# 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. Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/ark-start-oval-2629258 Last checked 11 November 2026. ## At a glance - Type: Full-day nursery - Address: Ark Oval Primary Academy, 98 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA - Ages: from 9 months - Opening hours: 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri - Weeks open: 48 a year - Registered places: 39 - 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: http://www.arkstart.org.uk/ - Run by: [Ark UK Programmes](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/ark-uk-programmes) - Ofsted URN: 2629258 ## Ofsted and official records Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 21 March 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/16/2629258 Official records: - Ofsted registration: Registered since February 2021 (Reference 2629258). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2629258) - Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 21 March 2023). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2629258) - Registered places: 39 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2629258) - Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 18 March 2026). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1546131) ## 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. 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 Address: Ark Oval Primary Academy, 98 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.378673,-0.089255 - Station: East Croydon, 0.2 miles - Station: Lebanon Road Tram Stop, 0.3 miles - Station: East Croydon Tram Stop, 0.3 miles - 15 bus stops within 400 m - Park: Park Hill Recreation Ground, 0.5 miles - Park: Addiscombe Railway Park, 0.5 miles - Playground: Playground, 0.2 miles - Playground: Playground, 0.4 miles - Playground: Playground, 0.5 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 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. Source: ONS Census 2021. When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery ## Ratings - Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 11 reviews (as of 11 November 2026) ## About: a day here ### 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 inspired (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/our-curriculum) - Nature-based approach (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/our-curriculum) - School readiness programme (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/article/education-secretary-bridget-phillipson-visits-ark-startoval) ### 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 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) - Healthy snacks provided (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions) ### Outdoors Its website says the nursery has its own garden and offers local outings and trips. - Own garden (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/article/education-secretary-bridget-phillipson-visits-ark-startoval) - Local outings and trips (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/our-curriculum) ### 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 system (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/partnering-with-parents) - Flexible sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/article/education-secretary-bridget-phillipson-visits-ark-startoval) - Half-day sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions) - 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/frequently-asked-questions) ### Safety The Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated safeguarding effective. - Parent app with daily updates (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/partnering-with-parents) ### Extras and activities - Music classes (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/article/new-singing-classes-with-musical-bumps-every-tuesday-at-ark-start-oval) - Cooking activities (source: nursery website, https://www.arkstart.org.uk/why-ark-start/our-curriculum) ### 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. ## Nearby schools Distances are in a straight line. | School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Ark Oval Primary Academy | Primary | 4–11 | Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Good (June 2025) | yes | under 0.1 miles | | Tunstall Nursery School | Nursery | 2–5 | Standards maintained (May 2025) | yes | 0.2 miles | | St. Mary's Catholic Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | School remains Good (September 2023) | | 0.3 miles | | St Mary's Catholic Infant School | Primary | 3–7 | Good (October 2022) | yes | 0.3 miles | | Chaffinch Brook School | | 5–16 | Good (May 2024) | | 0.4 miles | | Park Hill Infant School | Primary | 5–7 | Outstanding (November 2023) | | 0.5 miles | | John Wood School & Nursery | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (July 2024) | | 0.5 miles | | Park Hill Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | Outstanding (May 2023) | | 0.6 miles | ## Nearby nurseries | Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---| | [MMI Preschool](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/mmi-preschool-ey407707) | Good | | | under 0.1 miles | | [Ark Start Oval Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/ark-start-oval-day-nursery-2874979) | | | 08:00–17:00 | 0.1 miles | | [Mindful Nurseries - Addiscombe](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/mindful-nurseries-addiscombe-2806829) | Good | | 07:30–18:30 | 0.2 miles | | [Leapfrog Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/leapfrog-day-nursery-2497724) | Good | £80 | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles | | [Little Pumpkins Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/little-pumpkins-nursery-2597518) | Good | £99.83 | 07:30–18:00 | 0.2 miles | | [Toggles Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/toggles-nursery-2654929) | Good | | 08:00–18:00 | 0.3 miles | ## Frequently asked questions ### 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. ## Sources - Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2629258) - Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.arkstart.org.uk), as of 11 November 2026 (http://www.arkstart.org.uk/) - Rating and review themes: Google, as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Ark+Start+Oval+Preschool+-+Nursery+East+Croydon&query_place_id=ChIJFQSl4RgBdkgRwEouYiuvJaU) - 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.