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Noah's Ark Nursery School in Birchington

Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2022)
·
4.4(9 Google reviews) ·The Bristol Huts, Birchington Primary School, Birchington, CT7 0AS · Kent
Number of places
36 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2022
Local authority
Kent

About this day nursery

Noah's Ark Nursery School, situated on the campus of Birchington Church of England Primary School, has been providing childcare services since it relocated there in 1996. The day nursery's origins trace back to a small playgroup within Birchington village.

Catering to a broad age range from 9 months to 11 years, Noah's Ark offers comprehensive childcare solutions, including a breakfast club, the day nursery itself, an after-school club, and a summer holiday club. Operating from 8 am to 6 pm during term times, the nursery provides flexible session options throughout the day.

At the core of its philosophy, Noah's Ark is dedicated to fostering the holistic development of each child. They implement a diverse array of activities designed to enhance social, physical, language, and intellectual skills, nurturing confidence and independence.

Each child benefits from a designated key person who meticulously plans activities tailored to their individual interests and developmental milestones, ensuring a rich and joyful experience filled with learning and care. The nursery is committed to creating a safe and secure environment where children can thrive, working in close partnership with parents and carers to help each child reach their full potential.

Noah's Ark is well-equipped with resources that stimulate exploration and active learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) development matters framework is utilised to meticulously track and monitor each child's unique abilities and progress.

Our ethos

Noah's Ark is committed to the holistic development of each child, nurturing their social, physical, language, and intellectual skills to foster confidence and independence. They use a key person approach to plan tailored activities based on individual interests and milestones, within a safe and secure environment that stimulates exploration and active learning. The EYFS framework is used for progress monitoring.

What it's like

Children thrive in this highly inclusive, supportive nursery. All staff are warm, welcoming, and provide children with lots of positive praise and care throughout the day. Children feel safe and settle quickly, forming close and nurturing bonds with their key person.

Support for working familiesChild-centred activitiesEYFS curriculumIntegrated with primary school

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Key facts

Session types

Breakfast club, Nursery, After school club, Summer holiday club

Opening hours

8am-6pm during term times

Age range

9 months - 11 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Noah's Ark Nursery School

Last inspected 21 November 2022

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children thrive in this highly inclusive, supportive nursery. All staff are warm, welcoming, and provide children with lots of positive praise and care throughout the day. Children feel safe and settle quickly, forming close and nurturing bonds with their key person.

Inspector highlights

  • Children thrive in a highly inclusive, supportive nursery where staff provide lots of positive praise and care.
  • Staff provide exciting activities that encourage children to interact, share ideas, and celebrate each other's achievements.
  • The manager and staff have high expectations, planning activities that are carefully challenging and promote progress for every child.
  • Leaders are extremely knowledgeable about supporting children with SEND, identifying needs quickly and addressing them effectively.
  • Leaders have adapted the use of space to provide a room focused on physical development, where staff support children to access equipment and learn about risk and safety.

Areas to develop

  • 1consider the environment for story times, to ensure that distractions are minimised to enable children to fully engage in their learning
  • 2support staff to provide a more consistent approach to behaviour management with younger children, so that they all understand the rules for appropriate behaviour and taking turns.
Inspection #10228025 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

The patience, professionalism, and care provided is fantastic

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are included in all the learning on offer. Leaders are extremely knowledgeable about how best to support children with SEND. They are quick to identify any needs and address them in a timely, successful manner. They carefully consider the use of funding to support the individual child, such as sensory resources, and apparatus to support physical development. Staff use Makaton signing where appropriate to effectively support children's communication skills, so they feel secure and included.

Outdoor space

Leaders have adapted the use of space, to provide children with a room that is focused on physical development. Staff regularly support children to access equipment, such as, slides, obstacle courses and exercise balls. They teach them about risk and safety and allow them the independence, to have a go and explore things for themselves. This helps children to flourish in their physical and personal development.

Google Reviews of Noah's Ark Nursery School

4.4
(9 Google reviews)
Chenice Butterworth
10 months ago

My daughter has just had her last day at Noah's Ark Nursery & Out of School Club after 18 months. The staff care so deeply about the children, and their love, encouragement, support & care has been incredible. If you're looking for a homely, friendly and supportive nursery setting where staff plan lots of fun, interactive and themed activities and events; then Noah's Ark ticks all those boxes. Thank you for helping my little one thrive and be so ready for "big school"!

Read on Google
Christy Lewington
a year ago

My son had some attachment issues when he started at Noah’s ark. I had tried another nursery and it did not fit my son and so was told to try Noah’s ark. It was the best decision I made they were amazing with him from his trial sessions right until he left to go to school this year. He came on leaps and bounds being more confident, talking more, learning his ABC and counting up to 20. He always had lots of fun whilst learning. Sam T was his key person and she was amazing with him but not just her everyone there is brilliant they all get to know the children well and you can see they really want them to succeed in everything they do and will support not only the children but the parents! Emma, Sam T, Kirsty, Gem, Ryan and everyone else I thank you and to anyone going to this nursery have nothing to worry about for your child/children.

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Caroline Pataky
3 years ago

Simply one of THE best nurseries in Thanet. My twins attended Noah's Ark from the age of 2 when I went back to work. One of my daughter's has additional needs (cerebral palsy) and all the staff a s especially her key workers have gone above and beyond to help her progress and enable her to keep up with her peers. The girls have loved their time at Noah's Ark and are very sad to leave as they start their journey to primary school. My girls were at Noah's Ark full time Monday to Friday. I would 100% reccomend the nursery to anybody looking and please gi have a visit and speak to Emma and her amazing team

Read on Google
alice reed
3 years ago

Arthur has had the best couple of years at Noah’s ark. All the staff have have been amazing and they have catered for complex needs without hesitation. We cannot thank you all enough. We would and have highly recommend them to others.

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Sharon Roberts
7 years ago

I had a phone call of the nursery today to say my son was sick at school today. (Understandable to inform me) I have rushed to the nursery but when I arrived I noticed my son still had his jumper on (the temperature outside is like 20 degrees). I also sent my son with a bottle of juice which my son has not even drunk from. My son is not able to take his jumper off. He started school at 9am and finished at 3pm. I am disgusted with the nursery for treating my son so appalling. No wonder he was sick he was probably dehydated wouldn't recommend this nursery as had more issues like this in the past.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Noah's Ark Nursery School. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: October 2004

  • December 2022Good
  • November 2022Good
  • January 2017Good
  • January 2017Good
  • April 2013Good
  • March 2013Good
  • April 2012Good
  • March 2012Good
  • February 2009Requires improvement
  • November 2008Good
  • October 2004Good

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