The Old Station Nursery Oxford

Mark making is important in the early years because it’s one of the first ways children express ideas, communicate meaning, and build the foundations for writing. Through drawing, scribbling, painting, and making patterns, children develop fine motor control, hand–eye coordination, creativity, and confidence. It also helps them understand that marks can carry meaning, which is a key step toward reading and writing~!

It’s the small moments that matter most - the care we show, the way we listen, the way we show up for each other.

The Old Station Nursery Group | How we do things here We grow good humans — little and big — and the communities they hel...

This week, our OSP team is embracing the World Cup spirit! ⚽

Keep an eye on our page over the coming weeks for more football-inspired fun and activities.

Sensory play is so much more than just fun—it helps children explore the world around them through touch, sight, sound, smell, and movement. From playing with ice and gloop with blocks to exploring textures, colours, and natural materials, sensory activities support creativity, problem-solving, language development, and fine motor skills.

This week, our little learners enjoyed hands-on sensory experiences that encouraged curiosity, imagination, and confidence. Watching them discover, experiment, and engage with their environment reminds us that some of the best learning happens through play!

✨ Benefits of sensory play:
✔️ Develops fine motor skills
✔️ Encourages creativity and imagination
✔️ Supports cognitive growth
✔️ Enhances language development
✔️ Promotes calmness and focus

We believe everyone is still growing.
That’s why everything we do is built around helping humans thrive - children, families, and teams alike.

The Old Station Nursery Group | We Grow Good Humans We grow good humans — little and big — and the communities they hel...

🌊🐠 Today is National Ocean Day! 🐠🌊

Our babies had lots of fun creating their very own bubble pictures using a tube and bubble paint! They were fascinated by the marks the bubbles left behind and were surprised to see bubbles appear on their paper. 😊

The activity also helped develop their fine motor skills as they carefully popped the bubbles. There were plenty of opportunities for communication too, with lots of "pop!" and "bubble!" heard throughout the session. 🫧💙

To make the experience even more enjoyable, we sang songs all about bubbles while we explored and created together. What a fun and sensory-filled way to celebrate National Ocean Day! 🌊🫧✨

Our story began in a railway station — with one simple idea: create a place where people feel at home.
That idea still guides us today.

The Old Station Nursery | Once Upon a Time We grow good humans — little and big — and the communities they hel...

Preschool have been busy little bees! 🐝

In honour of National Bee Day, the children have been exploring all things bees through a variety of exciting hands-on activities. They have been getting creative with play dough, carefully shaping and moulding their own bees, helping to develop their fine motor skills, hand strength, and imagination.

The children also enjoyed painting their own bees, experimenting with colours, patterns, and different painting techniques while enhancing their creativity and hand-eye coordination.

Through sensory play using rice and pasta, the children learned about bee hives and habitats, creating their own miniature bee homes. This activity encouraged problem-solving, communication, and collaborative play as they shared ideas and worked together.

As part of their bee-themed learning, the children discovered fascinating facts about bees, including how they live in hives, the important role they play in pollination, and how they help flowers, fruits, and vegetables grow. They also learned about the different types of bees within a hive, such as the queen bee and worker bees, and discussed why it is important to care for and protect these amazing insects.

It has been wonderful to see the children's curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm flourish as they explored the fascinating world of bees. 🐝🌼🍯

Last week, we celebrated National Biscuit Day with a fun and engaging learning experience!

To begin, the children used playdough to create their own biscuits, encouraging creativity, imagination, and self-expression. As they explored, they had opportunities to manipulate a variety of tools, helping to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The children also enjoyed exploring the scent of vanilla, engaging their senses and building their sensory awareness.

To extend this learning, the children then made their own biscuits. They practised important early mathematical and life skills by measuring, scooping, mixing, and stirring ingredients. This hands-on activity supported their understanding of cause and effect, following instructions, and working collaboratively with their peers.

It was wonderful to see the children so engaged, confident, and excited throughout the experience!

People Who Help Us

Preschool have been exploring the important role of the people who help us in our community. Through a range of exciting activities, the children have been learning about emergency services and how they keep us safe.

The children enjoyed practising their first aid skills by carefully wrapping bandages on one another, developing their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and confidence while learning how people can help others when they are hurt. They also discussed the importance of kindness, empathy, and looking after one another.

Out in the garden, the children took part in a fun "stop and go" game, pretending to be police officers. This helped them develop their listening skills, concentration, and ability to follow instructions, while encouraging teamwork and cooperative play.

We have also been spending time with PC Paws, our very own nursery bear police officer. Through imaginative play and discussions, the children explored how police officers help to keep people safe, assist those in need, and work within the community. This provided opportunities for the children to ask questions, share their ideas, and build their understanding of the world around them.

Throughout our learning, the children discovered interesting facts about the emergency services, including how police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, and nurses all have different roles but work together to help people. They learned when to seek help from trusted adults and began to understand the importance of staying safe and knowing who they can turn to in an emergency.

It has been wonderful to see the children engage so enthusiastically in their learning, developing important communication, social, physical, and problem-solving skills while gaining a greater appreciation for the people who help us every day. 🚓🚑🚒👮‍♀️🩺