Nursery Information

Nursery map (978kb)

Nursery Providers


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Visiting the nursery

Parents can arrange to visit nurseries provided they phone first and arrange an appointment with the nursery manager concerned.

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Who may apply

Only the following groups are eligible to apply for a place:

  • University employees, including joint appointments (but not employees of other organisations working within University departments);
  • matriculated students;
  • employees of any of the University's Colleges;
  • employees of Oxford University Press (whilst OUP parents are eligible you must contact Emma Harte at OUP to join the nursery waiting list);
  • and employees of Isis Innovation.

If you work part-time, you are only eligible for a part-time nursery place.

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Sponsored Places

Certain colleges and departments participate in the University sponsored places scheme which enables colleges and departments to nominate staff or students for a priority place on the nursery waiting list. You can ask your college or departmental administrator if they have such a place and whether it is occupied. Oxford University Press currently has 20 sponsored places.

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Allocation procedure

The University's nursery provision is oversubscribed, and there is a long waiting list. Parents who fall into priority groups will be allocated places first. Thereafter, all other applicants are offered places (when available) according to the date when they applied. The priority groups are:

  1. parents or children with a disability
  2. lone parents
  3. those with a sibling already in a university nursery or a nursery where we have subsidised places
  4. those who have been nominated under the sponsored places scheme.
  5. Student parents.

Exceptions to the allocation procedure

In the case of a genuine emergency need for childcare (such as the serious illness or death of a parent) an exception to the allocation procedure may be made. If this is the case, you may e-mail childcare@admin.ox.ac.uk.

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Length of time on the waiting list

Unfortunately it is not easy to predict when you might be offered a place. The length of time on the waiting list is subject to lots of variables, such as choice of nursery, age of child, days and date when a place is required. Hilary Term 2012 the waiting list consists of 341 applicants. Please note that as places are offered new parents are joining the waiting list (almost daily). It is therefore important that parents look into alternative childcare and do not rely solely on getting a place at the university nurseries.

Contact the Oxfordshire Family Information Services (OXFIS) , tel: 08452 262 636 for help and advice if you are not able to get a place at the University nurseries or for additional information on childcare and child-related services.

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When you will know if you have a place

We will contact you as early as possible if you have been offered a place. This is normally done by e-mail. Allocations are usually made 1–2 months in advance. In order to minimise delays, parents who are offered a place will be given five working days to visit and hand in a contract and deposit, otherwise the place will be withdrawn.

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Changing your contact details

If your contact details change, you must inform us. Simply email childcare@admin.ox.ac.uk your change of details. If we are unable to reach you within a reasonable time (usually one week in term-times) to offer you a nursery place, we will assume you no longer want a place and will offer the place to another parent.

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Confidentiality

All information about you will be processed in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and will only be seen by the Childcare Service team, and staff of Kidsunlimited, Oxford Montessori Schools or Co-Operative Childcare. It will be used only for the purpose of nursery provision, and will not be disclosed to others (including your department/college) except in accordance with the DPA 1998.

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Applying for a place

If you would like to apply for a University nursery place, please complete the online application form (existing staff or students only).

Alternatively please complete the PDF application form : University Nursery Place Application Form (202kb)  

and send to Childcare Services, 92 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX1 7ND or email childcare@admin.ox.ac.uk. Please keep a copy as proof. Your application will be acknowledged by e-mail. If you require this form in an alternative format please e-mail childcare@admin.ox.ac.uk.

If you are seeking a nursery place at one of the Oxford Montessori Nurseries you will also need to complete an online Oxford Montessori application form.

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