Lydalls Nursery School and Chameleon Club, Didcot

Our lovely, friendly and welcoming school is looking for 2 new team members. If you are interested in joining our staff team, you can apply by following this link: https://www.lydallsnurseryschool.co.uk/vacancies/
Visits are warmly welcomed and we are happy to answer any questions you may have in person, via email or over the phone. Why not come by to see what makes Lydalls so special. We look forward to meeting you.
Please submit applications by 12noon on 3rd December.

UPDATE: We are very grateful to everyone for their support and advocacy on behalf of our lovely nursery school. Whilst it is not yet clear how the development will progress, we have received reassurances that the substation will be of the type that is installed in residential areas. In addition, a further survey has been completed to ensure there will be no negative impact on our school.

IMPORTANT LOCAL ISSUE - Please Read and Share

Lydalls Nursery School, which has served this community for over 80 years, needs your help to stand up to a proposed development planned for the site directly next to our grounds. While we’ve consistently raised concerns over the past few months, key issues remain unresolved, and we are not being listened to.

The current proposal includes a substation, plant compound, bin store, and vehicle turning area positioned just a few metres from our classrooms and outdoor play spaces.

We’re concerned about the potential effects on children’s health and wellbeing, especially regarding ongoing noise and vibration from the nearby substation and plant. Additionally, there appear to be inaccuracies in some of the reports supporting the application, yet the proposal is set to still move forward.

This isn’t about stopping development—it’s about making sure it’s done responsibly and safely, especially where young children are involved.

We’re calling on the community to stand with us.

The application will be reviewed by the South Oxfordshire District Council planning committee on Wednesday 2nd July. Your engagement can make a real difference in making sure our concerns—and the voices of our children—are taken seriously.

Please like, comment, and share to help spread the word. Together, we can advocate for a safer and more thoughtful solution.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
We have an exciting opportunity for two Early Years Apprentices with a passion for working with very young children to join us on a permanent basis to work 30 hours a week. Deadline for applications is July 4th by 12 noon. For more information please see our website:

Job Vacancies « Lydalls Nursery School Lydalls Nursery School is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders in regulated activity are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and a satisfactory “Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check”.

NURSERY PLACES AVAILABLE
We are Didcot's only maintained nursery school for children aged 2-5 years old. We are proud to offer an inspiring and dynamic learning environment with an ambitious curriculum for all children. We offer government funded 15 and 30 hour places, as well as fee-paying options. Our established and experienced team teach in our well resourced school, which includes a sensory room and mature woodland gardens, where we run our on-site forest school sessions. We have spaces available for children looking to start with us from September 2025. Please call or email the school office (Phone: 01235 813137, Email: [email protected]). If you'd like to see what makes Lydalls so special we also have a school tour on June 25th at 9.30am - please call the school if you would like to book a space. For more information, including to download a registration form, please visit our website: https://www.lydallsnurseryschool.co.uk/registration-forms/

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

We would like to wish Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating today! We hope you have a happy and joyful day.

Today, the team at Lydalls wore for . This year, we join supporters in calling on governments to improve support systems, so that all people with disabilities are included in the community. People with Down syndrome need support to live and be included in the community, like everyone else. Everybody has the right to support that meets their needs and gives choice, control and dignity. You can find out more here: https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/

Our books weeks are nearly always accompanied by a song! This one about the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff is one of our favourites here at Lydalls!

Three Billy Goats Gruff Song "Who's that trip tropping over my bridge?" A friendly twist to the classic fairy tale, loaded with harmonies. Another Tune Tales collaboration between the Ca...

This week is the second of our five special book weeks that take place at Lydalls each academic year. This time, our core story is 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'. Here is a Youtube story link to the version we are reading at nursery. There are also multiple copies available to borrow in our lending library located in the entrance hall. Please do pop by and borrow a copy to read at home with your child.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff By - Ladybird Picture Books Hello everybody, today the Bookworms have read, The Three Billy Goats Gruff By - Ladybird Picture Books!Make sure to tell us which part of the book is your f...

Photos from our 80th Birthday Celebrations. What a wonderful day!

News about our birthday celebrations has been featured in the Round and About magazine online:

Happy 80th Lydalls Nursery School Round and About • Round & About Magazine Didcot nursery celebrates "providing the very best start for young children"

Happy Birthday Lydalls! Today, we celebrated our Maintained Nursery School's 80th birthday. We raised a new flag designed by the children, enjoyed cake and party games, and all took home a special commemorative teddy bear. If you have memories of when you were a child at Lydalls, we'd love for you to share them with us.
For 80 years we've been building early years expertise and providing the very best start for our young children. Lydalls nursery is often described as feeling like a family and today we all really enjoyed celebrating this milestone together.
Thank you to everyone who joined in with wishing Lydalls a Happy Birthday today!