# The Ark Children Centre

The Ark Children Centre is a full-day nursery at Evelyn Street, Deptford, SE8 5RB, in Deptford, Lewisham. It is registered for 27 children and takes children aged 9 months to 5 years. It opens 07:30–18:00, Mon–Fri, 51 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in February 2024, 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 4 reviews (November 2026).

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/the-ark-children-centre-ey492926  
Last checked 11 November 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Full-day nursery
- Address: Evelyn Street, Deptford, SE8 5RB
- Ages: 9 months to 5 years
- Opening hours: 07:30–18:00, Mon–Fri
- Weeks open: 51 a year
- Registered places: 27
- 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 8692 6789
- Website: http://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/
- Ofsted URN: EY492926

## Ofsted and official records

Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 9 February 2024, 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/EY492926

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since August 2015 (Reference EY492926). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY492926)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 9 February 2024). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY492926)
- Registered places: 27 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY492926)
- Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 22 February 2024). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1599873)

## Fees

| Age | Per hour |
|---|---|
| All ages | £10 |

Price per hour is the day rate over a 10.5-hour day, from the nursery's opening hours.

- Charge on funded hours: £5 (full day)
- Charge on funded hours: £2.50 (half day)

Source: nursery website (https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/funded-childcare), 11 November 2026.

Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 30 hours.

## Hours and ages

- Monday to Friday: 07:30–18:00
- Ages: 9 months to 5 years
- Weeks open: 51 a year
- Sessions: per hour

## Getting there

Address: Evelyn Street, Deptford, SE8 5RB

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.485403,-0.033061

- Station: Deptford, 0.5 miles
- Station: New Cross ELL, 0.6 miles
- Station: New Cross, 0.6 miles
- 5 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Sayes Court Park, under 0.1 miles
- Park: Pepys Park, 0.1 miles
- Park: Deptford Park, 0.2 miles
- Park: Upper Pepys Park, 0.2 miles
- Park: Evelyn Green, 0.2 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.1 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 Lewisham there are about 2.8 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 4 reviews (as of 11 November 2026)

## About: a day here

### Food

- Allergy-aware kitchen (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)
- Breakfast provided (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/food)
- Parents provide packed lunch (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/funded-childcare)
- Healthy snacks provided (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/food)

### Outdoors

- Own garden (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/)
- Daily outdoor play (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)
- Outdoor classroom (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)
- Local outings and trips (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)
- All-weather outdoor play (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)

### Care and routines

- Key person system (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)
- Flexible sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/fee)
- Open all year (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/funded-childcare)
- Early drop-off (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/funded-childcare)
- Half-day sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/fee)
- Settling-in sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)

### Building and safety

- Parent app with daily updates (source: nursery website, https://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/faqs)

## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clyde Nursery School. | Nursery | 2–5 | Good (February 2024) | yes | under 0.1 miles |
| Deptford Park Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (December 2022) |  | 0.3 miles |
| Grinling Gibbons Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Good (September 2022) | yes | 0.3 miles |
| Twin Oaks Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Report card (January 2026) |  | 0.4 miles |
| Rachel McMillan Nursery School and Children's Centre | Nursery | 2–5 | Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding (March 2025) | yes | 0.5 miles |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Good (June 2023) |  | 0.6 miles |
| St Edmund's Catholic School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (January 2023) | yes | 0.6 miles |
| Childeric Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (February 2023) | yes | 0.6 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Raising Generations Day Nursery Ltd](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/raising-generations-day-nursery-ltd-ey487910) | Good |  | 07:00–18:30 | under 0.1 miles |
| [Hodan Day Care](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/hodan-day-care-ey411352) | Good |  | 08:30–16:30 | 0.1 miles |
| [Bunny Hop Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/bunny-hop-day-nursery-129016) | Good |  | 08:00–16:30 | 0.3 miles |
| [Indo-Chinese Little Rainbow Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/indo-chinese-little-rainbow-day-nursery-ey359681) | Outstanding |  |  | 0.3 miles |
| [Kiddies Arena](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/kiddies-arena-ey499561) | Good |  | 08:00–18:00 | 0.3 miles |
| [Totally Kidz Day Nursery LTD](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/totally-kidz-day-nursery-ltd-2726118) | Report card Dec 2025 |  | 07:00–18:30 | 0.4 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does The Ark Children Centre cost?

The Ark Children Centre publishes these fees: per hour £10 for all ages (nursery website, November 2026). Funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare can reduce what you pay.

### Does The Ark Children Centre offer 30 funded hours?

Yes. The Ark Children Centre offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds. It charges £5 full day on funded hours for extras such as meals and activities.

### Does The Ark Children Centre take funded 2-year-olds?

Yes. The Ark Children Centre offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.

### Does The Ark Children Centre offer funded hours from 9 months?

Yes. The Ark Children Centre offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.

### What are The Ark Children Centre's opening hours?

The Ark Children Centre opens 07:30–18:00, Mon–Fri.

### Is The Ark Children Centre open all year?

Yes, The Ark Children Centre is open 51 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.

### What ages does The Ark Children Centre take?

The Ark Children Centre takes children aged 9 months to 5 years.

### What is The Ark Children Centre's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated The Ark Children Centre Good at its inspection on 9 February 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

### How many children can The Ark Children Centre take?

The Ark Children Centre is registered with Ofsted for up to 27 children at any one time.

### Are meals included at The Ark Children Centre?

Meals are not included in the fees at The Ark Children Centre.

### Does The Ark Children Centre accept Tax-Free Childcare?

Yes. The Ark Children Centre accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.

### Does The Ark Children Centre have outdoor space?

The Ark Children Centre lists: Own garden, Daily outdoor play, Outdoor classroom, Local outings and trips and All-weather outdoor play.

### What is the nearest station to The Ark Children Centre?

Deptford is the nearest station we know of, 0.5 miles away in a straight line.

### How do I contact The Ark Children Centre?

You can call 020 8692 6789 and visit www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY492926)
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk), as of 11 November 2026 (http://www.thearkchildrencentre.co.uk/)
- Rating and review themes: Google, as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=THE+ARK+CHILDREN+CENTRE&query_place_id=ChIJg8DQuu8CdkgRcAp6ttWKX9E)
- 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.