Abacus Ark
Good★ 4.9 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 2013, with 60 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Camden
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Camden from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
NW6 5TRWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 20 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are confident and motivated to learn in this warm and happy nursery.
Staff value each child and have high expectations of them. They find out about and follow babies' care routines from home. This helps babies to settle happily. Children enjoy activities and concentrate well. Staff take time to find out about children's interests, which are reflected in the curriculum. All children develop valuable skills in preparation for school.
The curriculum is varied and interesting. Children gain a good understanding of the world. For example, staff plant and grow seeds with children. Children learn about and respect difference. Staff play songs from around the world and discuss different cultures with children. They ensure that children have access to toys and resources that reflect different races, religions and cultures. Children act with care and caution. For instance, they wipe water spillages to prevent accidents. Staff teach children a good awareness of road safety.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- extend children's awareness of good oral hygiene further n develop children's understanding of the value of eating well consistently and more fully.
- 20 March 2023Good
- 2 August 2017Good
- 17 February 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Abacus Ark
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.