About us

Our pledge

Leaving your child at the Ark is like leaving them with family.  You can trust us to care for your child and to do whatever we need to do to keep them safe, happy and learning.

Each child has a key adult who will be their main carer and with whom they will become closest. Your child will also have lots of fun, indoors and outdoors, playing and learning with a variety of different friends, but their key person will always be there to come back to.

Age groups

Children are grouped according to school cohort, academic and emotional development

1. Babies: children birth to around 30 months

2. Tiddlers: children (aged 2 to nearly 4 years)

3. Pre-school: children in the year before they start school (ie 3 to nearly 5 years)

Open

Monday to Friday, during term time. Open on days we have 5 or more children booked in (usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) during school holidays.

Closed

All Bank Holidays in addition to….

Two weeks at Christmas

One week at Easter

Two weeks in the summer (usually the last week of July and first week of August)

Times

We are open from 8am-5pm if we have 5 or more children (term time) 8.30am-4.30pm during school holidays

Morning sessions are 9.00am to 12noon
Afternoon sessions are 12noon to 3pm
Wraparound care available from 8am to 9am and 3pm to 5pm.

Lunch is 12noon to 12.45pm (it is better not to disturb children during lunch)

Funding and fees

15 hours per week are FREE, from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday.

Some 3 and 4 year olds may be entitled to 30 hours FREE dependant on family circumstances.

Some 2 year olds are also eligible for 15 free hours.

Otherwise:

Children under 2 years – £6.05 ph

Children 2-3 years  – £5.75 ph

Preschool (3-4 years) – £5.45 ph

Fees are charged by the hour, to allow flexibility for parents, but please consider the routine needs of your child. They will be happier with a regular start and finish time that fits in with the routine of the sessions .