How Ark Start prepares children for Reception

19 December 2025

“There’s a vast difference with children who come to us from Ark Start”, says primary school principal Glenn Prior.

Ark Start has been operating at Ark John Archer Primary Academy in Battersea for five years. The nursery has supported 163 children since opening, and 67 of these have gone on to attend Ark John Archer Primary Academy.

Over four cohorts since 2021/2022, Ark John Archer Primary Academy has delivered great impact for children in Reception. In this period, 84 percent of children met the good level of development (GLD), which is 17 percentage points higher than the national average (67 percent) and 11 percentage points higher than the local authority average (73 percent).

For children who attended Ark Start the pass rate is even higher at 92 percent, 25 percentage points higher than the national average. and this is in the context of 78 percent of Ark Start children being eligible for free school meals.

To give the best start in life to all our children, Ark Start delivers a language-rich curriculum with a focus on high quality interactions between staff and children to develop speaking and reasoning skills.

Glenn Prior, Ark John Archer Primary Academy principal, shared his reflections on how Ark Start prepares children for Reception and supports school readiness.

He said, “With Ark Start, there’s a strong emphasis on giving children the best possible start in Reception. This includes establishing consistent learning routines and providing rich experiences that help them interact confidently with both peers and adults.

“One of the key advantages of children coming from Ark Start is the strong alignment with the practices we use in Ark schools. The routines and approaches they learn in nursery seamlessly transfer into the reception classroom, helping them settle quickly and thrive.

“When Ark Start children join Reception, they already understand key routines, such as sitting attentively for short lessons on the carpet. They’re familiar with teacher-led sessions followed by interactive learning, which means we can focus on developing their skills from day one – rather than spending time teaching the basics.

“Ark Start children know how to look at the speaker, listen carefully and respond appropriately. This means Reception can begin from a strong position – focusing on developing learning from the outset, rather than establishing basic routines.

“There’s a vast difference with children who come to us from Ark Start. Some children entering Reception have never attended any setting, so they lack experience of learning alongside peers. Others may have been in nursery but haven’t encountered the structured, formalised learning that Ark Start provides.

“We also see that Ark Start children are emotionally ready for school. Ark Start invests heavily in guiding children’s approach to problem-solving, ensuring that if they feel worried, upset or face challenges, they receive the time and support needed to regulate their emotions and learn how to resolve problems effectively.

“This means that when children enter Reception, they already have a strong emotional foundation. If they experience conflict with a friend, they know how to respond and what to say to resolve the situation calmly and constructively.

“Compared to children from other settings, Ark Start pupils begin Reception with a strong foundation for early reading. They typically have better pencil grip, more developed mark-making skills, and greater experience with writing. They also understand phonics, know how to learn collaboratively, and interact positively with peers. Combined with a solid grasp of basic routines, this gives them an exceptional start in Reception.

“That also means if children should be having an EHCP, then we can make those applications as early as possible, rather than working on routines.

“Children coming from Ark Start hit the ground running from day one, starting ahead of many of their peers. They already have confidence in early reading, writing, and number skills, which allows us to build on that strong foundation immediately – and you can see the positive ripple effect as they progress through the school.

“Another strength of Ark Start is its strong relationships with parents. The team takes time to listen to parents’ concerns and understand the context in which families live. Ark Start teachers work closely with families, giving us valuable insight when children join our school.”