The Ark Pre-School

Creative play and a close connection with Stone Baptist Church give The Ark Pre-School its character. A large play area accommodates activities led by staff alongside play that children choose themselves, while park walks and local outings extend the experience beyond the setting. This is a preschool with a community connection and room for children to follow their interests.

At its January 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and judged safeguarding effective. There were also two clear improvement priorities: helping every family understand their child's key-person relationship and making explanations of behaviour expectations more consistent. Both matter in everyday care.

The Ark accepts children aged 24 to 60 months and has 36 places in total. It operates during term time, with school holidays closed.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, that means play and everyday experiences help children develop communication, physical skills, relationships and early understanding of reading and number. The Ark's creative activities give those aims a practical outlet.

In January 2025, sessions began with singing and a story. Books also supplied ideas for later activities: discussions about emotions continued during painting, with children talking about the feelings they associated with different colours. A story was more than a brief group activity; its ideas could carry into children's play.

Painting and drawing were adapted to children's stages of development. In January 2025, younger children handled thick paintbrushes and worked on foil, while older children drew with pencils on large sheets spread across the floor. Chalk offered another way to experiment outside. These different tools gave children several ways to practise the movements involved in early writing.

Conversation followed children's interests, too. In January 2025, a child's account of travelling by train prompted a shared activity with toy trains. During another activity, children combined water, sand and cardboard to make a swamp for dinosaurs, then discussed how the materials changed. Familiar experiences and hands-on experiments supplied reasons to talk, remember and ask questions.

Outdoor and Community Life

Walks to the park and other local trips form part of The Ark's offer. The connection with Stone Baptist Church also includes working closely with its team, while parties and fundraising events bring families into the setting's wider life.

In January 2025, children travelled by bus to the town centre to purchase snacks and activity materials. Outings were arranged across different attendance days so children attending part time could participate. That detail matters: experiences beyond the preschool were planned around children's attendance rather than reserved for a single day.

Relationships and Communication

Settling includes staff support for both children and parents, with time to meet the child's keyworker and exchange information. This gives families a practical starting point for sharing routines, preferences and concerns with the person caring for their child.

In January 2025, monthly sessions invited parents to stay and play, giving them a chance to see their children's activities. However, some families did not know which practitioner was their child's key person or understand that person's role. The opportunity to participate was useful, but the individual connection needed clearer communication.

Behaviour guidance also needed greater consistency in January 2025. Staff encouraged turn-taking, yet sometimes gave instructions about handwashing or standing on furniture without explaining the reason. Children need to understand an expectation as well as hear it; this was a specific improvement point rather than a general criticism of their behaviour.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities good, citing timely referrals and work with families and specialists to incorporate targeted help into play. For a parent considering additional support, the important detail is how observations led to action and specialist advice shaped activities.

Families provide lunch boxes and drinks, and The Ark has a no-nut policy. Dietary needs can be discussed with staff; families also supply nappies or pull-ups, wipes, creams and seasonal sun lotion as needed.

Sessions and Attendance

The Ark operates Monday to Friday during term time and closes for school holidays. Its opening hours are 9am to 3pm; the finishing time is a point to settle before arranging collection, as explained below.

Getting There

The preschool is based at Stone Baptist Church, Hillhouse Road, Stone, Dartford, DA2 6HQ. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 07552 217286.

Parking can become busy around collection times, especially near 3pm. Allowing extra time is sensible when coordinating collection with other commitments.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, alongside paid childcare. Fees are charged for the booked place, with invoices issued at the start of each half term and payment due within two weeks of the term beginning; obtain a current written quotation for prices.

Parents provide lunch boxes and drinks. Non-food supplies, including nappies, wipes and creams, also come from home, so these need to be included in the family's preparation for attendance.

• The key-person connection. January 2025 identified families who did not understand their child's key-person arrangement, alongside inconsistent explanations of behaviour expectations. During a visit, ask how these two improvement priorities have been addressed.
• Collection time. Opening information differs between a 3pm finish and a 3.30pm finish. Confirm the agreed finishing time before building childcare around work or another collection.
• Food allergies. The Ark has a no-nut policy and parents supply lunch boxes. Families managing an allergy should confirm current food-handling arrangements and what staff need to know about their child.

The Ark suits families seeking term-time preschool care with creative activities, park walks and a connection to Stone Baptist Church. Its January 2025 examples show how stories, conversation and practical play were used together, while supported settling gives parents a route into the keyworker relationship.

The decision points are concrete: clear communication with the key person, understandable behaviour guidance and an agreed collection time. Families comfortable providing lunches and personal care supplies have a useful basis for judging whether this preschool fits their routine.