East Croydon nurseryArk Start Oval
Welcome to Ark Start Oval! Here we know that children learn best when they’re having fun. Every member of our team is passionate about the early years, and that shows in the wonderful experiences and activities we set up for children.
Days children love
1/9
Red, blue or glittery gold? Little hands get busy sticking and painting, building fine motor skills and feeling the pride of "I made this!"
1/9
Red, blue or glittery gold? Little hands get busy sticking and painting, building fine motor skills and feeling the pride of "I made this!"
Two places to grow
Day Nursery
Preschool
Ark Start Oval Day Nursery
43 Cross Road, Croydon, CR0 6TE
Ark Start Oval Preschool
98 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, CR0 6BA
Affordable and flexible childcare
- 30 hours funded places availabile
- Top up your funded hours from £23, if you need to
- We accept tax free childcare payments
- As a non-profit we keep fees as low as possible
Our booking options
Use your funded childcare
Nursery Fee Calculator
Calculate your childcare costs based on your child's age, funding entitlement, and schedule preferences.
Please note this is an estimate and not a quote. Please speak to our team to confirm.
What our families love
Razie Google Review – Ark Start Oval (external link)They give great attention to every parent, offer guidance, and never leave you feeling alone during the adaptation process.
Vashtiana Google Review – Ark Start Oval (external link)Staff here have a love of children and enjoy their rewarding job! My child is sad when he cannot go to nursery! Comes out smiling telling me all about his day!
Maheen Ark Start OvalThe rooms are bright, spacious, and filled with natural light, which creates such a calm and positive environment for the children.
Parent Ark Start OvalThe staff are beyond kind and show such love to my little girl, exactly as they did for my older child before.
Kate & Justin Ark Start OvalThe communication from the nursery is so good. If anything important happens, it’s on the app straight away which is great. You always know what’s happening.
Manuela Google Review – Ark Start Oval (external link)Great indoor and outdoor environment and an extra space on the meadow for forest school sessions.
The nursery focuses on personal, social and emotional development, giving children the tools to progress through life and education.
Give them the strongest start in life
Led by experienced early years teachers
Activities inspired by stories children love
At least three hours of active play every day
Support adapted to each child’s needs
Partnering with parents at every step
Getting to know your child
A warm first day at nursery
Staying connected every day
Keeping your child safe is our priority
- Enhanced DBS and full reference checks for every member of staff
- Qualified staff and appropriate ratios that meet EYFS requirements
- Secure entry and collection systems, so we always know who’s on site
- Ongoing supervision and safeguarding training for our whole team
Frequently asked questions
What extracurricular activities do you offer?
We think children should experience awe and wonder and strive to create many opportunities for this through the curriculum. Enrichment opportunities include offsite visits, for example to the farm or to the fire station, and onsite experiences such as baking, hatching ducklings or caring for caterpillars, as well as visits from community professionals including police officers, firefighters, nurses, and doctors.
Throughout the year, we also celebrate a wide range of cultural and seasonal events such as Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Pancake Day, Eid, World Book Day, Anti-Bullying Week, and Mental Health Awareness events.
We also organise family events such as Mother’s Day Tea, Father’s Day Breakfast, Nursery at Night, Sports Day, and our Family Fun Day trip to the farm.
What do my fees cover?
Fees cover everything with the exception of snacks and meals; nappies and wipes; and certain offsite visits – we publish these at the beginning of the year so families can plan.
Can my child come to nursery for just one day a week?
Unfortunately not. We strongly encourage children to attend nursery for at least four sessions a week over two days. This is because children find it easier to settle in and benefit from nursery if they attend regularly.
