Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Manor Drive, Shurlock Row, Reading RG10 0PX
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9.9 28 Reviews
  • Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery, Reading
Nestled in the picturesque countryside of beautiful Shurlock Row, away from busy roads and traffic, Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery is the perfect place for your little one to thrive and grow. Their day nursery with forest school caters for children aged 8 weeks to 5 years old, from 7:45am to 6:15pm Monday-Friday over 51 weeks of the year.

Their homely and nurturing atmosphere encourages children to discover, create, and play, all while developing vital skills like socialising, problem-solving, and caring for others. From vast and adventurous outdoor play spaces full of stimulating activities, to an allotment where children can learn to grow vegetables and maintain a garden, they have everything your child needs for a well-rounded experience.

With cosy corners, dedicated messy play areas, and sand and water play, the fun and learning never stops!

The professional and highly experienced team provides a caring and stimulating environment where children can explore their interests, from arts and crafts to sensory play and phonics. Plus, with an unrivalled natural outdoor woodland and meadow right on their doorstep, they can discover the wonders of nature too!

Only a short journey for those living in RG10 like Wargrave, Twyford, Waltham St Lawrence, Ruscombe and Hurst or RG42 in Binfield, Warfield and Bracknell, Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery is worth the extra mile.

If you would like to register for a childcare place at the nursery, please select the CONTACT button at the top of the webpage and submit the contact form. If a childcare place is available, the bookings team will contact you within 3 working days to offer you a nursery tour.

Care Provided by Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Sarah Billings (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 10
  • Total Places for Children
  • 40
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 2 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:45-18:15
    Tuesday 07:45-18:15
    Wednesday 07:45-18:15
    Thursday 07:45-18:15
    Friday 07:45-18:15
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas to New Year

Funding & Fees Guide for Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

  • Between £78.90 and £88.83 per day.


  • Fees are reviewed annually and this information is subject to change.
    Current fees are available on our website. Please visit our website or contact us for the most current fees.


  • Parking
  • As you drive along The Street through the Shurlock Row village, with the Shurlock Inn on your right, Manor Drive is on the left before the T-junction. Please park on The Street and walk about Manor Drive. This is a private road and parking is not available.


Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery Reviews (28)

Total of 28, showing 1-20
9.9

Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.917) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery has 28 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are extremely happy with Wise Owls at Foxley. From the very beginning they have put us at ease with their ability to manage his medical needs. They are always looking for solutions rather than objections to any additional requirements he has. Our son has now attended the nursery for over a year and
has made great friends. He has lovely relationships with the nursery workers and often comes home singing new songs they have taught him.

Reply from Ally Holloway, Heads of Sales, Marketing and Communications at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to leave this lovely review. The wellbeing and safety of every child is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to ensuring that all families, whatever their needs, feel supported and reassured in our care. It's wonderful to hear that your son has built such positive relationships with other children and our team - we love supporting his learning and development, and we are so pleased that he is enjoying his time with us! Your feedback means the world and we look forward to continuing to provide a nurturing and inclusive environment for your family.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been at Foxley for almost 6 months. Being our first child, we had no experience with childcare settings but we knew from the look round we had that Wise Owls was the place for us. It had a real home-from-home feel and we loved the fact that the garden was a key part of the day. Our son is
almost 18 months old now and happily walks into the nursery, smiling and waving goodbye.
The staff are so lovely and we believe genuinely invested in our son's development. His mobility, confidence, and eating have all flourished while at nursery. There is great communication with the team both through in-person catch-ups at drop off, the week ahead emails, and the app.
Thank you so much to all the staff, particular shout out to to one member of staff in particular for all the amazing work she has done with our son.

Reply from Ally Holloway, Head of Sales, Marketing and Communications at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a detailed review. Happy children = happy parents and happy staff! Your son is a delightful little boy and the team love taking care of him.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started nursery here nearly 6 months ago as a 6-month-old. He loves it! He sings in the car on the way! He receives enough care and attention but it still allows him to be a kid. His milestones are monitored and reported and his achievements are noticed. The staff give detailed feedback at the
end of the day to myself when I collect him and he's always in a good mood when I do collect him. Kids don't lie and if he is happy to go and happy when I collect him then it's obviously the right place for him.

Reply from Ally Holloway, Head of Sales, Marketing and Communications at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. We are so pleased to hear that you believe your son is thriving and enjoying his time with us - we see it with every visit. And we especially love that he sings on the way to nursery!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A wonderful little nursery with lots of outdoor space. The fact it is a bit smaller is part of the appeal and the forest garden is an integral part of the day. The staff genuinely care for the children and our 18-month-old daughter is happy in their care, she runs to the door in the morning. As well
as the outdoor activities, she is learning to count and comes home singing the songs she’s learnt.

Reply from Ally Holloway, Head of Sales, Marketing and Communications at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thanks for this lovely review. We are really lucky to have a good balance of cosy, familiar indoor spaces and wide-open outdoor spaces for the children to explore daily. Not to mention so many wonderful children to bring the nursery to life every day.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child has been at Foxley for over 6 months now. They love going and run in happy and excited every morning. This is testament to the warm welcomes from the staff and how they truly care for the children. We previously struggled settling our child into a childcare environment, so to see them settle
straight away here made us know that it was the perfect place. It is important to us how invested the staff are in the children's development, and as well as regular updates on the app, they are open to discussing specific goings on at pick up and drop off. There is a large outdoor area with lots of resources, slides, water table, as well as a meadow, meaning our little one has so much to do and explore. Thank you to all who work there!

Reply from Ally Holloway, Marketing Communications Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you very much for this lovely review. We love seeing their smiling faces as they come through the door so confidently.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Cannot fault. Our son loves attending. He runs in the morning and at the end of the day, has a wide smile on his face. He's been there since six months old for the last 2 years and he (and we) couldn't be happier. All the team are fantastic. Well done!

Reply from Ally Holloway, Marketing Communications Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thanks very much for your wonderful review. He's an absolute delight and yes, we do have lots of fun!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My eldest son has been at Wise Owls for over 2 years and my youngest for a few months now and we couldn’t be happier with it. They both absolutely love coming in for their days here and are thriving on it. A lot of time is focused on being outside playing and learning which was a key factor for me when
choosing a nursery so this is amazing. The staff are really wonderful and welcoming too which makes it a pleasure to go along for drop off and pick up. Highly recommend it as an early years setting.

Reply from Ally Holloway, Marketing Communications Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thanks for your review. We are really pleased that our outdoor curriculum is being so well received by parents and enjoyed by children and staff.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We love Wise Owls, our little boy doesn’t even say goodbye when I drop him off, he is too excited to get inside.
After being on maternity leave for a year it was incredibly tough to return to work full-time and have someone else care for my child, but the staff were amazingly supportive and they take
a genuine interest in the children. I know my child is in the best possible place when I am at work and he is thriving in a fun, loving environment where he is growing and developing every day.
The children are outside as much as possible and we love that about the education style. They learn and explore in their own little piece of nature.
I cannot thank the staff enough for all they do for us, they are nothing short of amazing.

Reply from Ally Holloway, Marketing Communications Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thanks for your feedback. He is the most delightful little boy and the team enjoy taking care of him as much as he enjoys being at nursery. Knowing that you can relax at work and not worry about him is so important to us too.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending Wise Owls Nursery since August 2021 (16 months old). The staff are always so friendly and have a lovely relationship with my son. The setting is beautiful and I love how much time they spend outside in the garden. He comes home looking like he has been digging for hours so
I know he thoroughly enjoys his time there!

Reply from Ally Holloway, Marketing Communications Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to provide a review. We are very lucky with the outside space we have at Foxley and our outdoor curriculum means all the children spend a lot of time exploring the wild outdoors. We all have a lot of fun digging - even our staff!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending Wise Owls for two years and she loves it. We are so confident she's having fun and learning. Wise Owls have a great, stable team that we really like and trust. We put our second daughter on the waiting list about a week after her birth!

Reply from Ally Holloway, Marketing Communications Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thanks for your lovely review. She certainly makes our team laugh a lot every day! We love taking care of her.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been at Foxley Nursery for five months now, and we couldn’t be happier! She was 11 months when she started, and I was so nervous as she’d only ever been looked after by myself and her Dad, so I was worried about the change. All the staff made me feel at ease and really helped with that
transition period. Five months on, and the bond she has with the staff is so lovely to see, the care they give is second to none, and my little one comes out beaming each day; she absolutely loves her time there! The setting is so lovely and personal, they do lots of great activities, and the staff really care for the children and are so enthusiastic about their development; I honestly could not recommend this nursery more, and I am more than happy to chat with anyone thinking of joining! Thank you to all at Foxley!

Reply from Ally Holloway, Marketing Communications Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you so much for this wonderful review. It makes us happy to know that the children at Foxley enjoy coming to nursery every day. Thank you for taking the time to share this. It means a lot to our staff.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been attending since January and she loves coming each afternoon! She screams with excitement as we ring the doorbell. She settled in very quickly and has gained a great relationship with all the staff. They have a great range of activities and she especially loves the outside area!
Thank you to all the staff for all the hard work they continue to do you've all been amazing!

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you so much for this lovely review. We are very pleased to hear that your daughter is excited to come into nursery and that she loves the outside area.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son attends the preschool and my little girl is in the little owls, they both run in each morning as they love it so so much. All the staff are incredible and really look after each child and their individual needs. I really can't thank them all enough as they make our week so much better as we know
they are not only having a great time but also learning so much in a fun and outdoor way!
We would highly recommend wise owls to everyone and are happy to chat with anyone thinking of joining!

Reply from Sarah, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

What a wonderful review, thank you very much, Lucy. We are so impressed with their development and they're lots of fun to have around. They both love being outdoors in our forest school and running through the meadow.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Wise Owls have been fantastic whilst settling my little girl into nursery life. She comes home every day smiling and keen to show us she's learning new things. The manager and her staff have been wonderful and always giving us updates on what she's been up to all day, what she's had for
lunch, what books she's read etc. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Wise Owls to anyone.

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are so pleased to hear your daughter is happy at nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Wise Owls staff have been great with my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Always smiling, always communicating with me. Love the outdoor space for the children. Inside is also a lovely space for the children to play in. Very happy child as a result of all the hard work of staff at Wise Owls.

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you so much for the lovely review. We are glad your daughter is happy when she comes to nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Very friendly and helpful staff looked after our little boy since his second birthday. Since then, he became very independent and gained lots of new skills. Wise Owls at Foxley Nursery is a highly recommended local nursery. Well done Foxley.

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this lovely review. We are happy to hear your son has become independent and gained lots of new skills.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been going to Wise Owls at Foxley Nursery for a year and a half now and I can honestly say that he loves his time there. He runs down the lane every morning and can’t wait to get in the door. He enjoys telling me what they’ve done each day and I love hearing what he’s learnt. He’s due to
start school in September 2021, so it’s really reassuring that he is being prepared for that in one way or another, even if he doesn’t realise it. The outdoor space is fantastic and my son particularly loves the forest school element. It’s nice to know that he’s getting outside at some point of the day, come rain or shine. The staff are all so lovely, always very friendly, caring and helpful.

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely review. We are happy to hear your son loves his time with us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has thrived since going back in September 2020, she absolutely loves going and gets so excited on the days she goes! Her key workers are incredibly helpful and have been really accommodating when we needed to increase my daughter's hours. My little girl comes home happy and full of beans
which is all a mum can ask for when picking up their child.

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you for your fantastic review. It is great to hear that your daughter enjoys her time at nursery, and is happy and full of beans when you collect her.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son attends the nursery and has been very happy. The manager and the team are really accommodating, and the nursery itself has recently undergone refurbishment making it lovely and clean. With great outdoor facilities.

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so pleased to hear you like the improvements that have been made to the nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

When visiting Wise Owls at Foxley (Shurlock Row) I found it had an amazing outdoor space including a forest school, as well as indoor space. It has recently been renovated with added space for children to play and because of this, I would highly recommend this setting. Furthermore, the staff are very
welcoming and are more than happy to help in any way they can, they are truly there to provide the best care for your children. They are up to date with all training (Covid included) and take all measures to ensure your children are safe and healthy. Once again I cannot recommend this setting enough.

Reply from Sarah Billings, Nursery Manager at Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

Thank you for your lovely review. We are really happy to hear you like the renovations that have taken place, and that you would highly recommend our nursery.


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.917)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.917) out of 10 for Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 12 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.917 for Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (132 Excellents x 5) + (12 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 144 Ratings = 4.917

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery is based on 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 40 number of registered child places is 8, which has been reached with 12 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Meet the Team (2)

Sarah

Sarah Billings

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2019

Sarah joined Wise Owls when we took over Foxley Nursery School in September 2019. Sarah had previously been a manager at a Windsor nursery and gained an outstanding OFSTED. She enjoys working and motivating a good strong team and is dedicated to bringing out the best in every child in her care. Sarah has a foundation degree in early years, NVQ level 3 in management and early years as well as an NNEB. To help her manage her site she also has first aid, prevention of duty, safeguarding, EYFS and SEND. Sarah has trained and worked in childcare since 1996 and brings her love for her career choice wherever she goes.


Sarah is an outgoing character willing to learn and take on new challenges with a very cheery disposition.


Gemma

Gemma Phillips

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2021

Gemma started with Wise Owls in 2021 and has contributed considerably to the positive growth of the nursery.


I hold an NVQ Level 3 in childcare and education and have worked in childcare for 15 years.


She is passionate about early years education and feels particularly proud when she watches children grow and develop from babies to spread their wings when they head off to school.


Frequently Asked Questions about Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery

What is the Age Range of Children that Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery accepts?

Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery accepts Children aged from 0 years 2 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery Open?

Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery is open: Monday 07:45-18:15, Tuesday 07:45-18:15, Wednesday 07:45-18:15, Thursday 07:45-18:15, Friday 07:45-18:15.

How many Children does Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery have capacity for?

Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery has capacity for a total of 40 Children.

How far is Wise Owls at Foxley Day Nursery to the centre of Reading?

7.6 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.