The Close Day Nursery School

Prospect Road, Banbury OX16 5HH
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10 56 Reviews
  • The Close Day Nursery School, Banbury
The Close Day Nursery, proud recipients of the Top 20 Day Nursery Awards in both 2023 and 2024, ranks as the nursery of choice in Banbury. The intake is capped at 55 children, allowing the team to forge deep, nurturing bonds with each young learner. With a rich history spanning over 60 years, this family-operated establishment sets a benchmark in childcare.

The exceptional team of dedicated Early Years Practitioners at The Close has fostered a welcoming, familial, "home away from home" ambiance that greets visitors from the moment they enter.

The Close upholds a commitment to high-quality care and education, ensuring that every child's voice is not only heard but also valued. With core values centred on respect, love, and steadfast attention to health and safety, the nursery cultivates an environment where children flourish.

Situated in the heart of Banbury, The Close's prime location offers convenient access to local transport links, and strong relationships with the area's top schools.

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Care Provided by The Close Day Nursery School

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

Good to Know

  • Owner
  • Sutha Satkunarajah
  • Person in charge
  • Lorraine Wetherill (Head Teacher)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 16
  • Total Places for Children
  • 55
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 1 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays, 2 weeks at Christmas & 1 week at Easter

Funding & Fees Guide for The Close Day Nursery School

  • We offer funded places utilising the Government Funding for both 15 and 30 hours. We are able to stretch this funding over 50 weeks a year rather than just term time.


    Please contact us for information regarding Government Funding and private fees.
    Please telephone or email for more information.
  • Parking

  • They have a car park situated at the rear of the nursery in Old Parr Close - OX16 5HY


The Close Day Nursery School Reviews (56)

Total of 56, showing 41-56
10

The Close Day Nursery School has a Review Score of 10 (9.964) out of 10, based on 31 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Close Day Nursery School has 56 reviews.

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Review from Katy D (Mother of Child) published on 9 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has attended The Close Day Nursery School since January 2020, when she joined at a year old. She absolutely loves it and everyone who works there. She comes home each day happy and full of excitement after a day of playing and learning. I never worry about leaving her at drop off and she
skips in each morning without giving me a second glance! The staff are brilliant and it really feels like they love your child almost as much as you do, always providing a safe and caring environment. My oldest child also attended The Close from 2013 - 2017 and I knew if we had more children then I would not hesitate in using The Close again. The staff are not just a lovely team, they are excellent teachers and both my children have thrived during their time there. I would absolutely not hesitate to recommend The Close Day Nursery School to any parent looking for early years childcare.

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Review from A M (Mother of Child) published on 9 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our child has been at The Close Day Nursery School for over a year now and our experience has been absolutely fantastic. Every member of staff is friendly and goes above and beyond to help make the nursery experience amazing, not just for child, but also for us as parents. Our child absolutely loves
it and cannot wait to get there every day. They are great at accommodating the child’s routine, and really support us by reinforcing what we are doing at home. They are also supportive at talking through any concerns we are having with our child at home, and happy to provide support and advice. The Close Day Nursery School is truly a family and we are so grateful to them for the wonderful impact they are having on our child.

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Review from Samantha S (Mother of Child) published on 8 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Close Day Nursery has cared for our son since he was a toddler and this year he leaves for Primary school. During that time, they have nurtured him and instilled such a love for learning that we're so very grateful. The staff care so very much and work with genuine love. I can't recommend them enough!

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Review from S P (Mother of Child) published on 7 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have two children at The Close Day Nursery. I have a huge regard for the work they do, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. You will not meet a more professional, kind, or supportive Nursery Manager. She is thorough and conscientious, and from her radiates a culture of dedication and happiness
amongst the whole team. The staff take great pride in working at The Close Day Nursery, and this is evident in their work with the children. They provide a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for my children. They provide a solid structure to their day, disguised as a series of wonderfully engaging activities, and provide a detailed handover on collection. They are professional, kind, and always engaging. My children have, and continue to develop in all aspects of their learning. Including French! I love the relationship we all have with The Close Day Nursery, and I will look back with fond memories of these years.

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Review from Rachel K (Mother of Child) published on 25 November 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has attended The Close since March this year in the big room. The staff are excellent: talented, dedicated, and caring. The nursery has a wonderful atmosphere, the quality of the teaching is outstanding, and my son is thriving. Our daughter will also be starting in the baby room in a few months.
I absolutely wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Close and am so happy we made the decision to send our kids there.

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Review from Nigar S (Mother of Child) published on 22 September 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We really love The Close Day Nursery and everyone who works there. My eldest son has been there since he was 11 months in the baby room up until he left for school in September 2020. It was really hard to say goodbye because we had developed a very strong bond, they were all like family. We really are
going to miss the nursery. The management and staff are amazing! They have created a very comfortable environment with excellent standards and they are very loving and caring people. Always felt that my son was left in safe and caring hands, he always came home with a happy face and lots of fun stories to tell. All of his key workers over the years he developed a very strong bond with and always looked forward to see them again. He has developed so much in these years, and I always felt included and listened to in achieving his milestones. He developed so many strong friendships which the nursery put the foundation for. I can not recommend The Close Day Nursery enough!

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Review from Thomas G (Father of Child) published on 24 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been in The Close Nursery for the last 2.5 years, progressing from Baby to Middle and Big Room and we are happy overall. The nursery benefits from a quiet location, the staff is friendly and competent. I would recommend the nursery without reservation and we plan to send our second child
there.

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Review from Lee W (Father of Child) published on 18 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I personally found the transition into childcare a challenge, a huge emotional challenge. Often I would have a secret cry in the car. The ladies in the baby room have been nothing short of amazing! The support they have given us as a family has been wonderful. The whole experience would have been very
different without them. They have become an extension to our family; whether they like it or not!


Our son is very happy; you can tell he is very comfortable and really enjoys his time at The Close. He is learning, he is developing purely down to the joint effort from home to nursery. We could not be happier!


The manager and her team - we cannot thank you enough.


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Review from Keeley Wi (Mother of Child) published on 18 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We absolutely know we made the right decision to send our son to 'The Close' within the first few days of him attending. He started in the baby room at 11-months-old. We are now 9-months down the line, and are overjoyed at the progress he is making not only with his eating, he's sleeping, and his learning
too!
All staff at The Close are polite, helpful and really embrace the 'home from home' concept. He thoroughly enjoys his days at nursery and is so happy and relaxed when we drop him off and pick him up.
They embrace fun with all the children and the manager is such a fantastic asset to the nursery, she is always willing to chat, and happy to offer support and advice.
The three members of staff in the baby room have been beyond expectation and not only are they supportive in the nursery, but they have also offered support and advice for when he is at home too! They take a real interest in each child, and offer a wonderful environment for him to flourish! Thank you!

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Review from Nicole W (Mother of Child) published on 12 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started at The Close in 2010 at the age of 3. My son attends now and is currently in the middle room and started at 9-months-old in the baby room.
I can not express enough how wonderful the nursery and staff are. The staff are very welcoming and are always there to help.
They always put
100% into their work and care for my children as if they were their own.
It has a very "close" environment, with lots of activities for them to do whether its inside or out. I know when I leave in the morning my son is going to be well cared for and the staff are great at giving advice whether it's for my son or just a worry that I have. I feel very much reassured.
Thank you to all the staff at The Close.

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Review from Rebecca V (Mother of Child) published on 12 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been at The Close for the last year and a half. He has always been so happy at The Close the staff are incredible at supporting the children to flourish. He is able to count well, feels secure and has grown so much with the care of the team at The Close.

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Review from Emma H (Mother of Child) published on 12 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My eldest started nursery here at 11-months-old and my youngest is now in the big room. I cannot recommend this place enough. It feels like home from home and is small enough to feel like your children are practically with family but big enough to give them new and diverse experiences. The staff are
lovely, with so many having been at the nursery for years which is a great sign. They have supported us in all our boy's milestones and have helped shape who they are today. The French lessons are a bonus and I love that they get to visit and entertain the residents at the old people’s home. I felt genuine sadness when my 4-year-old left for school in September 2019!

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Review from Claire H (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our eldest son was at The Close from 11-months-old until he left for school in September. We had such a good experience that it was an easy decision to place our 12-month-old there as well and he is thriving in the baby room. The staff and management are caring and well trained and offer children in
all rooms a huge variety of activities, play, experiences and learning. Our sons have both developed so well there. The baby room is a home from home for the really little ones and this approach continues throughout the stages. We loved the French lessons and regular visits to the old people's home in the big room.

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Review from Brenda U (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After moving towns I found it very hard to find the right nursery for my son, but eventually, I was recommended The Close nursery. My son is extremely happy and always greeting me with such smiles and never wanting to leave. This says a lot. The staff will always tell me about his day and pinpoint any
issues that we can work together on to make better choices for my son. My son is truly taken care of at The Close nursery and I couldn't thank the staff enough for all the time they put in with the children there. Always a clean environment and never a mess. I couldn't recommend them enough!

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Review from Gemma F (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We love The Close! Our son has attended since 2017 and he always comes home happy after a fun filled day. He is currently in the 'The Big Room' and loves French and visiting the elderly people at the local home. He also loves the treasure day and the opportunity to share something important to him.
Recently our son has begun to show interest in letters and words (early reading) which is wonderful and he is always great and telling us the letter of the week.
The staff team are very knowledgeable and approachable, fun, caring and it's lovely to hear the conversations that have happened and activities that have taken place. The manager is so helpful and runs a very effective childcare setting. Being a teacher myself I am very happy with the care and education received at The Close. I would always recommend you!

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Review from Danny G (Father of Child) published on 10 March 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff here are always willing to go above and beyond! My son is potty training and they are really patient and have finally helped him and given us plenty of advice on how to help at home. No matter the question they always have suggestions and things they can try during the day. Every day he comes
home happy, and with something new to show or do. He absolutely loves it and I would not send him anywhere else.

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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.964)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.964) out of 10 for The Close Day Nursery School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 31 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 31 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 4.964 for The Close Day Nursery School is calculated as follows: ( (353 Excellents x 5) + (13 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 366 Ratings = 4.964

  • 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 The Close Day Nursery School is based on 31 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 55 number of registered child places is 11, which has been reached with 31 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 (1)

Lorraine

Lorraine Wetherill

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2006

Lorraine has 16 years of experience in the childcare field and has been at Close Day Nursery since 2006. Whilst being responsible for maintaining the high standards of the nursery, Lorraine also ensures that each member of staff adheres to the policies and procedures creating a safe, stimulating environment for all the children who attend.


Lorraine supervises the nursery curriculum and implementation of the EYFS, providing support and training to staff. She encourages close partnerships between staff and parents, striving for The Close Day Nursery to be the best nursery in Oxfordshire!
Lorraine is our Lead Safeguarding officer. In addition, she delivers talks around the county on best practices in Nursery Management.


Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact The Close Day Nursery School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Close Day Nursery School has an Enhanced Service – more info.