--- title: "The Ark in Dartmouth Day Nursery | Ofsted: Good" url: https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-ark-in-dartmouth-tq6-9qs-2741417 description: "The Ark in Dartmouth, a day nursery — rated Good by Ofsted. See fees, opening hours, photos and contact details. Compare nearby nurseries." lang: en-GB --- Nursery Advice: https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/ Claim Your Nursery: https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/claim # The Ark in Dartmouth Ofsted: Good (Sept 2025) · 5.0 (4 Google reviews) · Dartmouth Preschool, Southford School Rooms, Dartmouth, TQ6 9QS · Devon Number of places 36 places Age range 1–3 yrs Last inspected Sept 2025 Local authority Devon ## About this day nursery The Ark at Dartmouth is a dedicated childcare facility located in Southford School rooms, Dartmouth, Devon, committed to fostering a stimulating environment where children learn through play. The day nursery provides a secure and homely atmosphere, encouraging each child's development. They offer healthy, freshly prepared meals, actively involving children in the preparation process to teach essential life skills and promote healthy eating habits. The curriculum is designed to be engaging and comprehensive, supporting children from 9 months up to school age. The Ark also utilises the "Famly" platform, an all-in-one early childhood communication tool, enabling parents to stay connected with their child's daily activities and progress through real-time updates, photos, and videos. The day nursery prides itself on its strong community links and transparent policies, regularly updating parents on important information such as closure dates and funding options. They are proactive in helping parents navigate the complexities of childcare funding, including various government schemes, and ensure all policies, from admissions to child protection, are readily accessible. Our ethos The Ark at Dartmouth is committed to fostering a stimulating environment where children learn through play. They actively involve children in food preparation to teach life skills and promote healthy eating. Their curriculum is designed to be engaging and comprehensive. What it's like Staff provide a calm, welcoming and inviting environment for children, who settle quickly and develop positive relationships with others. Children experience a sequenced curriculum that prepares them well for their future learning, with plentiful opportunities for independence, confidence, and social development. They enjoy engaging in activities in the local area, such as yoga, library visits, and seasonal walks, and show confidence in storytelling and learning new words. Learning through play Healthy meals prepared on-site Utilises Famly communication platform Supports various government funding schemes ## Pricing & funding Funding accepted 15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs) 15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds 15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs) 30 hours — working parents (3–4 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 Opening hours Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm Registered with Ofsted 2023 Ofsted Inspection ## Ofsted rating for The Ark in Dartmouth Last inspected 17 September 2025 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 Inspector highlights - Children experience a sequenced curriculum that prepares them well for their future learning. - Staff provide plentiful opportunities for children to be independent, confident and social. - Children enjoy engaging in activities in the local area, such as yoga sessions, library visits and seasonal walks. - Leaders support staff to extend their knowledge and skills through training that enhances interactions and sharpens curriculum delivery. - Staff promote children's independence well by encouraging them to do things for themselves and modelling strategies to succeed. Areas to develop - 1 promote children's next steps in learning further as they play to support the best progress for all children - 2 improve the use of questioning to support and extend the curiosity, knowledge and skills of all children - 3 review the organisation of group activities to help enhance children's focus and engagement. Inspection #10407514 · Source: Ofsted View full Ofsted report (https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50289424) Inclusion & environment ## How they support every child SEND provision Staff support children well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to help them achieve. Staff provide some targeted teaching to children with SEND, and all members of staff have received training on targeted speech and language teaching and use strategies modelled by a local speech and language therapist. However, during group activities staff do not always target support as effectively as they could, which impacts on the focus and engagement levels of some children. Outdoor space Staff provide daily opportunities for children to learn outside. Children dress for outside play and enjoy playing in the rain, playing imaginatively with plastic ducks and singing. Children also travel on the local bus to take part in forest school sessions at a local school, where they develop physical skills carrying wood for campfires and finding sturdy logs to sit on when enjoying stories in the woods. ## Google Reviews of The Ark in Dartmouth 5.0 (4 Google reviews) elisha morgan 7 months ago Lovely little nursery, both my children have been there and they both love it. My son has little quirks and is currently non verbal and the nursery have help support myself and my son in every possible way. Amazing team, highly recommend. Read on Google (https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sCi9DQUlRQUNvZENodHljRjlvT2s5b01GTXhSMFpSTTJKM1ozQmZkMUJKVm1WVU5HYxAB!2m1!1s0x486d19315c8c9269:0x19aee2b612a33205) Ahmed Albalushi a year ago The Ark is providing a very special environment for the children to enjoy their time and learn. It helped my daughter to learn more about the life skills and develop her knowledge about many things. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Such a great place for the little ones. Read on Google (https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUM3dG83RG13RRAB!2m1!1s0x486d19315c8c9269:0x19aee2b612a33205) Katie Frost 2 years ago My daughter can be a little shy when leaving me but she has settled into the Ark Dartmouth with no problems and is always excited to go to ‘school’. The girls have been great at getting to know my daughters likes and dislikes making both of us feel very comfortable. Read on Google (https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUM1eVBEVEtREAE!2m1!1s0x486d19315c8c9269:0x19aee2b612a33205) mariachiara paccagnini a year ago A wonderful experience for our little Marta. During our Italian summer vacation, we decided to give our 3-year-old daughter an entirely English-language experience. We moved to Devon for two months and enrolled Marta in this wonderful nursery. Freya, Amy, Aby, and Izzi were truly fantastic; they immediately put our little girl at ease. Everything about this nursery is child-friendly: the beautiful outdoor space, the games, the ever-changing activities the children are entertained with every day. The outdoor trips, the wonderful walks in the rain, and the puddle jumps. The truly convenient thing for us was the opportunity to enjoy fresh meals cooked in the nursery kitchen. Marta experimented with new things, different from Italian cuisine, and was truly enthusiastic. The atmosphere at this nursery is truly family-friendly, as is the cleanliness of the common areas—everything is TOP! THANK YOU, you have been a true point of reference for our Marta and for us, we love you xox Read on Google (https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURfbVBySUVBEAE!2m1!1s0x486d19315c8c9269:0x19aee2b612a33205) Reviews from Google for The Ark in Dartmouth. See all on Google Maps (https://maps.google.com/?cid=1850665768520462853&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) Inspection history Most recent inspection 17 September 2025 Good Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published. View full Ofsted report (https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50289424) ## Frequently asked about The Ark in Dartmouth ### What are the opening hours at The Ark in Dartmouth? ### What are the fees at The Ark in Dartmouth? ### Does The Ark in Dartmouth have an Ofsted rating? ### How many children are on roll at The Ark in Dartmouth? ### Who works at The Ark in Dartmouth? ## Nearby day nurseries in Dartmouth Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Ark in Dartmouth. - Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 mi ### hdc Nursery Dartmouth Dartmouth · TQ6 9HW 5.0(7 Google reviews) https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/humpty-dumpty-childcare-tq6-9hw-106136 - Ofsted: Outstanding 4.1 mi ### White Rock Pre-school Paignton · TQ4 7SB https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/white-rock-pre-school-tq4-7sb-139447 - Ofsted: Good 4.4 mi ### Mama Bear's Day Nursery Paignton · TQ4 7EJ 3.2(11 Google reviews) https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/mama-bear-s-day-nursery-tq4-7ej-ey434985 - Ofsted: Good 4.7 mi ### Roselands Community Nursery And Playschool Paignton · TQ4 7RH https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/roselands-community-nursery-and-playschool-tq4-7rh-ey541104 - Ofsted: Good 5.0 mi ### Muddy Wellies Nursery at YMCA Paignton · TQ4 6NX 4.5(34 Google reviews) https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/muddy-wellies-nursery-at-ymca-tq4-6nx-139449 See all nurseries in Dartmouth →: https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?q=Dartmouth ### Are you the owner of this nursery? 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My son has little quirks and is currently non verbal and the nursery have help support myself and my son in every possible way. Amazing team, highly recommend.", "datePublished": "2025-10-22T15:56:22.172452109Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ahmed Albalushi" }, "reviewBody": "The Ark is providing a very special environment for the children to enjoy their time and learn. It helped my daughter to learn more about the life skills and develop her knowledge about many things. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Such a great place for the little ones.", "datePublished": "2024-08-15T14:57:09.774950Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katie Frost" }, "reviewBody": "My daughter can be a little shy when leaving me but she has settled into the Ark Dartmouth with no problems and is always excited to go to ‘school’. The girls have been great at getting to know my daughters likes and dislikes making both of us feel very comfortable.", "datePublished": "2023-10-09T19:34:12.645809Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "mariachiara paccagnini" }, "reviewBody": "A wonderful experience for our little Marta.\nDuring our Italian summer vacation, we decided to give our 3-year-old daughter an entirely English-language experience.\nWe moved to Devon for two months and enrolled Marta in this wonderful nursery.\nFreya, Amy, Aby, and Izzi were truly fantastic; they immediately put our little girl at ease.\nEverything about this nursery is child-friendly: the beautiful outdoor space, the games, the ever-changing activities the children are entertained with every day.\nThe outdoor trips, the wonderful walks in the rain, and the puddle jumps.\nThe truly convenient thing for us was the opportunity to enjoy fresh meals cooked in the nursery kitchen. Marta experimented with new things, different from Italian cuisine, and was truly enthusiastic.\nThe atmosphere at this nursery is truly family-friendly, as is the cleanliness of the common areas—everything is TOP!\nTHANK YOU, you have been a true point of reference for our Marta and for us, we love you xox", "datePublished": "2025-01-21T08:58:12.348140Z", "inLanguage": "en" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-ark-in-dartmouth-tq6-9qs-2741417#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Nurseries", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nurseries" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "South West", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?region=South%20West" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Ark in Dartmouth", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-ark-in-dartmouth-tq6-9qs-2741417" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-ark-in-dartmouth-tq6-9qs-2741417#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the opening hours at The Ark in Dartmouth?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Ark in Dartmouth is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm. The listing describes it as a full day care setting." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the fees at The Ark in Dartmouth?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No fixed fee table is published. The setting points to a fee calculator and explains that families using 15 hours receive 11 hours for an all-year-round place, while families using 30 hours receive 22.5 hours for an all-year-round place." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does The Ark in Dartmouth have an Ofsted rating?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The current overall grade is Good, with the inspection dated 17/09/2025." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How many children are on roll at The Ark in Dartmouth?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There are 44 children on roll." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who works at The Ark in Dartmouth?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Staff have all received training in targeted speech and language teaching, and that work is modelled by a local speech and language therapist. The team also supports children with SEND through targeted teaching and focused help." } } ] } ] } ] ```