Bright Horizons St Mary's Day Nursery and Preschool
Good★ 3.3 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Abingdon for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2023. Open since 2013, with 114 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Oxfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Oxfordshire from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
OX14 1AAWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 14 September 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 9 July 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 20 November 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 9 October 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children have lots of fun. They are secure and happy. Staff create a welcoming and nurturing environment for children. They place a high priority on settling children and forming strong attachments with them. When children become slightly unsettled, staff respond well to provide them with reassurance and cuddles. This helps to support children's sense of belonging and their emotional well-being.
Children of all ages are eager to play. They move freely as they explore their environment. Babies enjoy many sensory experiences. For example, they show delight as they explore paint, using sponges, toothbrushes and their feet to create pictures. Older children are excited to explore the outdoors. For instance, they show great determination and perseverance working out how to use the pedals on the tricycle or how to construct models using connecting shapes. Toddlers show an avid interest in books and enjoy turning the pages and looking at the pictures with staff. This ensures that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress in their learning.
Overall, children behave well. Staff are good role models and treat children with respect and kindness. Children are reminded of the boundaries, such as sharing with their friends or waiting patiently in line. Staff consistently praise children for their efforts and achievements. This helps to build children's self-esteem and confidence.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - review the organisation with regard to the room for children aged two to three years and take steps to support children to play and learn in a more consistently calm and purposeful environment n plan the curriculum even more effectively to focus precisely on the challenges set for all children.
- 9 October 2023Good
- 19 October 2021Good
- 19 September 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bright Horizons St Mary's Day Nursery and Preschool
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.