The Little Ark

Independence gives The Little Ark its character: pouring water into china cups, tending vegetables and learning to manage small personal tasks were all part of its March 2023 nursery day. These are practical experiences with a purpose. They give children opportunities to persist, make choices and see what their efforts achieve.

Ofsted rated The Little Ark Outstanding on 20 March 2023. Based within the grounds of John Wesley CEMP School in Ashford, this preschool accepts children aged 2½ to 4 and has capacity for 27 children. Its school setting brings a relationship with the primary school, while the preschool has its own committee-led management.

Attendance is term-time only, with morning, afternoon and full-day patterns. That makes it a choice for families planning around the school calendar rather than year-round childcare.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the March 2023 examples show how play brought language, physical skills and independence together. The curriculum also follows the Early Development Matters Framework.

In March 2023, drawing and writing resources were spread across the preschool, allowing children to practise making meaningful marks as part of different activities. Writing was woven into play rather than confined to one table. Conversations extended children's vocabulary, with staff introducing ideas about weight while children experimented with water.

A bird-feeding activity illustrates how an interest could develop. In March 2023, a conversation about caring for birds led to making something to hold their food, creating cardboard binoculars and then using real binoculars to watch birds eat. Children had several ways to pursue the same curiosity, moving between making, observing and talking.

Yoga also featured in March 2023. Staff introduced words for poses and breathing while children practised movement and concentration. The physical activity doubled as an opportunity to learn language in context.

Outdoor and Community Life

Growing food connected outdoor activity with a tangible result. In March 2023, children cultivated carrots and French beans, sold their produce to parents and helped raise money for further resources. Their work contributed to something they could use afterwards.

The physical layout supported independence too. In March 2023, a tap positioned within children's reach allowed them to collect water in china cups and carry it to a tray. The task required care and persistence. Changes to the layout were considered with children's access in mind, making the environment part of the learning rather than simply its backdrop.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a key person responsible for their care and development, giving families a main contact for updates and discussion. Settling is planned individually and usually starts with brief visits alongside a parent or carer, with the length increasing gradually. The child can become familiar with both the routine and the person supporting them.

Tapestry, an online learning journal, shares children's experiences and progress with parents. Daily key-person updates sit alongside photographs, observations and progress reports through an online platform. Families can also arrange a meeting to discuss development in more detail.

In March 2023, children sought out staff to share books and retell stories. Staff also exchanged behaviour strategies with parents. That connection between home and preschool gave families practical approaches to use together.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities exceptional. In March 2023, children could choose a chair or tent and a book when they needed somewhere to calm themselves. Support included recognising feelings and deciding what to do next, giving children a practical way to manage an unsettled moment.

A mirror and a place for wiping faces also supported self-care in March 2023. Children practised wiping their own noses and checking the result, turning an everyday need into another opportunity for independence.

For allergies or medical conditions, staff work with families on an individual care plan covering the child's needs and emergency responses. Parents supply medication, which is kept securely. Lunch for afternoon or full-day attendance comes from home; families whose children use nappies also supply nappies, wipes and nappy cream.

Sessions and Attendance

The Little Ark is on Wesley School Road, Singleton, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5LW, within the primary school grounds. It operates Monday to Friday during term time.

Morning attendance runs from 8.45am to 11.45am, afternoons from 11.45am to 2.45pm, and full days from 8.45am to 2.45pm. The shorter patterns offer a different commitment from the full day, but all follow the same term-time calendar.

Applications use a completed form sent by email. Sessions are allocated in application order, and applying puts a child on the waiting list without committing the family to accept an offer.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15 and 30 hours for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds; entitlement depends on family circumstances. Delivery follows the preschool's term-time operation. Families provide a funding code where applicable and complete a form each term, with funding applied to their invoice.

Hours beyond a child's funded entitlement are charged privately. Tax-Free Childcare payments are accepted for hours outside the funded entitlement. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, with fees depending on age and the sessions chosen.

Core activities are generally covered by fees. Optional services or activities, including photographs, outings or special snacks, may carry additional charges, which are communicated in advance. Parents provide packed lunches for afternoon and full-day attendance, and nappies, wipes and nappy cream where needed.

The nursery describes a collaborative relationship with John Wesley CEMP School that supports children's transitions. Attendance at the preschool does not guarantee a Reception place; families must use the local authority admissions process.

• Term-time planning. Morning, afternoon and full-day attendance all follow the term-time calendar. Families needing childcare during school holidays will need to plan around that operating pattern.
• Visit timing. Visits are arranged only once a place has been offered, while an application carries no obligation to accept. Use the offer-stage visit to discuss how the individual settling plan would work for your child.
• Food and personal care. Afternoon and full-day children bring lunch, and families provide nappy supplies where needed. If your child has allergies or a medical condition, discuss current arrangements and the individual care plan before starting.

The Little Ark suits families seeking a term-time preschool with a choice between morning, afternoon and full-day attendance. Its March 2023 examples give the strongest sense of its character: children took responsibility for small tasks, followed interests through practical activities and used spaces designed to help them act independently.

A key-person relationship, individual settling plan and Tapestry updates provide a clear structure for family involvement. The important practical fit is the school-term calendar and afternoon finish, alongside the requirement to provide lunch and personal-care supplies. For families whose routines match those arrangements, this is a preschool with a strong dated inspection judgement and a concrete account of children's learning.