Life at Ark Start

David: “Ark Start being free makes our working lives possible”

06 October 2025

One of our parents at our Clapham Junction nursery recently shared their experience with Ark Start. Here’s their story:

We absolutely love Ark Start. Our older son settled in quickly and felt secure here, so we wanted our younger daughter to come here too. The environment is so warm and friendly. It feels like a community. The staff always ask how we are and genuinely care. A few weeks ago, we got to spend time with the staff, children and ducklings, which was really lovely.

Ark Start is truly valuable. You can find nice nurseries, but there’s something special here. The warm community, friendliness, and excellent, personal communication make it stand out. The staff really care about the children.

That sense of relationship and community is hard to find in London, where everything can feel fractured. Neither of my children have ever cried at drop-off—they’re always excited to see their friends and teachers.

Having access to extended, wrap-around care is a big help for my wife and me as we both work. Living here is expensive, and we’ve struggled at times, but Ark Start being free makes our working lives possible.

We also appreciate the diversity. We’re kind, down-to-earth people, and we want our children to grow up the same way.

Ark Start prepared our older child well for school, even though he’s a late August baby. He developed inquisitiveness and curiosity, thanks to the individual attention he received. He also learned valuable social skills and how to engage with others.