Founded by Sarah Steel, OBE, The Old Station Nursery is a place where children, parents and staff come together as one community. Our identity is built on over 20 years of history, at the site of our first nursery in Faringdon, next to the railway tracks.
From that single station came a growing line of 78 nurseries across the UK, each one connected by the same belief: We grow good humans — little and big — and the communities they help shape.
Our roots are an important part of who we are. You’ll notice subtle references to the station and railway tracks within our logo, a proud nod to our history and the idea of people coming together as one connected community.
Also at the heart of our identity is the jackdaw, a bird chosen to represent our people. Known as one of the UK’s most playful, social and intelligent birds, jackdaws are curious, fun and quick to learn, qualities we see every day in both our children and our wonderful Nursery Practitioners.
We see our 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. Our work isn’t just about care and education.
It’s about creating everyday moments of discovery, expression, and connection that help shape individuals and society. We are a station, a hub, a community that is local at heart and nationally connected, built on the belief that children, families, and our people always come first, and our people stay because making a difference feels meaningful.
The Old Station Nursery Group is committed to delivering high-quality childcare through recruiting, training and retaining the best nursery staff. We work hard to ensure our nursery staff are given every opportunity to develop their careers.
Every single member of staff at The Old Station Nursery Group shares one essential quality: they love working with and caring for children. For them, it’s a vocation and not just a job.
We offer the following courses to our staff:
We also provide the following training:
Over the last two decades, The Old Station Nursery Group is proud to have achieved a number of accomplishments and key milestones. Through these achievements, it has been possible for us to progress with our vision to offer market leading education for children, unlocking their full potential.
The Old Station Nursery opens in Faringdon
Sarah Steel wins Nursery Sector Champion Award
Sarah Steel wins National Top 10 Influencer Award
Joined La Maison Bleue
Premier Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Sandhills Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Small Friends Nursery joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Sunhill Day Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Bambino Day Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Choochoos Day Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Awarded Daynurseries Top 20 Large Group 2021
Sarah Steel becomes Chair of National Day Nurseries Association
My First Friends joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Little Roos Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
Sixpenny and Polkadot join The Old Station Nursery Group
Townsend Montessori Nurseries and Good Manors join The Old Station Nursery Group
Awarded Daynurseries Top 20 Large Group 2022
HDC and Catherine House Day Nurseries join The Old Station Nursery Group
Little Green Rascals Nurseries joins The Old Station Nursery Group
The Old Station Nursery Group grows to 78 nursery settings
Adelle Taylor becomes CEO at The Old Station Nursery Group
Sarah Steel becomes Chairperson at The Old Station Nursery Group
The Brighter Learning Approach launches across all nurseries
Winner of Large Group of the Year Award at NMT
Awarded Daynurseries Top 20 Large Group 2024
: Awarded Daynurseries Top 20 Large Group 2025
Awarded Daynurseries Top 20 Large Group 2026
The Old Station Nursery launches new brand identity and vision – We Grow Good Humans
In May 2026, The Old Station Nursery Group was rated Top 20 Rated Nursery Groups by independent review website daynurseries.co.uk. This is such an important award because the reviews are all from our families and are independently verified.
Sarah founded The Old Station Nursery Group in 2002. She is a Policy Board member of the NDNA and represents the company with the Department of Education and the OFSTED Big Conversation.
Adelle is responsible for managing overall operations and setting the company's strategic direction. Adelle has spent most of her career in the restaurant sector managing brands such as Cotes Brasseries and Wagamama and therefore understands the importance of Operations, People and long-term goals.
Kirsty leads the Operations Department at The Old Station Nursery Group, overseeing the day to day running of the company. Kirsty has worked for over 20 years in the Early Years Sector, working across various roles in Quality, Care and Education and Nursery Operations. Kirsty is highly qualified, holding a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education.
We believe in more than early education, we believe in the power of humans growing together. Our nurseries are places where small humans and big humans, families and colleagues, neighbours and communities all interconnect and grow.
We see our nurseries as stations of possibility, places where curiosity is ignited, where relationships deepen, and where communities grow stronger. We invest in our nursery environments creating joyful spaces to be proud of.
Small actions have real impact. In 2026 we achieved a 96% group-wide transition to renewable energy supplies, a 9.8% reduction in CO2 emissions, and Energy Champions in all nurseries to drive smarter energy use, boost recycling, and cut emissions.
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