Saint Michael's Ark
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Peterborough for children from birth to 8+, open 08:45 to 15:15, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2022. Open since 2012, with 24 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 Peterborough
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Peterborough 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
PE2 8SZWhat 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 September 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children make good progress and are happy and secure in this welcoming preschool. Before children start, they receive photographs of staff members. This aids children in becoming familiar with staff, helping them to quickly settle. Further thoughtful procedures help children to feel welcome and give them a sense of belonging. For example, children enjoy looking at photographs of their families, finding comfort in this, and start to notice that all families are different. Children reflect the positive approaches and high expectations of the staff and persevere at tasks. For example, children develop their small-hand muscles and their creativity as they stretch coloured elastic bands around wooden pegs. They concentrate as they use each colour to 'make a rainbow pattern'.
Staff have a sensitive understanding of the possible effects of the COVID-19
national lockdowns. They kept in touch with families during these times, offering practical ideas for activities to try at home. Children are polite and caring. They show concern for one another and confidently and politely ask for help when needed. Children assess risks and work out how to keep themselves safe. For example, they decide that it is safer to lower the level of a wooden plank before walking across it.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to further enhance children's play. For example, through encouraging children to think critically and solve problems as they encounter them n extend the support to children in engaging in books and stories.
- 20 September 2022Good
- 14 October 2016Good
- 14 May 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Saint Michael's 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.