# 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. Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer-2601916 Last checked 11 November 2026. ## At a glance - Type: Full-day nursery - Address: Ark John Archer Primary Academy, Plough Road, London, SW11 2AA - Ages: from 9 months - Opening hours: 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri - Weeks open: 48 a year - Registered places: 45 - Funded childcare: funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds - Tax-Free Childcare: yes - Meals included: no - Phone: 020 3116 6338 - Website: https://www.arkstart.org.uk/our-nurseries/john-archer-clapham-junction/ - Run by: [Ark UK Programmes](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/ark-uk-programmes) - Ofsted URN: 2601916 ## Ofsted and official records Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 19 January 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. - Quality of education: Good - Behaviour and attitudes: Good - Personal development: Good - Leadership and management: Good Safeguarding effective. Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2601916 Official records: - Ofsted registration: Registered since September 2020 (Reference 2601916). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2601916) - Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 19 January 2023). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2601916) - Registered places: 45 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2601916) ## Fees - Meals: £3.80 (full day) - Meals: £2.55 (half day) Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 30 hours. Fees: not published yet. ## Hours and ages - Monday to Friday: 08:00–17:00 - Ages: from 9 months - Weeks open: 48 a year ## Getting there Address: Ark John Archer Primary Academy, Plough Road, London, SW11 2AA Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.461861,-0.175060 - Station: Clapham Junction, 0.3 miles - Station: Wandsworth Town, 0.6 miles - 15 bus stops within 400 m - Park: Wandsworth Common, 0.1 miles - Park: Bolingbroke Green, 0.1 miles - Park: Petergate Green, 0.2 miles - Park: York Gardens, 0.3 miles - Park: Falcon Glade, 0.4 miles - Playground: Playground, 0.2 miles © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. ## Places and next steps Spaces: not published yet. 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. Source: ONS Census 2021. When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery ## Ratings - Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 7 reviews (as of 11 November 2026) ## About: a day here ### 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 inspired (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/our-curriculum) - In-the-moment planning (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/our-curriculum) - School readiness programme (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/our-curriculum) ### 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 provided (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions) - Parents provide packed lunch (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions) ### Outdoors Its website says the nursery offers local outings and trips. - Local outings and trips (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) ### 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 system (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions) - Flexible sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) - Half-day sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) - Settling-in sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions) - After-school club (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) ### Safety Ofsted's 2023 inspection rated safeguarding effective. Its website names a secure entry system. - Secure entry system (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) - Parent app with daily updates (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) - Near public transport (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) ### Extras and activities - Cooking activities (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/nursery/ark-start-john-archer) ### 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. ## Nearby schools Distances are in a straight line. | School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | ARK John Archer Primary Academy | Primary | 3–11 | Good (January 2023) | yes | under 0.1 miles | | Park House School | | 4–11 | | | 0.3 miles | | Falconbrook Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Standards maintained (December 2024) | yes | 0.5 miles | | Dolphin School (Incorporating Noahs Ark Nursery Schools) | | 2–11 | | yes | 0.5 miles | | St Faith's CofE Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (Improving) (June 2024) | yes | 0.5 miles | | Belleville Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Outstanding (March 2022) | yes | 0.6 miles | | Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Battersea | Primary | 3–11 | Good (June 2023) | yes | 0.6 miles | | Wandsworth Preparatory School | | 3–11 | | yes | 0.7 miles | ## Nearby nurseries | Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---| | [Abacus Ark Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/abacus-ark-nursery-ey497084) | Good | | 07:30–18:30 | under 0.1 miles | | [Bright Horizons Wandsworth Common Day Nursery and Preschool](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/bright-horizons-wandsworth-common-day-nursery-and-preschool-ey343093) | Good | | 07:30–18:00 | 0.2 miles | | [Abacus Ark Preschool](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/abacus-ark-preschool-2736638) | Good | | | 0.2 miles | | [Little Green Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/little-green-nursery-2672141) | Good | | | 0.2 miles | | [Banana Moon Day Nursery Battersea](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/banana-moon-day-nursery-battersea-ey491589) | Good | | 07:30–18:30 | 0.3 miles | | [Fledglings on the Common](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/fledglings-on-the-common-ey467365) | Good | | 08:00–18:00 | 0.4 miles | ## Frequently asked questions ### 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. ## Sources - Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2601916) - Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.arkstart.org.uk), as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.arkstart.org.uk/our-nurseries/john-archer-clapham-junction/) - Rating and review themes: Google, as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Ark+Start+John+Archer+-+Nursery+Clapham+Junction&query_place_id=ChIJ4Q0uaJ0FdkgRxkUkbaCmSjI) - Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/) Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.