Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford)

Old Road, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JU
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9.9 206 Reviews
Julia Durbin Day Nursery is located within the grounds of Churchill Hospital and caters for children both in the local community and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital Trust.

Homely surroundings and a thoroughly resourced facility allows the nursery's highly trained practitioners to achieve high standards of early years education across the age ranges.

Parent partnerships are promoted and developed whilst long opening hours and a fully inclusive package offer a convenient service to busy families.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Person in charge

  • Emma Wallbridge (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 54

Total Places for Children

  • 164

Age Range

  • from 0 years 2 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:00-18:30
    Tuesday 07:00-18:30
    Wednesday 07:00-18:30
    Thursday 07:00-18:30
    Friday 07:00-18:30

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Inset Days

Parking

  • Free parking is available onsite.

Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford) Reviews (206)

Total of 206, showing 21-40
9.9

Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford) has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.912) out of 10, based on 41 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford) has 206 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 198
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Date Published

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Review from I R (Mother of Child) published on 6 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We couldn't have been happier with the care our daughter had whilst at Julia Durbin Day Nursery. In addition to the lovely environment and excellently run day, we were so impressed by and grateful for the affection, warmth and care our daughter was shown by the staff she came into contact with. From
her key workers in each room, to her room leaders and staff more generally around the nursery, everyone was so friendly and kind, and that made a real difference to us as her parents! So thank you Julia Durbin and we're sorry to be leaving!

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Review from M W (Father of Child) published on 4 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been in the Butterfly Room at Julia Durbin Day Nursery for half a year. We cannot recommend the nursery and its staff enough: we have always felt that our boy is cared for, that we are fully informed, and that he is in general having a wonderful time. We have a short chat by way of daily
report every day when we collect him, photos are shared with us throughout the week, and we are encouraged to raise any concerns (we have none!). He also eats extremely well at nursery!
It's strange and a difficult adjustment to entrust your child into someone else's care for the first time, and for him to come home with stories about his daily life in which you were not part. The team at Julia Durbin made the process easy, and now I look forward to collecting our boy at the end of the day and hearing about his adventures.
Thanks to anyone from the teaching team who happens to be reading this: you're much appreciated.

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Review from A H (Father of Child) published on 4 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has loved going to nursery since the day she started. The staff we see every day are always friendly and ready to help with anything. It is obvious how much all the staff care about, and are invested in the children. This definitely comes through in our daughter's progression and confidence.
It is a very professional, safe and clean operation. We never have any worries about our daughter when she's at the nursery because we know she's being looked after so well.

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Review from J J (Father of Child) published on 4 February 2025
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery has been great for my son. I am very happy with the care they have provided. The focus on learning and education gives this nursery an added boost in compassion to others. The facilities are outstanding and the staff go above and beyond their duties. I highly recommend the nursery.

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Review from P C (Father of Child) published on 17 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We've had children at Julia Durbin for 6 years with my youngest just leaving. At every stage from the caterpillar room (babies) up to preschool, my children were well cared for in a nurturing, safe, and enjoyable environment. It was always great hearing about the range of activities they got up each
day that taught them so much. Seeing online photos and progress reports always helped keep me updated and often made my day. The staff were always friendly and happy to help.
It gave me peace of mind knowing that each day my children were being well looked after and they were enjoying themselves. I would recommend them to anyone looking for childcare in Oxford.

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Review from Tammy K (Mother of Child) published on 2 September 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son and daughter have been attending Julia Durbin since they were both one year old. My son is now graduating pre-school and my daughter is entering her second year. Attending Julia Durbin has encouraged and built confidence in our shy son. He is now much more confident and is able to use his words
to articulate big emotions and speak to new people. Our daughter has learnt to use 2 words now and has started potty training with a lot of help and support from the staff.
There is a great outside space, one of the largest we've seen in an early years setting. The children are encouraged to help themselves to their own meals and there are lots of fun-filled activities to keep them engaged. The staff members know the children well and are able to cater to their different personalities. They have also been very supportive when I was in hospital where the children attended extra days and did last-minute swaps where they could.

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Review from M R (Mother of Child) published on 15 August 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at Julia Durbin since she was one year old and is leaving this summer to start school. She has learned so much, not only getting a good start with letters and numbers but arguably more importantly how to 'use her words' when she's upset, and what to do when there's playground tension.
She has developed a lovely sense of trust and security around grown-ups (albeit quite high expectations of our knowledge and behaviour!). She has particularly benefitted from all the time outside in the garden and she loves all the creative activities. The staff really go above and beyond, displaying incredible patience, and they're always inventing fun new activities for the children.

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Review from K B (Mother of Child) published on 14 August 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

When we moved cities we moved our child to Julia Durban from another nursery. We had been happy with our previous nursery, but Julia Durban exceeded all expectations. Our child immediately settled in and has been incredibly happy there ever since. They are developing very well and are very secure and
happy at nursery, they are always excited to go in the mornings and hard to tear away at the end of the day! What stands out for us the most is how genuinely fond of each of the children the staff seem to be. They know all the kids and their individual needs and are very caring and attentive. The food also stands out as a particular strength. I feel very welcomed as a parent and enjoy all the events and initiatives the nursery runs. The management, facilities etc all seem good as well, we have no complaints about anything. The only thing I miss about our old nursery is that they would take the children daily to the local park for access to nature, which doesn't happen here.

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Review from Augusto M (Father of Child) published on 13 August 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I'm really happy with Julia Durbin Day Nursery in Oxford. The staff are excellent at keeping parents informed with regular updates and photos, which is very reassuring. They are highly trained and genuinely care about the kids, creating a warm and nurturing environment. The nursery itself is well-equipped
with great facilities both indoors and outdoors, offering a variety of activities that keep the children engaged and happy. I think JD is a fantastic place for early years nursing and education.

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Review from F F (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We moved our daughter from another Oxford nursery to Julia Durbin Day Nursery in February 2023. She started in the Ladybird room and we saw the changes immediately! She was properly looked after by professionals and we had feedback and pictures every step of the way. I finally felt reassured. The amount
of feedback and pictures on the app were drastically reduced when she moved to the Bumblebees room but still we got verbal reports at the end of the day. She is always happy to go to nursery and she is engaged in many activities throughout the day. We are very sorry to be leaving, we will miss the nursery in general and the staff in particular. Thank you for all your hard work with the children!

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Review from T Z (Mother of Child) published on 24 June 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Julia Durbin has so many enriching activities for the children, both indoors and outdoors, and I can tell my son enjoys going to nursery. He also loves the food and seems to be constantly having seconds! The teachers provide a lot of updates and it is very much appreciated.

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Review from Jeremie L (Father of Child) published on 29 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been there for nearly 2 years, has gone through 4 classes, and the quality has been consistently top-notch. The staff are all caring and engaged, we get great updates on what the kids have been up to, the menu is varied, the activities are fun and different so we hear all about it at the
end of each day. Would recommend to any parent.

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Review from R A (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has developed his social, emotional and educational needs very much with the help of the staff. They are very friendly and caring to all the kids and the parents. I have always felt confident that they will look after his needs during his stay there. They provide timely updates through the app
as well as during pickup. Excellent indoor and outdoor space for play and the activities are well planned according to the children's needs. I highly recommend the nursery to other parents.

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Review from A S (Father of Child) published on 26 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Overall great nursery, kids clearly love it and are well looked after. Staff give it their all. Good communication with the parents and attentive to any specific needs and requirements. Can be good value for money for staff members of Oxford University Hospital or the University.

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Review from T C (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Such a caring and engaging environment in both groups our son has been so far. The staff members are all very kind and patient and our little one loves spending his time there from the very first day, which is amazing. We definitely think that we chose the best nursery in the area.

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Review from Dooyum K (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All the staff are amazing and it's obvious as my daughter loves them all. The way she gets excited on her way to nursery reassures me that she's having a good time and in good hands. My daughter has improved on all fronts since she started attending the nursery, from her speech to her social skills.
Two weeks after attending nursery she was fully potty trained and we finally said goodbye to nappies.
My daughter can be quite clingy and set in her ways but they've all been so patient with her and gradually I've seen the positive changes. I wish I brought her to Julia Durbin earlier than I did and I'll happily recommend Julia Durbin to everyone. A trial will convince you!

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Review from A G (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Great experience with Julia Durbin so far. The nursery staff are all very attentive and friendly, and I have taken a lot of confidence from their interactions with our baby (11 months). Very well equipped in terms of necessities for the children, and excellent provision of play.

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Review from F C (Mother of Child) published on 29 November 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A fantastic nursery! Just what I wanted for my child. The staff has been very helpful and supportive. Always met my child’s needs.
My son has a speech delay and since joining this nursery I could see a massive improvement in him.
Very sorry to be leaving, we will miss the staff and we will always
remember the outstanding service this nursery offers!

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Review from Z E (Father of Child) published on 30 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughters have loved their time at Julia Durbin. Though expensive, provision is brilliant. Staff are extremely supportive and caring, facilities are brilliant and management are knowledgeable and very efficient. We feel very privileged to have been part of their community and our daughters have
made lifelong friends. Thank you, Julia Durban.

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Review from Duncan R (Father of Child) published on 18 October 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have sent both our children to Julia Durbin and have been extremely happy. The staff are amazing and care deeply about the children. Preschool has been great for getting both children ready for school. We highly recommend this nursery.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.912)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.912) out of 10 for Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 41 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 41 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.912 for Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford) is calculated as follows: ( (448 Excellents x 5) + (41 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 490 Ratings = 4.912

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford) is based on 41 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 164 number of registered child places is 32.8, which has been reached with 41 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Child Vacancies

posted 04 Aug 2025

Places are available. Please contact our nursery for details on age groups and session availability.

News (68) & Events (0)

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Previous Events

Awards / Recognitions (19)

Top 20 Large Nursery Groups 2025

Recipient: Childbase Partnership

Date: Monday 31 Mar 2025 More details

Top 20 Large Nursery Groups 2024

Recipient: Childbase Partnership

Date: Thursday 28 Mar 2024 More details

Top 20 Large Nursery Groups 2023

Recipient: Childbase Partnership

Date: Friday 28 Apr 2023 More details

Meet the Team (1)

Emma

Emma Wallbridge

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 1996

Emma is the Manager of Julia Durbin Day Nursery in Headington and has a wealth of experience, having worked in the early years sector for 24 years. Emma has numerous qualifications, including an NNEB, Management NVQ's and a Foundation Degree in Early Years. Emma has worked for Childbase Partnership since 1996.

What is your favourite feature of Julia Durbin?
Despite being on the hospital grounds we are almost secretly hidden within a lovely natural space and a huge natural garden. I also like our entrance and reception area as we get to greet all the families and visitors as they arrive.

What are you most proud of about your nursery/team?
Our ongoing recognition from Ofsted and amazing day nursery reviews from our parents. The staff have exceptional relationships with the families and each other which leaves a great morale across the nursery. The children are the heart of our Julia Durbin family.
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