Julia Durbin Day Nursery (Oxford)

My son has been attending Ladybirds at Julia Durbin since July 2019 and he absolutely loves it. He was only one when he first started so was understandably anxious and scared as he’d been with me totally the whole previous year. The staff were amazing, in particular his key workers and the room leader who settled him in and he soon felt completely relaxed. He loves going to nursery and runs into the room in the morning. I feel totally at ease throughout the day and know I can call to check on him as much as I need. His confidence and learning has also come on so much especially when interacting with other children. All staff have been outstanding during the last few difficult weeks, thank you all!

Our daughter has been attending the nursery since October 2019, and she absolutely loves it. I would recommend it to any parent. The management team are fantastic - organised, good at communicating, and they have clear policies and processes in place i.e. for children with allergies. Our daughter is in Bumblebees room - the staff are all so caring, friendly, and get to know the children really well. There is a good balance of play (indoor and out in the amazing garden) and learning, with each child's individual goals tailored to their interests and strengths. There are always so many great activities set up for the children to do each day. My daughter's key worker is particularly brilliant and we have enjoyed seeing our daughter blossom over the last six months.

I cannot recommend the Julia Durbin Day Nursery more highly. My 18-month-old has been going for the last 3 months and has really blossomed. The staff are attentive and engaging. The facilities are excellent with a lovely big garden and lots of stimulating books and toys inside. They put on lots of exciting activities to keep the children entertained - to name a few "science experiments, gruffalo hunts, cooking and yoga sessions." I love that they promote healthy eating and being environmentally friendly. During the lockdown period, they have communicated excellently about the changes at nursery as well as sending out newsletters with food/play ideas. They have also been amazingly flexible with booking in extra days during this difficult period - which as a key worker has been invaluable. Most importantly I can go to work in the knowledge that my daughter is happy and safe whilst also learning and developing!

I have nothing but praise for the nursery management who always ensure we are fully informed and the staff for their care and attention.

Very friendly, thoughtful staff. My son is very happy to go to nursery every day, and the lay schedule is well designed.

Thanks!

The Valentines Disco. Both my children and I thoroughly enjoyed the Valentines Disco and were so pleased to be invited. As always the staff organised a fantastic event with so many activities that appealed to all. They clearly ensured that all the children (and grown-ups) were involved and enjoyed themselves. My 4-year-old son has just said that it was "fun" it was good I got something from pass-the-parcel! He also liked dancing. This event is really representative of how thoughtful the innovative staff are at engaging with the children in pre-school. Thanks.

Valentines Disco. We came in especially for the Disco and had a great time! The staff pit in so much effort to make it special with lots of activities. The resources were amazing, lighting, face painting etc that usually parents would expect to pay for. Were so lucky Julia Durbin go the extra mile.

Very happy with the care and professionalism of all staff in the nursery. Both our children attend and love coming.

Amazing staff, my son is so cared for and happy. He has just moved into his third room and is settling really well. The nursery has a really caring and family feel which is unusual for a large nursery.

I have used the Julia Durbin nursery for ten years now and I think it is a fantastic nursery. All three of my children have been very happy there and have learned amazing social skills which has helped them as they started school. The staff are very caring and have always listened and dealt with any concerns I have had. I would highly recommend this nursery.

Our son started at Julia Durbin Day Nursery six months ago and has settled in very well. The staff are exceptional - caring, enthusiastic and build a great bond with the children. Communication is excellent and we have often commented on how well the staff know our son and his likes and dislikes. The food at the nurser is varied, fresh and healthy. The menu has been designed with great care. The activities staff organise are educational and stimulating. We would highly recommend this nursery.

We moved our son from another nursery and there was a marked improvement in the quality of the facilities, staff and level of care at the Julia Durbin nursery. The development of our son has been hugely influenced by the fantastic staff at Julia Durbin, helping him to gain confidence and also begin to learn some of the key skills that are required for school and beyond. We would recommend this nursery to friends and family without any hesitation.

I wouldn't hesitate to use this nursery again, other nurseries just aren't as good. It may be expensive, but it's worth the cost for the hours, the "extras" and the brilliant, well-qualified staff.

I had two children attend Julia Durbin between 2015 and 2019, and I cannot fault the nursery on a thing. It is a very big nursery, which might not make it ideal for every child, but the resources are remarkable and the staff make it feel much smaller and cosier than its size suggests. The space (especially outdoors) and activities are fantastic, and both children learned an enormous amount during their time there. They would come home able to do things that I'd had no idea they were capable of. Most importantly, the staff are wonderfully caring. One of my children was very timid and fearful about being dropped off in the morning, and she was given so much attention and kindness from everyone - not just her key workers, but even the management team who spread unfailing warmth and cheer from the reception area. It always amazed me how absolutely everyone seemed to know both my children's names, even if they had no regular contact with them. I am so grateful to them all for their care.

As our child leaves Julia Durbin after 4 years there, I cannot praise each and every staff member there. In each room, the staff were loving, enthusiastic, motivated and interested in getting to know my child. I think that the manager does an outstanding job and feel that the secret of Julia Durbin’s success is in no part related to her management style.

Overall, my son has been very happy and thank you to the Manager and all staff for all your hard work and devotion.

We have always found Julia Durbin Nursery to be a welcoming and happy place. Both of our children settled in here quickly and always enjoy going to nursery. The staff are very engaged and dearly enjoy their work. The outdoor areas especially are excellent. There also seems to be a strong emphasis on quality nourishing food.

Great nursery, they are always looking for ways to make it better. The key workers really are. The garden is amazing.

I have two children attending Julia Durbin. They have enjoyed their time there especially the fabulous large garden play area. The staff are cheerful, caring and kind. I have always been delighted to see all the things the children have learnt with their help, potty training, using cutlery, lovely songs and good manners. The nursery also does a lot of extra activities such as fetes and tea parties so Julia Durbin has felt like a big part of our family life. Preparation for transition to school is excellent.