Crime & Safety
Five Oxfordshire nursery expansions due this September
Extra funding has been announced to boost the number of places for children up to five years old across the county.
Included in the list are the John Henry Newman Academy and St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, both in Littlemore, and Tyndale Community School in William Morris Close, Oxford.
Outside the city, Drayton Community Primary School near Abingdon and All Saints Church of England Primary School in Didcot will also increase their nursery capacity.
The changes are due to be introduced in September for the new academic year, the government said today in its announcement.
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Families could save up to £8,000 a year on childcare costs with the new places, according to the Department for Education.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Our school-based nurseries are already helping fill the gaps in communities where childcare is hardest to find, giving children the strong start they deserve and helping parents access childcare close to home.
“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.
“For too long, where a child grows up has shaped what they go on to achieve.
“This government was elected to change that – starting with giving every child the best start in life and making sure every family can access the childcare they need, wherever they live.”
In the next phase of the programme, the district and city councils will lead plans for new nurseries, using their knowledge of local need to target places where they are most needed.
But in February, plans for a nursery at Osney Mead Industrial Estate were rejected by Oxford City Council over flooding fears.
The rollout is part of wider support for families, including 30 hours funded childcare, free breakfast clubs and action to keep school uniform costs down — together helping families save up to £8,500 a year.
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
The Wantage Orchestra Spring Concert at the Old Mill Hall in Grove was celebrated as “an inspired afternoon” with the highlight being a recital by 17-year-old Katherine Payne.
The young violinist has been described as a “virtuosic performer” and is in her final year at the Yehudi School of Music.
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She will go on to study violin further once she turns 18 and is the recipient of many prizes including the Celia Walker overall prize.
Ms Payne was the leader of the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and was playing on a Castagneri violin and a Morizot bow, sponsored by the Cherubim Trust.
Typically these violins sell at auction for between £5,000 and £15,000.
At the performance on Saturday, March 21 there was standing room only with Beethoven’s Symphony no.7 and Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie being played.
Conductor Christopher Fletcher Campbell called it “an inspired afternoon”, with home made cakes made available at the interval
One audience member said: “We enjoyed the Wantage Orchestra concert yesterday.
“Lovely programme, and Katherine was very accomplished. Good to see it so well supported.”
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Another added: “What a wonderful afternoon performance, beautiful sunshine outside and amazing performance inside.
“The choice of pieces brought out the best from everyone and they bought enjoyment to us all. Thank you I look forward to future concerts.”
The group’s next concert will be on Sunday, July 5 at 7pm at The Wantage Parish Church, with more information available on its website.
Originally scheduled to close on April 10, Blueprints of Power at Blenheim Palace will now remain open until May 31.
The decision marks 300 years since the death of Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Heather Carter, managing director of the visitor attraction at Blenheim Palace, said: “Blueprints of Power has sparked remarkable momentum, opening conversations across generations.
“The response has been excellent, so we’re pleased to be extending the exhibition to give visitors more time to explore Sir John Vanburgh’s remarkable life.
“From his architectural brilliance to his larger-than-life character, never-before-seen items, interactive experiences and an immersive finale in the Long Library make it a must-visit for history enthusiasts, architecture fans and anyone curious about the fascinating story behind Blenheim Palace.”
The exhibition offers an immersive journey through Vanbrugh’s diverse career, from playwright to architect, and sheds light on his complex relationship with the First Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill.
Visitors begin in the Great Hall, where models, plans, and letters introduce Vanbrugh’s work, before moving through other rooms that explore his influences and connections.
A highlight of the exhibition is the finale in the Long Library, featuring a projection experience with light, sound, and motion.
This segment tells the story of Blenheim Palace’s construction.
Admission to the Blueprints of Power exhibition is included with a valid day ticket or Pass to Britain’s Greatest Palace.
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