The Ark Pre-School Nursery in Liphook has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted following an inspection on 6 June 2025, marking a decline from its previous ‘Outstanding’ rating in 2019.
The Hampshire-based nursery, located at The Church Centre on Portsmouth Road, achieved ‘Good’ ratings across all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Strong Relationships: Staff have developed excellent relationships with children and families through home visits and settling-in sessions. Children arrive happy and excited to see friends, with staff building strong attachments that support consistent, high-quality care.
Inclusive Environment: The curriculum caters effectively to all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Staff use various support methods such as sign language and visual picture cards to ensure every child feels valued and included.
Physical Development: Children benefit from excellent opportunities to develop physical skills using bikes, slides, and playground equipment. Staff actively participate in children’s games, enhancing learning experiences through play.
Safety Awareness: Children learn to assess risks independently, such as identifying wet slides and problem-solving how to make equipment safe for use.
Engagement Challenges: Inspectors noted that some children lose interest during activities, with staff not always recognising when to refocus them or extend their concentration. This occasionally results in children not being engaged in meaningful learning.
Language Development: While conversations between staff and children are generally high quality, there are missed opportunities to enhance vocabulary and extend language skills further.
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Parents expressed satisfaction with the support they receive, noting their children’s significant progress since joining. Family singing sessions help maintain positive partnerships between the setting and families.
Leaders demonstrate strong support for staff, ensuring they feel valued and confident in their roles whilst maintaining regular reflection to provide high-quality service.
The nursery, which registered in 2017, operates Monday to Friday from 8.15am to 3.30pm during term time. It accommodates 28 places for children aged two to four years, with 38 children currently on roll. Seven staff members are employed, including five with appropriate qualifications and two with qualified teacher status.
The inspection was conducted by Lucy Short, with activities including curriculum discussions, observations, and conversations with children, staff, and parents.
