Full-day nursery in Croydon
Ark Start, Oval
Ark Oval Primary Academy, 98 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA · 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
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since February 2021Reference 2629258Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 21 March 2023Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places39 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 18 March 2026Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
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.
Nurseries in Croydon that publish fees charge £75–£125 a day for under-2s (8 nurseries). This is the area's range, not this nursery's.
Hours and ages
- Monday to Friday
- 08:00–17:00
- Ages
- from 9 months
- Weeks open
- 48 a year
Getting there
Ark Oval Primary Academy, 98 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA · More nurseries in CR0
Stations
- East Croydon6 min walk · 0.2 miles
- Lebanon Road Tram Stop7 min walk · 0.3 miles
- East Croydon Tram Stop7 min walk · 0.3 miles
Buses
15 bus stops within 400 m, including Cross Road, Leslie Grove and Addiscombe Road.
Parks and playgrounds
- Park Hill Recreation Ground12 min walk
- Addiscombe Railway Park12 min walk
- Playground4 min walk
- Playground9 min walk
- Playground12 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 Croydon there are about 3.2 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, Oval
Ark Start, Oval is a full-day nursery at Ark Oval Primary Academy, 98 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA, in Croydon. It is registered for 39 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 March 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 4.6 from 11 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 nature-based approach and a school readiness programme. It names music classes and cooking activities. The Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated overall effectiveness Good and quality of education Good.
- Reggio Emilia inspiredSource: nursery website
- Nature-based approachSource: nursery website
- School readiness programmeSource: nursery website
Food
Meals are not included in the fees, and the meal charge is £2.55 per half day. Its website says breakfast and healthy snacks are provided, and parents provide a packed lunch.
- Breakfast providedSource: nursery website
- Parents provide packed lunchSource: nursery website
- Healthy snacks providedSource: nursery website
Outdoors
Its website says the nursery has its own garden and offers local outings and trips.
- Own gardenSource: nursery website
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Settling in
Its website says families are invited to stay and play sessions and a home visit before the child starts. Each child has a play partner who speaks to parents every day about how the child is settling. Care details on the website include a key person system and settling-in sessions.
- 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
The Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated safeguarding effective.
- Parent app with daily updatesSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Music classesSource: nursery website
- Cooking activitiesSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says to submit an enquiry form for the chosen nursery, after which the team invites families to visit and ask questions. No registration fee or deposit is charged. The nursery 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, OvalThis nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | from 9 mo | This nursery |
| MMI PreschoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | under 0.1 miles |
| Ark Start Oval Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | 9 mo–3 yrs | 0.1 miles |
| Mindful Nurseries - AddiscombeFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Leapfrog Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | £80 | 08:00–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| Little Pumpkins NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | £99.83 | 07:30–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| Toggles NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.3 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Croydon14
- All nurseries in Croydon160
- All nurseries in CR065
- Nurseries near East Croydon station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Ark Oval Primary Academy Primaryages 4–11has a nursery classOfsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Goodinspected June 2025 under 0.1 miles
- Tunstall Nursery School Nurseryages 2–5has a nursery classOfsted: Standards maintainedinspected May 2025 0.2 miles
- St. Mary's Catholic Junior School Primaryages 7–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected September 2023 0.3 miles
- St Mary's Catholic Infant School Primaryages 3–7has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected October 2022 0.3 miles
- Chaffinch Brook School ages 5–16Ofsted: Goodinspected May 2024 0.4 miles
- Park Hill Infant School Primaryages 5–7Ofsted: Outstandinginspected November 2023 0.5 miles
- John Wood School & Nursery Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected July 2024 0.5 miles
- Park Hill Junior School Primaryages 7–11Ofsted: Outstandinginspected May 2023 0.6 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, Oval offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. Ark Start, Oval offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does Ark Start, Oval take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. Ark Start, Oval offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
Does Ark Start, Oval offer funded hours from 9 months?
Yes. Ark Start, Oval offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.
What are Ark Start, Oval's opening hours?
Ark Start, Oval opens 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Ark Start, Oval open all year?
Ark Start, Oval is open 48 weeks a year.
What ages does Ark Start, Oval take?
Ark Start, Oval takes children aged from 9 months.
What is Ark Start, Oval's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Ark Start, Oval Good at its inspection on 21 March 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can Ark Start, Oval take?
Ark Start, Oval is registered with Ofsted for up to 39 children at any one time.
Are meals included at Ark Start, Oval?
Meals are not included in the fees at Ark Start, Oval.
Does Ark Start, Oval accept Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. Ark Start, Oval accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.
Who runs Ark Start, Oval?
Ark Start, Oval is run by Ark UK Programmes, which runs 9 nurseries.
What approach does Ark Start, Oval follow?
Ark Start, Oval's website describes its approach as: Reggio Emilia inspired, Nature-based approach and School readiness programme.
Does Ark Start, Oval have outdoor space?
Ark Start, Oval lists: Own garden and Local outings and trips.
What is the nearest station to Ark Start, Oval?
East Croydon is the nearest station we know of, 0.3 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Ark Start, Oval?
You can call 020 3116 6338 and visit www.arkstart.org.uk.
Tools for parents in Croydon
- 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 CroydonFees by age in Croydon
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
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- 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 2629258 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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