We would like to welcome you and your family to the Ark Association. The Ark is a Registered Charity, based at Princess Avenue Oakham, which is run by a committee of parents and friends for the benefit of the community.
There are two Arks in Oakham, both of which are registered with Ofsted Early Years and comply with Children Act 1989 regulations, providing care and education. However, Princess Avenue caters for children from 3 months old to 4 ½ years old.
The Ark is the longest running nursery in Oakham with over 35 years’ experience and have been rated ‘Good’ in all our Ofsted inspections.
The Ark aims to provide a happy, safe, and stimulating environment for all children to play, learn and develop freely.
We offer fully inclusive services that are accessible to all children within the community, and a programme of activities created from the children’s interests that are educational, stimulating and fun.
We help children to develop responsibility for themselves and their actions and to be confident, independent individuals and ensuring a healthy well-being is paramount.
We encourage children to have a positive attitude and respect for both themselves and other people all made possible by an experienced well-trained friendly team who are supported in their roles by the manager Mary Darlington (BA Hons).
We promote a positive relationship with parents and carers and work in partnership with them to provide high quality play and care for all children.
Although, the Ark at Princess Avenue is not on any school sites, we have very good links with all the primary schools in Oakham so that we can ensure the best transition into school possible for every child.
We have access to the swimming pool at Oakham C of E primary school and take the children that are preschool age swimming weekly. We also access Forest School curriculum weekly. These two activities are accessible as we use our own minibus to transport the children with members of staff. The minibus allows the children to explore our local environment such as Rutland Water.
During the school holidays we provide Kids Club for children up to the age of 11 at Princess Avenue. We want every child that comes through our doors to go home at the end of the day happy and contented knowing that they are always valued and listened to and have enjoyed the activities they have engaged in.