Ark Start Globe

A school connection and room to play give Ark Start Globe its character: a spacious playroom sits alongside an outdoor playground, while Ark Globe Academy hosts the nursery. Children can attend from nine months to five years. No Ofsted inspection has been published for this setting yet.

Morning sessions, school days and full days give families several ways to organise attendance, with term-time and year-round options.

Reading, creative activities and exploration have dedicated areas within the playroom. Outside, the playground supports active play. This gives children space for both quieter interests and physical activity within the nursery day.

The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework sets the learning requirements, covering children's development through play, communication and practical experiences. Sensory activities, imaginative play and nature walks form part of Globe's offer. Outings extend to parks, libraries and city farms, with trips to London landmarks too. These take learning beyond the nursery's own spaces; no fixed outing frequency is promised.

The team includes a nursery manager, room leader, preschool teacher, early childhood educators and apprentices. A room leader holds paediatric first aid training. Those roles give families concrete points of contact for discussing care and the move towards school.

Globe describes a partnership with its host, Ark Globe Academy. Attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place: families still apply through the local authority admissions process. The school connection should therefore be considered separately from the admissions decision.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery operates on Harper Road in London, opening Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm over 48 weeks. Bookings require at least four sessions each week; individual hours cannot be booked.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon and afternoons from noon to 3pm. The Core Day combines those hours, while the School Day runs from 8.15am to 3.45pm and the Full Day from 8am to 5pm. Wraparound periods cover 8am to 9am and 3pm to 5pm. The half-day booking option is restricted to Wednesday.

Getting There

Elephant & Castle Station is a 10-minute walk away. Borough and London Bridge are also close by.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible families can use 15 or 30 funded hours, either over 38 term-time weeks or stretched across 48 weeks. Buying additional sessions is a choice rather than a condition of using funded hours.

Meals and snacks cost extra, including alongside funded attendance; bringing a packed lunch still leaves a snack charge. Certain offsite visits also sit outside session fees. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Weekly commitment. At least four sessions are required each week, and the half-day option is restricted to Wednesday. Discuss the intended combination during a visit.
• Address for a visit. The nursery address uses SE1 6AG, while the contact address uses SE1 6AF. Confirm the entrance and postcode before travelling.
• Care supplies. During a visit, ask which nappies, wipes and other personal supplies families should bring.
• Regulatory record. Ofsted's records list a concern dated 4 February 2025; its outcome is not published, so families may want to ask the nursery about it.

Globe suits families seeking morning or afternoon sessions, school-day attendance or full days, with a regular weekly commitment. The playroom, outdoor playground and school partnership provide concrete reasons to consider it. Nursery attendance and Reception admission remain separate decisions.