Abacus Ark Nursery
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2015, with 95 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 Wandsworth
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Wandsworth 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
SW11 1SHWhat 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.
- 12 January 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 27 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all abilities and from different backgrounds have a wonderful time at
Abacus Ark Nursery. They are very well cared for by staff who are extremely warm, caring and approachable. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Children show high levels of social confidence. For example, they greet unfamiliar adults happily and enthusiastically. There are plenty of opportunities for children to make choices about their play. This promotes their decision-making and independence skills effectively.
Children respond positively to the high expectations of staff. They are able to retain knowledge and recall previous learning. For example, older children talk to staff about how caterpillars turn into butterflies using a good vocabulary. Children of all ages enjoy singing and dancing sessions. These sessions present them with sensory and physical challenges, which have a positive impact on their motivational levels. Younger children explore various malleable materials, such as yoghurt and ice. They delight in exploring the smell of citrus fruits in a water activity. These opportunities encourage children to develop their creativity and sensory skills.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the support given to staff to ensure that they plan group activities as effectively as possible n explore other ways of enriching younger children's experiences to support their understanding of the wider world.
- 27 July 2023Good
- 25 January 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Abacus Ark Nursery
- 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.