The Ark Association Ltd (1)
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Oakham for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2011, with 33 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 Rutland
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Rutland 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
LE15 6PQWhat 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, 28 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy the positive interactions they receive from staff. For example, children in the baby room show excitement when staff show them bubbles. Staff talk to them about stamping on the bubbles with their feet, helping children to recognise words that link to their actions. Children in the toddler and pre-school room run around in the garden, laughing with staff as they develop their physical stamina. Children are reminded by staff to use good manners. For example, when they say, 'I want my baby', staff repeat their words and say, 'I want a baby, please.'
Children in the toddler and pre-school room are keen to express themselves through craft activities. When staff ask them questions about their artwork, they explain that they are making a rainbow. This encourages children to communicate and share their thoughts. Children are supported to develop their understanding of numbers and early subtraction. For example, staff plan activities to help children recognise numbers. They show children a number five to represent five pretend sausages they make with play dough. Staff ask children questions about how many there would be if one of the sausages was taken away. Pre-school children develop their balance and coordination as they walk across wooden logs. Staff hold their hand for support and to promote their safety.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- offer all parents ideas and suggestions about how they can continue to support their children's learning at home n help staff to embed children's knowledge of how to identify and what to do if they encounter potential hazards when they access the internet at home.
- 28 July 2023Good
- 14 December 2017Good
- 26 February 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Ark Association Ltd (1)
- 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.