Full-day nursery in Kensal Town, Kensington and Chelsea
Ark Start Brunel
Ark Brunel Primary Academy, Middle Row, London, W10 5AT · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted report card
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementStrong standard
- Behaviour and routinesExpected standard
- Children's welfare and well-beingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingStandards met
What does this mean?
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each nursery a report card. Each area is graded on a five-step scale: urgent improvement, needs attention, expected standard, strong standard, exceptional. Safeguarding is either met or not met. There is no single headline grade, and we never make one up.
Official records
Fees
- Meals
- £3.80
- Meals
- £2.55
Funded hours: 30 hours
Fees: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
Hours and ages
- Monday to Friday
- 08:00–17:00
- Ages
- from 9 months
- Weeks open
- 48 a year
Getting there
Ark Brunel Primary Academy, Middle Row, London, W10 5AT · More nurseries in W10
Stations
- Ladbroke Grove13 min walk · 0.5 miles
- Westbourne Park14 min walk · 0.5 miles
- Kensal Green17 min walk · 0.7 miles
Buses
16 bus stops within 400 m, including Alderson Street, West Row and Kensal House.
Parks and playgrounds
- Harrow Road Open Space3 min walk
- Athlone Gardens4 min walk
- Queen's Park Gardens6 min walk
- Meanwhile Gardens7 min walk
- Queen's Park Court Communal Gardens7 min walk
- Playground2 min walk
© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Kensington and Chelsea there are about 2.1 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
Reviews on Toddly
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Write a reviewAbout Ark Start Brunel
Ark Start Brunel is a full-day nursery at Ark Brunel Primary Academy, Middle Row, London, W10 5AT, in Kensal Town, Kensington and Chelsea. It is registered for 58 children and takes children aged from 9 months. It opens 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri, 48 weeks a year. Its Ofsted report card (March 2026) grades inclusion Expected standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Strong standard, behaviour and routines Expected standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Strong standard; safeguarding standards met. It offers the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds, and accepts Tax-Free Childcare. It has a Google rating of 3.0 from 2 reviews (November 2026). It is run by Ark UK Programmes.
Run by Ark UK Programmes (company), which runs 9 nurseries.
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Learning
Its website says the nursery uses a Reggio Emilia inspired approach, a play-based EYFS curriculum, in-the-moment planning and a school readiness programme. Cooking activities are named on its website. In its 2026 Ofsted report card inspection, curriculum and teaching were rated 'Expected standard' and achievement was rated 'Strong standard'.
- Reggio Emilia inspiredSource: nursery website
- Play-based EYFS curriculumSource: nursery website
- In-the-moment planningSource: nursery website
- School readiness programmeSource: nursery website
Food
Meals are not included in the fees. Its website says breakfast is provided and parents provide a packed lunch. The meal charge is £2.55 per half day.
- Breakfast providedSource: nursery website
- Parents provide packed lunchSource: nursery website
Outdoors
Its website lists local outings and trips as outdoor details.
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Settling in
Its website says a home visit is arranged before a child starts, and families are invited to stay and play sessions. Each child is given a play partner who welcomes them on the first day and speaks to parents daily about how they are settling. Settling-in sessions are also named on its website.
- Flexible sessionsSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Settling-in sessionsSource: nursery website
Safety
In its 2026 Ofsted inspection, the nursery was found to meet safeguarding standards.
- Parent app with daily updatesSource: nursery website
- Near public transportSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Cooking activitiesSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says families submit an enquiry form for their chosen nursery, after which the team invites them to visit. According to its website, no registration fee or deposit is charged. The nursery accepts the 30 funded hours for eligible 3-4 year olds and Tax-Free Childcare.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ark Start BrunelThis nursery | Report card 2026 | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | from 9 mo | This nursery |
| Kensal House NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Little Rosie's Nursery SchoolSessional pre-school | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | 08:00–17:30 | 18 mo–4 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| Katharine Bruce Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| N Family Club Maida ValeFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 07:00–19:00 | not shared yet | 0.3 miles |
| VishenkaFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–16:00 | 18 mo–4 yrs | 0.4 miles |
| Sunrise Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.4 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Kensal Town3
- All nurseries in Kensington and Chelsea63
- All nurseries in W1014
- Nurseries near Ladbroke Grove station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Ark Brunel Primary Academy Primaryages 3–11Ofsted: Goodinspected May 2024 under 0.1 miles
- Saint Mary's Catholic Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected February 2022 under 0.1 miles
- St Thomas' CofE Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstandinginspected January 2025 0.2 miles
- Ormiston Kensington Queensmill Academy ages 3–19has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected October 2023 0.2 miles
- Queen's Park Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected November 2022 0.2 miles
- Barlby Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Report cardinspected April 2026 0.2 miles
- Chelsea Community Hospital School ages 2–19Ofsted: School remains Outstandinginspected November 2023 0.2 miles
- St Charles Catholic Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected November 2023 0.3 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
Does Ark Start Brunel offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. Ark Start Brunel offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
What are Ark Start Brunel's opening hours?
Ark Start Brunel opens 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Ark Start Brunel open all year?
Ark Start Brunel is open 48 weeks a year.
What ages does Ark Start Brunel take?
Ark Start Brunel takes children aged from 9 months.
What is Ark Start Brunel's Ofsted rating?
Ark Start Brunel was inspected on 17 March 2026 and given an Ofsted report card. Report cards grade each area separately rather than giving one headline grade: inclusion Expected standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Strong standard, behaviour and routines Expected standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Strong standard. Safeguarding standards met.
How many children can Ark Start Brunel take?
Ark Start Brunel is registered with Ofsted for up to 58 children at any one time.
Are meals included at Ark Start Brunel?
Meals are not included in the fees at Ark Start Brunel.
Does Ark Start Brunel accept Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. Ark Start Brunel accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.
Who runs Ark Start Brunel?
Ark Start Brunel is run by Ark UK Programmes, which runs 9 nurseries.
What approach does Ark Start Brunel follow?
Ark Start Brunel's website describes its approach as: Reggio Emilia inspired, Play-based EYFS curriculum, In-the-moment planning and School readiness programme.
Does Ark Start Brunel have outdoor space?
Ark Start Brunel lists: Local outings and trips.
What is the nearest station to Ark Start Brunel?
Ladbroke Grove is the nearest station we know of, 0.5 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Ark Start Brunel?
You can call 020 3116 6338 and visit www.arkstart.org.uk.
Tools for parents in Kensington and Chelsea
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in Kensington and ChelseaFees by age in Kensington and Chelsea
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.arkstart.org.uk) · 11 November 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 11 November 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Powered by TfL Open Data
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
Last checked 11 November 2026 · Ofsted URN 2813337 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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