The Ark Day Nursery

Counting, colour and careful hand movements came together in The Ark Day Nursery’s January 2024 learning activities: older children used tweezers to lift objects while extending their mathematical understanding. Small actions carried several kinds of learning.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding on 12 January 2024, including its quality of education. On Rowland Road in Scunthorpe, the nursery has 59 places in total and accepts children aged 4 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care, bringing learning and everyday wellbeing into the same account of nursery life.

In January 2024, mathematical experiences developed across the age groups. Babies and toddlers heard counting during morning registration; older children matched quantities to a large dice and investigated which materials floated or sank. These activities gave abstract ideas a practical form. Children could handle, compare and test things.

Physical activity also changed with age. In January 2024, babies had short periods on their tummies to build neck strength, while toddlers explored tunnels, climbed steps and used a slide independently. Older children combined movement with playing instruments to music.

Outdoor and community experiences extended the day beyond indoor play. In January 2024, an outdoor growing area gave children whose homes lacked gardens opportunities to grow things. Visits to local care homes brought generations together, while bus journeys and road-crossing practice introduced useful everyday skills.

At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and assessed support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those awaiting diagnosis, as exceptionally strong, with targeted help and effective use of funding.

In January 2024, staff used pictures, signs and spoken language to help toddlers understand feelings and safe movement indoors. This gave children more than one way to understand and communicate, including those learning English as an additional language.

Family involvement had concrete forms. In January 2024, travelling ted went home with a notebook for parents to add photographs and accounts of weekend experiences, connecting family life with nursery conversations. Meetings involving parents, carers and professionals brought health, wellbeing and development into shared discussions and planning.

Settling also received attention in January 2024. Staff spent additional time understanding families’ needs where children found the move from home difficult, offering emotional support to parents as well as children.

The address is The Ark, Rowland Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1ST. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday; the nursery operates throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and Christmas.

In January 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated account of its funding provision.

• Settling from home. January 2024 practice included extra time with families whose children struggled with the transition. At a visit, ask how that support would be organised for your child.
• Planning attendance. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 5.30pm. Ask which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your working week.

The Ark merits consideration for families seeking nursery care that connects hands-on learning with emotional understanding and everyday independence. Its January 2024 activities joined counting, physical exploration and community experiences, while family participation had practical outlets. The weekday opening window will matter to working parents; the strongest quality evidence remains the Outstanding judgement from January 2024.