Our curriculum

Our curriculum was designed by the Ark Start early years experts with input from across the Ark network and based on child development evidence. We’ve also taken advice from some of the country’s leading experts and been influenced by a number of international approaches including Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Forest School, as well as emerging evidence on child development.

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.

Our staff are trained to understand children’s development and work closely with families to understand where children are in their learning and what their next steps are. We invite parents in every term to discuss their child’s learning and families can ask to meet their child’s play partners at any time.