About Us

Our Story

The St Aubin story began in 1990, when I opened our first nursery in Penarth.

At the time, I was working as a childminder while also trying to find the right childcare for my young son, who had additional needs. That experience shaped everything that St Aubin would become. I wanted to create a nursery where every child would feel welcome, understood and valued — a nurturing place where children could feel safe, happy and confident simply being themselves.

What began with a small group of children soon grew into something very special. Before long, our beautiful Victorian building in Penarth was filled with laughter, friendships, learning and play. As those children grew older, we introduced an out-of-school club, allowing them to remain part of the familiar St Aubin environment before and after school and throughout the holidays.

In 1998, the St Aubin family grew with the opening of Romilly Park in Barry. From the moment I first stepped inside, the nursery had a wonderfully warm and welcoming atmosphere. There was a real sense of community among the children, families and team — something we have worked hard to preserve and which remains at the heart of Romilly Park today.

As our families grew with us, we later opened an out-of-school club within Romilly Park, creating another familiar, happy place where school-aged children could spend time, make friends and enjoy their days outside of school.

Growing the St Aubin Family

In 2004, an unexpected opportunity brought St Aubin to Cardiff.

I had accompanied a friend who was considering purchasing three nurseries in Canton. During one of the visits, a little girl came over, took my hand and asked if I had come to play with her. As she led me into the playroom, I noticed a painting of an apple tree on the wall — remarkably similar to the tree that had long been part of the St Aubin identity.

Surrounded by children eager for me to stay and join them, there was an immediate sense that this was where St Aubin should be.

When my friend decided not to proceed, I took on the exciting challenge of welcoming the three Cardiff nurseries into the St Aubin family. Since then, they have continued to grow and evolve into welcoming, vibrant settings that we are incredibly proud of today.

Our journey continued in 2011 when I was introduced to the former health centre in Cowbridge. From the first visit, I could see its potential.

Transforming the building into a nursery took imagination, hard work and plenty of careful planning. Walls were removed, rooms redesigned and new spaces created, with the needs of the children guiding every decision. In May 2011, St Aubin Cowbridge opened its doors and became the newest member of our growing family.

Our most recent addition came in 2020, when the nursery previously known as Toybox became part of the St Aubin family. Today, as St Aubin Roath, it continues our commitment to creating a warm, welcoming and nurturing environment where children can feel happy, secure and inspired to learn and grow.

The Same Values Today

Although St Aubin has grown considerably since that first nursery opened in Penarth, the values at the heart of what we do have never changed.

Our nurseries and out-of-school clubs have always been about much more than childcare. We want them to be places where children feel safe, loved and encouraged; where curiosity is celebrated, confidence can grow and every child is given the freedom to develop at their own pace.

We believe every child is unique, and we take the time to understand their personality, interests, routines and individual needs. By working closely with families, we aim to make every child’s time with St Aubin a happy and rewarding part of their early years.

Most importantly, despite having grown into a family of nurseries across South Wales, St Aubin remains one close-knit team.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do, sharing the same commitment to creating warm, nurturing environments and giving every child the very best possible start in life.

That was the dream when St Aubin began in 1990 — and it remains our passion today.