Toddler Town - Private Nursery and Pre-School

07/09/2026

31/08/2026

Separation anxiety can look very different from child to child — and it isn’t always limited to the nursery / school gate.

It may show up as repeated reassurance seeking, physical complaints, difficulty sleeping alone, distress well before a separation happens, or a strong need to know exactly where a parent or trusted adult is.

Some separation anxiety is developmentally normal. It becomes more concerning when the anxiety is persistent, intense and begins to interfere with everyday life.

30/08/2026

We go to sleep next to someone we love every night, yet we expect our kids to go to sleep alone in a dark room without being scared or needing comfort.

We walk through the store and throw something in the cart just because—a candle, a snack, a sweet treat—and then expect our kids to walk through aisles filled with everything they love without asking for a single thing.

We get hungry, open the fridge, see nothing we want to eat, and decide to order pizza… but then expect our kids to eat whatever is put in front of them without complaining.

We get overwhelmed and need a break, but sometimes expect our kids to regulate every emotion perfectly.

We hold children to standards that, if we're being honest, even adults don't always meet.
Yes, kids need rules.
Yes, they need structure.
Yes, they need boundaries.
Those things keep them safe and help them learn.
But they also need to be allowed to be human.

They’re allowed to be scared.
They’re allowed to ask for things.
They’re allowed to have big emotions.
They’re allowed to make mistakes.
They’re allowed to need us.

Maybe parenting isn't about raising children who never struggle, never complain, and always behave perfectly.

Maybe it's about teaching them how to navigate being human while reminding them they don't have to do it alone. ♥️♥️♥️

16/08/2026

🌿 Why Outdoor Play Matters So Much in the Early Years 🌿

At Toddler Town, we believe that outdoor play isn’t simply a chance for children to “let off steam” — it is a vital part of their learning, development and wellbeing. 💚

The outdoors offers children opportunities that just can’t be recreated in quite the same way inside. Whether they’re digging in the mud, splashing in puddles, climbing, balancing, running, investigating bugs or simply noticing the changing seasons, they are constantly learning through real experiences.

🌳 Outdoor play helps our children to:

🌱 Develop their gross motor skills, balance, strength and coordination
🐞 Explore nature and develop curiosity about the world around them
💬 Build communication and language through shared adventures
🤝 Develop friendships, teamwork and social skills
💡 Problem-solve, take appropriate risks and become more independent
❤️ Support their emotional wellbeing and build confidence
✨ Use their imagination and create their own play experiences

We also believe that children need the freedom to get a little muddy, messy and wet! Muddy clothes can be washed, but the experiences, discoveries and memories children make through outdoor play are incredibly valuable.

There really is no such thing as “just playing”. Every climb, jump, puddle, mud pie and mini-beast hunt is helping a child learn something new. 🥰

At Toddler Town, our lovely outdoor environment (shown below) is an extension of our indoor learning space — and we want our children to grow up feeling confident, curious and connected to the world around them. 🌎🌿

Because some of the very best learning happens outside. 💚

13/08/2026

Keeping cool 💦 ☀️ ❤️

07/08/2026

🌟 WE’RE HIRING – QUALIFIED CHILDCARE PRACTITIONER 🌟

📍 Toddler Town – Wallingford

🕒 Full Time | 4 Days a Week

📅 Flexible Start: September–December 2026

Toddler Town is growing, and we’re looking for someone special to join our team! 💛

We are looking for a qualified childcare practitioner who is caring, enthusiastic and passionate about giving children the very best start in life.

At Toddler Town, we believe that a happy, valued team creates the best environment for our children. We pride ourselves on offering a warm, welcoming home-from-home nursery environment where both children and practitioners can thrive.

✨ WHAT WE OFFER
💰 Competitive rate of pay
🎉 Monthly staff bonus
🏖️ Generous FULL-PAY holiday allowance
💷 Workplace pension
📚 Staff training & development opportunities – we want to support you in gaining further qualifications and progressing your Early Years career
💛 A 4-day working week
🌱 A supportive, friendly working environment
👩‍👧‍👦 A small, caring team where your ideas and contribution are valued

ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a full-time position working 4 days per week, with a flexible start date anytime between September and December 2026.

We’re looking for someone who:
• Holds a recognised Early Years/Childcare qualification
• Is caring, reliable and enthusiastic
• Has a genuine passion for working with young children
• Understands the importance of safeguarding and high-quality Early Years practice
• Enjoys being part of a close and supportive team
• Wants to continue learning and developing within their Early Years career
An Enhanced DBS registered on the Update Service and a current Paediatric First Aid qualification would be a definite advantage.

🌟 COME AND JOIN TODDLER TOWN! 🌟

If you’re looking for a nursery where you’ll be supported, appreciated and encouraged to develop your career, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Interested? Send us a message with a little information about yourself, your childcare qualification and your experience and we would be happy to send across an application form and arrange an interview.

18/07/2026

People often say, *"You just play all day."*

If only they knew.

Working in early years is so much more than toys, paint, and story time. Behind every game is purposeful learning. Behind every cuddle is a child who needs comfort. Behind every smile is a practitioner who may be carrying the weight of a hundred responsibilities while still making every child feel safe, loved, and valued.

We are teachers, carers, nurses, cleaners, storytellers, problem-solvers, mediators, cheerleaders, and sometimes a child's biggest advocate. We celebrate first words, first friendships, and first achievements while supporting families through some of their most challenging moments.

It's a career filled with joy, but it's also emotionally and physically demanding. Long days, endless paperwork, safeguarding responsibilities, planning, observations, training, difficult conversations, and giving every child the individual care they deserve—often without the recognition the profession truly deserves.

The early years aren't "just childcare." They are the foundation of a child's future. The experiences children have in these first few years shape their confidence, relationships, communication, and love of learning for years to come.

So, to everyone working in early years—thank you. Be proud of what you do. You are shaping futures, changing lives, and making a lasting difference every single day.

Katie Southern Charlotte Windebank Olivia Dixon Olivia Daisy Webb Hannah Hooper Kristina Meader Ella Beasley Martha Grace Becky Brandish

11/07/2026

Hi,

Families I realise you wouldn’t have seen me much last week so just wanted to explain.
After waking with a bit of a pain in my side on Sunday, I developed a fever on Tuesday and rapidly went downhill. Was rushed to hospital and eventually was realeased last night. Long story short I basically had had an infection (poss from a slight uti a few weeks earlier) which had infected my kidney and spread to my lungs. But this morning I’m sat outside in the beautiful sunshine feeling thankful to be alive.
Scary how quickly things can happen.
As always, my wonderful family did everything they could and my husband was a true star, but I now realise how worried he must have been.
We have a great NHS! Thanks Royal Berks!
And thanks to my wonderful staff who held everything together and my new deputy manager Becky who had only done 1 day before I disappeared!
I’m very grateful xx
I’m still quite poorly but will be starting to catch up with everything work related and I’m very much looking forward to seeing all my gorgeous little people next week!
Debs xx

03/07/2026

My parenting page ☺️