Full-day nursery in Croydon
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery
43 Cross Road, Croydon, CR0 6TE · Getting there
- Not yet inspected by Ofsted
- 5.0 on Google (3 reviews)
- About 500 m (6 min walk) from East Croydon station
Is it good?
Ofsted
Not yet inspected
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.
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
- 9 months to 3 years
- Weeks open
- 48 a year
Getting there
43 Cross Road, Croydon, CR0 6TE · More nurseries in CR0
Stations
- East Croydon7 min walk · 0.3 miles
- East Croydon Tram Stop8 min walk · 0.3 miles
- Lebanon Road Tram Stop9 min walk · 0.3 miles
Buses
14 bus stops within 400 m, including Cross Road, Leslie Grove and Davidson Road.
Parks and playgrounds
- King George's Field12 min walk
- Playground3 min walk
- Playground9 min walk
- Playground10 min walk
- Playground11 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 Day Nursery
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery is a full-day nursery at 43 Cross Road, Croydon, CR0 6TE, in Croydon. It is registered for 48 children and takes children aged 9 months to 3 years. It opens 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri, 48 weeks a year. It offers the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds, and accepts Tax-Free Childcare. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 3 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
The nursery's website names Montessori, Forest school, Reggio Emilia inspired, Play-based EYFS curriculum, In-the-moment planning, Nature-based approach and School readiness programme as its approaches. It lists SEND support and a SENCo, and names cooking activities.
- MontessoriSource: nursery website
- Forest schoolSource: nursery website
- Reggio Emilia inspiredSource: nursery website
- Play-based EYFS curriculumSource: nursery website
- In-the-moment planningSource: nursery website
- Nature-based approachSource: nursery website
- School readiness programmeSource: nursery website
Food
Meals are not included in the fees. Its website says breakfast and healthy snacks are 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
- 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 before the child starts, and a home visit is made. Each child gets a play partner who speaks to parents every day about how they are settling. Care details 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
SEND and inclusion
- SEND supportSource: nursery website
- SENCoSource: nursery website
Safety
Its website names a secure entry system as its security measure.
- 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
According to its website, families submit an enquiry form for their chosen nursery on the website. The nursery then invites them to visit, and a child can be registered after that visit. The nursery accepts 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 Oval Day NurseryThis nursery | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | 9 mo–3 yrs | This nursery |
| MMI PreschoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | under 0.1 miles |
| Mindful Nurseries - AddiscombeFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | under 0.1 miles |
| Ark Start, OvalFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | from 9 mo | 0.1 miles |
| Leapfrog Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | £80 | 08:00–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.1 miles |
| Little Pumpkins NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | £99.83 | 07:30–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| Once Upon A Time Pre-School/after School ClubFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | not shared yet | 0.2 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 0.1 miles
- St. Mary's Catholic Junior School Primaryages 7–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected September 2023 0.2 miles
- St Mary's Catholic Infant School Primaryages 3–7has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected October 2022 0.2 miles
- Tunstall Nursery School Nurseryages 2–5has a nursery classOfsted: Standards maintainedinspected May 2025 0.3 miles
- Chaffinch Brook School ages 5–16Ofsted: Goodinspected May 2024 0.5 miles
- Broadmead Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected November 2023 0.5 miles
- John Wood School & Nursery Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected July 2024 0.5 miles
- Park Hill Infant School Primaryages 5–7Ofsted: Outstandinginspected November 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 Day Nursery offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. Ark Start Oval Day Nursery offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
What are Ark Start Oval Day Nursery's opening hours?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery opens 08:00–17:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Ark Start Oval Day Nursery open all year?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery is open 48 weeks a year.
What ages does Ark Start Oval Day Nursery take?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery takes children aged 9 months to 3 years.
How many children can Ark Start Oval Day Nursery take?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery is registered with Ofsted for up to 48 children at any one time.
Are meals included at Ark Start Oval Day Nursery?
Meals are not included in the fees at Ark Start Oval Day Nursery.
Does Ark Start Oval Day Nursery accept Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. Ark Start Oval Day Nursery accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.
Who runs Ark Start Oval Day Nursery?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery is run by Ark UK Programmes, which runs 9 nurseries.
What approach does Ark Start Oval Day Nursery follow?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery's website describes its approach as: Montessori, Forest school, Reggio Emilia inspired, Play-based EYFS curriculum, In-the-moment planning, Nature-based approach and School readiness programme.
Does Ark Start Oval Day Nursery have outdoor space?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery lists: Own garden and Local outings and trips.
Does Ark Start Oval Day Nursery support children with SEND?
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery lists: SEND support and SENCo.
What is the nearest station to Ark Start Oval Day Nursery?
East Croydon is the nearest station we know of, 0.3 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Ark Start Oval Day Nursery?
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
- 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 2874979 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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