The Ark at Wellin Lane Pre-School

About this day nursery

The Ark at Wellin Lane Pre-School, established in 1992, operates from a bright, modern church building and is inspected by Ofsted. The pre-school embraces a Christian ethos, which originated from its beginnings as an outreach project of West Bridgford Pentecostal Church, now The Rock Church.

This guiding principle ensures a loving and supportive environment for all children and families. They utilise various rooms and an outdoor play area to facilitate both indoor and outdoor activities.

The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, with a focus on "planning in the moment" to extend children's learning through their interests and play. Activities encompass a wide range, from creative arts and construction to imaginative play, physical activities, and early literacy and numeracy.

The setting prioritises language and communication development, with a dedicated "language lead" on staff who collaborates with external agencies for targeted support. The pre-school actively involves children in Christian practices such as Bible stories, singing Christian songs, prayers before lunch, and celebrations of Harvest Festival, Christmas Nativity, and Easter.

While rooted in Christian values, the pre-school also acknowledges and plans activities around other religious festivals to foster inclusivity and understanding of different faiths. The staff are expected to support this ethos, with the manager having a deeper understanding of the Christian faith to promote it actively.

The Ark is a voluntary managed setting and a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, committed to providing a happy, caring, homely, and inspiring environment where children's emotional well-being and independence are nurtured through strong family partnerships and a language-rich setting.

Our ethos

The Ark at Wellin Lane Pre-School operates with a strong Christian ethos, stemming from its origins as an outreach project of The Rock Church. This ethos is foundational to their approach, aiming to share God's love with families and children. This commitment manifests in various daily activities and celebrations, including Bible stories, Christian songs, prayers before meals, and observing Christian festivals such as Harvest, Christmas, and Easter. While promoting Christian values, the pre-school also embraces inclusivity by acknowledging and discussing other religious festivals to help children understand diverse faiths. They clarify that practices from other religions will not be directly implemented, and activities like Yoga are adapted to focus purely on physical exercise without religious connotation. Staff are expected to support this Christian ethos.

What it's like

Children are happy to arrive and confidently separate from parents, being greeted warmly by staff. They have opportunities to look at family photos and talk about home experiences, which helps all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, to feel a sense of belonging.