FAQs
How will my child settle in?
The Ark offer a free one hour introductory session. Parents and carers are welcome to stay or leave for this duration. If your child is completely happy during this time they can then go on to do either a morning or afternoon session and build up to full hours. If your child is unsettled we will build up their time to suit them, adding an hour on at a time if needed.
We will work in partnership with you to make the transition into nursery a smooth one and by regularly communicating with you about your child’s time in our care.
What are your opening times?
The Ark is open from 7.30am to 5.30/6.00pm. The nursery sessions run from 9.00am to 3.30/4pm. Within these times you can do a morning session of 9-12 or 9-1, an afternoon session of 12-3.30/4pm or 1-3.30/4pm or full day. You can then add on the breakfast club (7.30/8am -9 am) or afternoon (3.30-5.30/6pm) as extra.
We also offer sessions on a casual basis if there is a space and it doesn’t change our staffing ratios for that session. These would need to be arranged and paid for before the day of the casual session.
Are you open all year round?
The Ark at Princess Avenue offers the option of term-time only or all year round, only closing for Bank Holidays and Christmas.
The Ark at Burley Road also offers the option of term-time only or all year round, only closing for Bank holidays and Christmas. Any children from Burley Road who opt for All year round will join together at Princess Avenue in the holidays. Practitioners also merge together so there is always a familiar face around for the children and parents too.
What will my child need with them?
We ask parents/carers to supply The Ark with nappies, wipes and any creams that their child will need. This is so that parents can use the same as what they use at home.
A spare set of clothes is always useful too in case of any spillages or messy play. Please be aware that staff may suggest more sets of clothes if your child is toilet/potty training.
Your child can bring in a comforter to help settle in.
Formula milk for babies will need to be provided by the parents.
Suitable clothing for the weather must be worn with the extras of wellies, coats, woolly hats / sun hats or sun cream when appropriate.
Can my child get funding?
All three year olds can access 15 hrs of funding per week from the government. There is also now an additional 15 hrs per week for working parents, meaning 30 hours childcare. Three year old funding starts in the term after your child turns three.
There is also two year old funding available to some children which starts the term after the child's second birthday.
To see if you are entitled to the any of the extra funding please see the eligibility criteria on the government website.
What is the cost of childcare at your nursery?
For prices please contact Ark 1 on 01572 755776 or Ark 2 on 01572 770121.
What happens during the nursery session?
From 9am onwards once all the children have arrived we have a welcome session which includes our welcome song, our calendar and weather boards. We then have adult-led and child-initiated activities covering the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. We have a morning snack at 10am of fruit, crackers and milk or water. We will always have a physical session during the morning. Lunch begins at 12pm and runs until around 12.30/12.45. The afternoon session runs in the same routine but the activities will be of a different variety. Afternoon snack is at 2.15pm.
How does your Kids Club run?
At the Burley Road site we offer the option of breakfast club between 7.30 and 9am to all our children (nursery and school).
We also offer after school care from 3.30pm to 5.30/6pm.
Sessions are charged from 3.30pm until 5.30pm with a charge till 6.00pm if required. One of our practitioners will take and pick up any key stage one children. Key stage two children can walk by themselves with parents' written permission, otherwise are collected.
Kids Club can also enquire about places and availability in the school holidays.
The Ark offer a free one hour introductory session. Parents and carers are welcome to stay or leave for this duration. If your child is completely happy during this time they can then go on to do either a morning or afternoon session and build up to full hours. If your child is unsettled we will build up their time to suit them, adding an hour on at a time if needed.
We will work in partnership with you to make the transition into nursery a smooth one and by regularly communicating with you about your child’s time in our care.
What are your opening times?
The Ark is open from 7.30am to 5.30/6.00pm. The nursery sessions run from 9.00am to 3.30/4pm. Within these times you can do a morning session of 9-12 or 9-1, an afternoon session of 12-3.30/4pm or 1-3.30/4pm or full day. You can then add on the breakfast club (7.30/8am -9 am) or afternoon (3.30-5.30/6pm) as extra.
We also offer sessions on a casual basis if there is a space and it doesn’t change our staffing ratios for that session. These would need to be arranged and paid for before the day of the casual session.
Are you open all year round?
The Ark at Princess Avenue offers the option of term-time only or all year round, only closing for Bank Holidays and Christmas.
The Ark at Burley Road also offers the option of term-time only or all year round, only closing for Bank holidays and Christmas. Any children from Burley Road who opt for All year round will join together at Princess Avenue in the holidays. Practitioners also merge together so there is always a familiar face around for the children and parents too.
What will my child need with them?
We ask parents/carers to supply The Ark with nappies, wipes and any creams that their child will need. This is so that parents can use the same as what they use at home.
A spare set of clothes is always useful too in case of any spillages or messy play. Please be aware that staff may suggest more sets of clothes if your child is toilet/potty training.
Your child can bring in a comforter to help settle in.
Formula milk for babies will need to be provided by the parents.
Suitable clothing for the weather must be worn with the extras of wellies, coats, woolly hats / sun hats or sun cream when appropriate.
Can my child get funding?
All three year olds can access 15 hrs of funding per week from the government. There is also now an additional 15 hrs per week for working parents, meaning 30 hours childcare. Three year old funding starts in the term after your child turns three.
There is also two year old funding available to some children which starts the term after the child's second birthday.
To see if you are entitled to the any of the extra funding please see the eligibility criteria on the government website.
What is the cost of childcare at your nursery?
For prices please contact Ark 1 on 01572 755776 or Ark 2 on 01572 770121.
What happens during the nursery session?
From 9am onwards once all the children have arrived we have a welcome session which includes our welcome song, our calendar and weather boards. We then have adult-led and child-initiated activities covering the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. We have a morning snack at 10am of fruit, crackers and milk or water. We will always have a physical session during the morning. Lunch begins at 12pm and runs until around 12.30/12.45. The afternoon session runs in the same routine but the activities will be of a different variety. Afternoon snack is at 2.15pm.
How does your Kids Club run?
At the Burley Road site we offer the option of breakfast club between 7.30 and 9am to all our children (nursery and school).
We also offer after school care from 3.30pm to 5.30/6pm.
Sessions are charged from 3.30pm until 5.30pm with a charge till 6.00pm if required. One of our practitioners will take and pick up any key stage one children. Key stage two children can walk by themselves with parents' written permission, otherwise are collected.
Kids Club can also enquire about places and availability in the school holidays.