North Kensington nursery rated Good by Ofsted

✔️ Children from 3 years old are eligible

✔️ 30 hours per week funded childcare

✔️ Open during school term times

✔️ You can apply at any point in the year

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Our nursery is about much more than childcare

Our team ensures every child has a joyful, engaging and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently.

Student with hand raised

Fully qualified early years teachers

Our nursery staff are fully trained and qualified as educators, expert in delivering the government's Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

Student gardening

Learning and exploring in nature

Children benefit from stimulating outdoor learning, where they are supported to explore nature and develop their movement skills.

Student in lesson

Curriculum designed by specialists

Our early years curriculum is structured around storytelling, encouraging children to tell their own stories and listen to others' stories.

FAQs

The nursery opens each day at 8.30am and our day finishes at 3.15pm.
We only offer full time nursery provision of 30 hours per week. There is no fee for the extra hours if you are only entitled to 15 hours of free childcare. We will do an extended settling in time, if a child is struggling with the transition, but the aim is always to have them in full time.
Universal offer

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week. 

Extended offer

Some 3 and 4 year olds may be eligible for 30 hours free childcare a week.

Eligibility depends on:

  • if you are working your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
  • your child’s age and circumstances
  • your immigration status

You can check eligibility and apply by using the Government Online Childcare Calculator. This also helps you check if you will be better off if you make an application.

The date you can start accessing free childcare depends on your child’s birthday. Childcare works in terms. There are three terms in a year starting in January, April and September.

Child Born Between Start Date From
1 April – 31 August September
1 September - 31 December January
1 January – 31 March April

You need to have successfully applied before the next term starts. If you miss the deadline, you need to wait until the next term even if your child is eligible to have started. You are able to apply 16 weeks (approx 3 and a half months) before your child’s birthday.

It is encouraged to apply early to ensure your application is approved in time. The government suggests applying at least one month before the deadline.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying to our nursery, please visit the Ark Start nursery web page.

Apply