Creche
The Ark in the Park, our crèche and day care nursery, is situated adjacent to the main Club entrance. The Ark is divided into age appropriate rooms, with a specific area for programmed activities running alongside the daily crèche and day care.
The Ark has magnificent facilities for fun and learning both indoors and outdoors in two acres of lovingly kept grounds. Our aim at The Ark in the Park is to provide a warm, happy, safe, stimulating and relaxed environment in which children are encouraged to provide stimulating activities for the children, with particular emphasis on:
- Emotional security and personal growth
- Social development and behavior based on self respect and respect for others
- The development of language and other means of self-expression
- Physical activities, which encourage co-ordination and independence with proper regard for safety
- Educational activities based on guided play with a range of age appropriate materials
Please read our OFSTED Inspection Report
Our creche facility enables you to leave your child with a specialist team of qualified childcare workers in a safe, stimulating environment, which covers all areas of the under 5s curriculum. The environment encourages free choice and enables your child to develop at its own pace.
At The Ark in the Park Crèche, we do our best to make sure the children attending feel secure and comfortable in their environment. Therefore we advise that all new children, regardless of age, should have a settling in period before attending the crèche before their first official session. This is to enable the child to become familiar with their new environment.
The Ark in the Park Crèche is divided into 3 rooms. The Baby Room, also known as The Rainbow Room, accommodates babies who are not yet walking. The room is specifically set up without any furniture and a lot of floor space, to enable the fledgling crawler to experiment without fear of bumping into anything! Once the babies can walk, they then move up to The Wobblers & Toddlers Room, also known as The Butterflies Room. This accommodates all walking children up to the age of three. The Owls Room, which accommodates 3 - 8 year olds, is also known as Pre-School. In the afternoon, the babies all move into the Wobblers & Toddlers Room as the Rainbow Room is turned into the Activity Room, with creative Activity Classes such as Yoga, Ballet, Cooking and Splurge.
Participation in any area of the Ark will enable your child to develop social, intellectual, physical, emotional and language skills in a safe stimulating and fun environment which values and respects all the children in it's care. A wide variety of programmed activities are also offered for children of all ages, supervised by experienced instructors. A minority of activities require parental supervision. The Activity room is called Rainbow. Activities in each group will follow the curriculum and are child led and age appropriate. Each room will be set up following these areas:
Art & Design
This area is set up with a varied range of activities such as corn flour, painting, water, jelly, pasta, cutting and sticking. The children are encouraged to explore new textures and designs, to express their feelings, recognize colours and shapes and use their imagination to the full. All of these activities are used in a variety of ways, which includes using various equipment alongside.
Mathematics
There are various areas and activities such as water play, the home corner, a shop etc. that incorporate the use of numbers, number skills, shape and space, weight and volume. There will also be puzzles and games set out daily that covers this area. The children will be able to explain and develop their skills at their own pace with adult encouragement and interaction.
Language & Literacy
We cover the basic skills of talking and communicating with one another. The children learn these skills by being given the chance to express themselves at their own pace and in the knowledge that they are being listened to. To encourage this we have a book corner where the child can read on their own, in a group situation or even act out the story, which encourage sharing, and turn taking. We have an area where they can develop their writing and spelling skills using age appropriate equipment.
Music
This includes listening as well as playing, enjoying rhythm, and singing, clapping and dancing. There is always one form or another taking place during the crèche day. This includes all age ranges. The children are encouraged to participate in simple rhythm and songs using clapping and instruments to accompany the activity. The older children will be taught songs and listen to music from different cultures to extend their developing skills.
Science & Technology
This is about exploring and investigating. The children are encouraged to investigate, observe and ask questions. This can be done whilst playing with a variety of activities including messy, cooking, bricks and games where they will be encourage to take note and discuss their ideas and observations and ways of meeting the need. They will also learn how to operate simple gadgets such as an electronic till and other battery operated children's equipment. They will learn to experiment with such items as magnets and objects that float and sink. Treasure baskets and heuristic play are also a large part of this area and the children will be able to explore a wide range of every day objects.
Geography & History
The children are taught about their surroundings and which names are given to landmarks such as supermarkets, post box, trees and telephone box. They will be encouraged to talk about where they live, by what means they come to the Crèche, other places they have visited, what use to happen a long time ago, what happens to places with the passing of time, how they change and why. They will learn how people get from one place to another and about the seasons and climate. This will be done through games, stories, trips outside, themes, photographs and discussion.
Programmed Activities
In the variety of specific activities that will be available for your child to participate in they will learn one type of activity at a time such as ballet, martial arts and cooking. All of these activities will be age appropriate and child led.
Cost for Crèche Sessions
6 weeks - 12 weeks @ £10 per hour (I hour only between 13.30 - 16.30)
3 months to 3 years £5 per hour
3 years to 8 years £4 per hour
You have the opportunity to leave the site if you book your child in for Half Day and Full Day Care. You can book your child in for a four-hour session either from 09.00 - 13.00 or from 13.00 - 17.00 for half day - or the whole period for full day. We offer a planned programme of activities within a structure, which encourages spontaneous, child-initiated activities. At the end of the day, parents will be provided with a Daily Information sheet, which will give a brief description of the type of day their children have had.
Operating Times
The Ark in the Park accepts children from 6 weeks to eight years of age between 08.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday and 09.00 and 15.00 Saturday and Sunday.
Babies from 6 weeks to 3 months may attend the crèche for only one hour per day between the hours of 13.30 - 16.30. We offer these 1-hour sessions to enable the new mum to have time to herself, whether it be a latte in the bar with friends or a pampering session in our beauty department.
You may book your child in for 1 hour, 1½ hours or 2 hours consecutively at the Crèche and you must remain on the Club's premises during these sessions.
Half Day Care at The Ark in the Park
You have the opportunity to leave the site when your child is at The Ark in the Park for Half Day and Full Day Care.
Operating Times:
09.00 - 13.00 0r 13.00 - 17.00 Or 09.00 - 17.00 (Four hour sessions)
Pricing Structure:
Half Day: £32 for 3 months to 3 years
£24 for 3 years to 8 years
Full Day: £50 for 3 months to 3 years
£40 for 3 years to 8 years
Booking Details:
We operate on a first come first served basis. Half Day Care Sessions must be paid for when booking.
Registration:
You must register your child For Half Day Care before their first session. Registration is very rigorous and all the rules must be adhered to at all times. All the information and details we require must be provided in full prior to the first session of Half Day Care.
If you are interested in Half Day Care, please ask for Katie Edwards or contact The Ark in the Park Reception on 0208 743 6263 for more information about registering your child.
Programmed Activities aboard the Ark
Crazy Cooks
Let your child partake in a world of yummy, scrummy, food galore, where they can use their expert talent in making savoury and sweet delights to take home and share with the family.
Peter Walker's Developmental Baby Massage
During our four week Baby Massage courses, you will learn soothing massage techniques as well as strokes to treat minor baby ailments and exercises to aid your baby's physical development. Our classes include stretches and relaxation for you and enable you to meet other mums and babies in a relaxed and informal setting. If you would like more information, call Helen Langley directly on 02089940630.
Ballet
Students attend weekly classes but may attend two classes a week if they wish. Children may attend 2 ½ years upwards and can start attending at any time during the year. Children will be put into a class that suits their age and ability combined.
These sessions will teach the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus, will teach your child the basic ballet technique and help to develop their coordination, poise and concentration. These classes will be varied and the repertoire changed frequently. Ballet shoes, tights and leotard are not compulsory.
Children will perform in a variety of demonstrations and shows throughout the year, the first one being the Winter Recital. There will be an end of term 'Open class' in Spring where the children have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learnt during the term, allowing the parents to see their child's progress. During the summer, the children will have to opportunity to perform in a Summer Ballet demonstration where they will receive Awards Certificates. You have the opportunity for your child to work towards an RAD examination, should you wish.
Kiddikicks
Kiddikicks is a unique programme to give younger children, from 18/20 months through to 5 years old, their first taste of football and a whole lot more.
Using the greatest game on earth – football - Kiddikicks introduces children to real sports skills and helps them develop their natural love of being active.
Ball control is taught alongside colour, number, shape and animal recognition. Be on the ball with Kiddikicks.
“I have to say that Kiddikicks is Daniel's favourite activity out of all the other activities he attends”
Josephine Storek, W8 mum of Daniel aged 18 months.
Tennis, Cricket and Football
Tennis and Football Classes for 3 - 4 year olds are run by The Park Club's very own sport's coaches and are held over in Studio 2 during the wet weather and outside, weather permitting. Children will learn the basic skills of shooting and kicking footballs and basic batting skills like the correct way of holding and using tennis rackets.
Holiday Club
During the school holidays, The Ark in the Park offers a Holiday Club for children of ages 3 - 7 years old. The children may be booked in for half or whole days during the Holiday Club. They are given the chance to participate in many different activities where they will learn to explore and investigate, discuss and challenge observations whilst using free choice and expression when making and decorating items such as boxes, jewellery, badges, masks, ceramics and sewing.
