Session types
All Day Session (8:30am to 3:30pm), Morning Session (8:30am to 11:30am), Lunchtime Session (11:30am to 12:30pm), Afternoon Session (12:30pm to 3:30pm)
The Ark Pre-School Wantage
Ofsted: Good
(Jun 2024)
Number of places
24 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2024
Local authority
Oxfordshire
About this day nursery
The Ark Pre-School Wantage offers a high-quality learning environment for children aged 2 to 5 years. Located next to the Museum on Church Street in Wantage, the preschool boasts an experienced and dedicated team committed to ensuring children are safe, happy, and reach their full potential.
The setting encourages active learning and creative thinking through a vibrant indoor and outdoor space. Indoors, children can explore a sensory room, dress-up area, crafts, computers, a relaxing hub, and a reading corner.
The extensive outdoor area features green space, climbing walls, a sandpit, and a vegetable garden, allowing children to engage in play and development activities, including caring for plants and even taking home harvested fruits and vegetables. Each child is assigned a dedicated key person to facilitate their settling in and ongoing development.
The preschool provides flexible session options, including full-day, morning, lunchtime, and afternoon sessions, all running during term time from Monday to Friday. The Ark Pre-School is committed to providing excellent care and education, evident in its positive Ofsted rating and its focus on fostering a supportive and engaging atmosphere for young learners.
Our ethos
The Ark Pre-School Wantage is committed to providing excellent care and education, encouraging active learning and creative thinking through a vibrant indoor and outdoor space. They focus on fostering a supportive and engaging atmosphere for young learners, and are committed to ensuring children are safe, happy, and reach their full potential. Child-led activities are encouraged through play and development, including caring for plants and harvesting fruits and vegetables.
What it's like
Children enjoy a broad range of skilfully planned activities. Routines provide clear boundaries, leading to excellent behaviour. Children are engrossed in learning, benefiting from a strong focus on communication and language.
Experienced and dedicated teamVibrant indoor and outdoor spacesFlexible session optionsOfsted rated
Pricing & funding
The nursery charges flat hourly rates based on the child's age for any unfunded or additional hours. Rates are split into two age bands: two-year-olds, and three-to-four-year-olds. Payment for non-funded hours must be made via bank transfer or cheque.
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Good to know
- Non-funded sessions must be paid by bank transfer or cheque.
- Please use your child's name as a reference for bank transfers.
- Charges apply for any hours taken over the government-funded allowance.
Key facts
Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm
Age range
2 to 5 years
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for The Ark Pre-School Wantage
Last inspected 5 June 2024
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 enjoy a broad range of skilfully planned activities. Routines provide clear boundaries, leading to excellent behaviour. Children are engrossed in learning, benefiting from a strong focus on communication and language.
Inspector highlights
- Children arrive happily at the setting to be greeted by happy, caring and attentive staff.
- Children have hands-on learning experiences as they observe tadpoles that they have nurtured from frogspawn.
- Children are excited and interested in their learning. They balance along a wobbly beam outside, requesting help when needed.
- Children gain experiences beyond the classroom, such as weekly visits to the local market and local care home.
- Children are well prepared for school, with robust planning supporting their independence and confidence.
Areas to develop
- 1refine further the curriculum planning for younger children to more consistently reflect the precisely targeted support provided for older children
- 2enhance the arrangements to share information between the SENCo and children's key persons
Inspection #10339210 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents are delighted with the setting.
They happily report that they return time after time with siblings, some travelling great distances just to use the setting.
Parents share reassuring messages about the staff, saying that they trust them and value their understanding of their child's individual needs.
They feel part of a family, and they comment that staffing consistency is a positive factor.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has a comprehensive understanding of children's needs for them to make progress. However, arrangements for sharing information between the SENCo and children's key persons are not always fully effective, meaning staff working with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities do not always benefit from having the fullest picture of the curriculum plans.
Outdoor space
The outside space is beautifully set out, and children are encouraged to take risks and seek challenge in their play. They balance along a wobbly beam outside, requesting help when needed, and learn simple measurements in the large outdoor sandpit when pouring and tipping sand, guided by competent staff.
Parent Reviews of The Ark Pre-School Wantage
5.0
(2)
Pauline Bristow
10 years ago
My son has been going to The Ark since he was two. The team are fantastic and I feel completely comfortable leaving him in their capable hands. He has grown in confidence and loves playing with the other children. I love that he comes home singing new songs and practising what he's learnt that day. I highly recommend The Ark.
Read on Google
clara aboagye
a year ago
Reviews from Google for The Ark Pre-School Wantage. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: July 2018
- June 2024Good
- July 2018Good
Frequently asked about The Ark Pre-School Wantage
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