - Sunhill Apricot Day Nursery & Pre-school

The Old Station Nursery company has offered me a number of opportunities in such a short space of time

“I started working at The Old Station Nursery Group in November 2021 and have already been offered the chance to do the statutory training required, Paediatric First Aid, Safeguarding Training, as well as Food Hygiene. I am also due to start SENCO training shortly and have just been promoted to Room Leader. The Old Station Nursery Group has offered me a number of opportunities in such a short space of time and encourages continuous professional development, whether starting as an unqualified member of staff or already having childcare qualifications.”

Sarah - Room Leader at Granta Park

It has become a place where we’ve created long lasting relationships with one another

“I’m Laura and I have been working at my nursery for 7 years now. The teamwork in my building is truly amazing, and we’re more like a family than co-workers. It has become a place where we’ve created long lasting relationships with one another. The support and encouragement I receive is truly exceptional from both co-workers and management. My manager is positive, bubbly and very understanding, he’s professional and very approachable. My manager is incredibly supportive with furthering my learning and development, and is truly an inspiration as someone I look up to and inspire to be. Working for The Old Station Nursery Group has many perks, some of these are: birthday days off, discounts off stores through the work app and any training I want to carry out.”

Laura - Room Leader at Sunhill Stowmarket Day Nursery

There are many positives to being part of The Old Station Nursery Group

“We have been part of The Old Station Nursery Group for just over 3 months now and whilst it feels different becoming part of a larger group of nurseries, after being such a small group, I can see there are many positives to being part of The Old Station Nursery Group. I have felt my confidence and skill set increasing within my role as Manager, due to increased autonomy within my role. I am excited about the future and what My First Friends Nursery can go on to become.”

“My confidence has really increased since the nursery was acquired by The Old Station Nursery Goup. I’ve been empowered to sign up for my Level 3 and know that the team will support me every step of the way. I also know that there are lots of career opportunities for me here and I have been encouraged to be ambitious and make the most of every opportunity on offer. In the future I’d like to work in the quality team, my dream role!”

Claire - My First Friends Day Nurseries
10th February 2022

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this nursery!

My daughter has been attending Old Station Nursery Bampton for a year now in the Pre-School room. She loves going, has made friends, learnt a great deal and speaks incredibly highly of the nursery manager, who I might add is brilliant with my little one as she can be difficult at times and has a rather strong personality. They have helped her to grow enormously over the last year, emotionally and academically. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this nursery!

15th February 2022

We are so glad we found The Old Station Nursery.

We are so happy that our child attends The Old Station. The staff are all so kind, caring and attentive and she is greeted with a warm friendly smile every day. They always make such an effort with the activities they provide throughout the day and make an extra special effort when there is a holiday or celebration. They are very good at providing updates on development and how her day has been. We are so glad we found The Old Station Nursery.

2nd March 2022

The way they greet my child with love just cannot be matched

A truly brilliant setting where they absolutely care for the children as their own. So impressed with the team and how they support my child. I just love how my daughter talks about her favourite person (key person) at home. From the door, in person, over the phone and via email, they are always responsive and genuinely consider and take on board all feedback. The way they greet my child with love just cannot be matched. Food is excellent, my daughter is always talking about what the chef makes and thoroughly enjoys taking part in Big Chef Mini Chef with him weekly, making spring rolls and other delicious foods! Not only this, the nursery have a programme of wonderful additional activities like yoga and sports and resident gerbils who we can take home for the weekend. A warm, cosy and friendly setting full to the brim with magnificent people.

Parent
11th March 2022

The staff there are just so kind and helpful and supportive

I sent my older son to The Old Station Faringdon so sending my second son there was a bit of a no brainer for us. We checked out some others in the area previously and found ourselves saying ‘the Old Station is better’! The staff there are just so kind and helpful and supportive. I feel like ‘they’re like a family’ is such a cliché, but it really is true there. The ladies in the baby room really, honestly care about my little boy – and about me too! We’re always asking about each other’s lives and giving advice on things. They’re responsive to emails and calls and the food they provide always sounds so delicious. If anyone is looking for a nursery in the area I truly cannot recommend them enough; to me they are the obvious choice.

Emily C
1/8

Celebrating 20 years

Photos from the event

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