Full-day nursery in Clapham Junction, Wandsworth
Ark Start, John Archer
Ark John Archer Primary Academy, Plough Road, London, SW11 2AA · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted inspection, before November 2025
Good
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
What does this mean?
This grade is from before November 2025, when Ofsted replaced single grades with report cards. The nursery's next inspection will give a report card, with a separate grade for each area instead of one overall grade.
Official records
Fees
- Meals
- £3.80
- Meals
- £2.55
Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 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 John Archer Primary Academy, Plough Road, London, SW11 2AA · More nurseries in SW11
Stations
- Clapham Junction8 min walk · 0.3 miles
- Wandsworth Town14 min walk · 0.6 miles
Buses
15 bus stops within 400 m, including Brussels Road, Plough Road and Strath Terrace.
Parks and playgrounds
- Wandsworth Common4 min walk
- Bolingbroke Green4 min walk
- Petergate Green6 min walk
- York Gardens8 min walk
- Falcon Glade10 min walk
- Playground5 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 Wandsworth there are about 2.4 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
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Write a reviewAbout Ark Start, John Archer
Ark Start, John Archer is a full-day nursery at Ark John Archer Primary Academy, Plough Road, London, SW11 2AA, in Clapham Junction, Wandsworth. It is registered for 45 children and takes children aged from 9 months. It opens 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri, 48 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in January 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It offers funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds, and accepts Tax-Free Childcare. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 7 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, in-the-moment planning and a school readiness programme, and names cooking activities. Ofsted's 2023 inspection rated overall effectiveness and quality of education Good.
- Reggio Emilia inspiredSource: 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, with a meal charge of £2.55 per half day.
- Breakfast providedSource: nursery website
- Parents provide packed lunchSource: nursery website
Outdoors
Its website says the nursery offers local outings and trips.
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Settling in
According to its website, families can get home visits and attend stay and play sessions before a child starts. Each child has a play partner who supports settling in and talks to parents every day, and the nursery uses a key person system.
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Flexible sessionsSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Settling-in sessionsSource: nursery website
- After-school clubSource: nursery website
Safety
Ofsted's 2023 inspection rated safeguarding effective. Its website names a secure entry system.
- Secure entry systemSource: nursery website
- Parent app with daily updatesSource: nursery website
- Near public transportSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Cooking activitiesSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Families apply by submitting an enquiry form on the Ark Start website, after which the nursery invites them to visit. There is a waiting list. It accepts government-funded hours for working parents of children from 9 months, funded hours for 2-year-olds, the universal 15 funded hours and 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, John ArcherThis nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | from 9 mo | This nursery |
| Abacus Ark NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | under 0.1 miles |
| Bright Horizons Wandsworth Common Day Nursery and PreschoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| Abacus Ark PreschoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Little Green NurserySessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Banana Moon Day Nursery BatterseaFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.3 miles |
| Fledglings on the CommonFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 6 mo–5 yrs | 0.4 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Clapham Junction13
- All nurseries in Wandsworth145
- All nurseries in SW1137
- Nurseries near Clapham Junction station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- ARK John Archer Primary Academy Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected January 2023 under 0.1 miles
- Park House School ages 4–11 0.3 miles
- Falconbrook Primary School Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: Standards maintainedinspected December 2024 0.5 miles
- Dolphin School (Incorporating Noahs Ark Nursery Schools) ages 2–11has a nursery class 0.5 miles
- St Faith's CofE Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Good (Improving)inspected June 2024 0.5 miles
- Belleville Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Outstandinginspected March 2022 0.6 miles
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Battersea Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected June 2023 0.6 miles
- Wandsworth Preparatory School ages 3–11has a nursery class 0.7 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, John Archer offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. Ark Start, John Archer offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does Ark Start, John Archer take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. Ark Start, John Archer offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
Does Ark Start, John Archer offer funded hours from 9 months?
Yes. Ark Start, John Archer offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.
What are Ark Start, John Archer's opening hours?
Ark Start, John Archer opens 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Ark Start, John Archer open all year?
Ark Start, John Archer is open 48 weeks a year.
What ages does Ark Start, John Archer take?
Ark Start, John Archer takes children aged from 9 months.
What is Ark Start, John Archer's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Ark Start, John Archer Good at its inspection on 19 January 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can Ark Start, John Archer take?
Ark Start, John Archer is registered with Ofsted for up to 45 children at any one time.
Are meals included at Ark Start, John Archer?
Meals are not included in the fees at Ark Start, John Archer.
Does Ark Start, John Archer accept Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. Ark Start, John Archer accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.
Who runs Ark Start, John Archer?
Ark Start, John Archer is run by Ark UK Programmes, which runs 9 nurseries.
What approach does Ark Start, John Archer follow?
Ark Start, John Archer's website describes its approach as: Reggio Emilia inspired, In-the-moment planning and School readiness programme.
Does Ark Start, John Archer have outdoor space?
Ark Start, John Archer lists: Local outings and trips.
What is the nearest station to Ark Start, John Archer?
Clapham Junction is the nearest station we know of, 0.3 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Ark Start, John Archer?
You can call 020 3116 6338 and visit www.arkstart.org.uk.
Tools for parents in Wandsworth
- 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 WandsworthFees by age in Wandsworth
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 2601916 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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