What age range do you accept?

Most Abacus Ark nurseries welcome children from 6 months to 5 years. Our Maida Vale nursery accepts children from 10 months to 5 years.

What curriculum do you follow?

We use the Abacus Ark Bespoke Curriculum, created with an independent former Ofsted inspector. It’s guided by our FIRST framework and five pedagogical principles to ensure children are school-ready by Reception.

Are you Ofsted registered?

Yes. All Abacus Ark nurseries are fully Ofsted registered.

How do I arrange a visit?

We offer personal tours with our Parent Experience Manager or Nursery Manager. Book via our website enquiry form, by phone, by email, or through social media.

Is there availability right now?

Availability varies by nursery and age group. We also limit the number of new starters each month to ensure a quality settling-in process. If there’s no space, we’ll add you to the waiting list and keep you updated.

What are your nursery fees?

Fees vary by nursery and age group. See each nursery’s page for details.

Do you accept government funding?

Yes. We accept all eligible government funding schemes.

Do you offer sibling discounts?

Yes. We offer a sibling discount—please contact our admissions team for details.

Are meals, nappies, wipes and creams included?

Yes. Meals and daily essentials are included in your nursery fees.

What are your opening hours?

Most nurseries are open 7:30am–6:30pm. Maida Vale is open 8:00am–6:00pm.

How do you support children’s individual needs?

Our curriculum is designed to nurture each child individually through our five pedagogical principles.

Do you accommodate dietary requirements?

Yes. We partner with Lune & Wild to provide nutritious, organic meals and can cater for all dietary needs.

How do you share my child’s daily activities?

We use the Famly app to share photos and key information such as naps, meals, and daily activities.

How do I find out about my child’s development?

We post regular development updates in the Famly app and share spontaneous observations when they happen.

Do you also speak to me in person?

Yes. You’ll receive a face-to-face handover at drop-off and pick-up every day.

What happens if my child is ill or has an incident?

We will call you immediately and record all details in the Famly app.

How will I know about my child’s progress over time?

We hold regular parent–teacher meetings to discuss your child’s development.

Do you update parents on nursery news?

Yes. We send newsletters with updates and events.

Can I contact the nursery at other times?

Absolutely. You can call or message us whenever you have questions.

What is your staff-to-child ratio?

We meet or exceed statutory ratios: 1:3 for under-2s, 1:5 for ages 2–3, and 1:8 for ages 3–5.

How does the settling-in process work?

Across two weeks we gradually increase your child’s time with us. Parents stay initially, then nearby, before moving to full days.

How do you support the transition to school?

In the final year, children are grouped with their school cohort and we liaise with their new teachers to prepare them.

What happens if I need to change days or sessions?

Email us with your request. We’ll accommodate changes wherever possible, subject to availability and terms.

When you join Abacus Ark, you’re joining a family that values and supports you. Here’s what we offer: 4-Day Working Week – Work full-time hours across just 4 days and enjoy 3 days off every week for better work-life balance.32 Days Annual Leave (Includes 8 Bank Holidays, 4 Personal Wellbeing Days)Medical Cashback Plan – Health Shield plan worth over £1,000 per year (including GP Anytime, health screening, health cash plans, MyGymDiscounts, SkinVision, online health assessments, massages, dental, optical and more)Training & Career Development – including specialised training and support/funding with enrolling onto further qualificationsProgression opportunities within the companyNew site openings – further opportunities availableBlue Light Card access with major high street stores/food/cinema/holiday/travel discounts (various discounts between 10-20% off)Mental health and wellbeing supportAnnual inset training days (fun & interactive)Team social events and celebrationsCompany pensionOngoing professional developmentLeadership development opportunitiesSupportive team culture and mentorship from experienced early years professionalsInclusive and positive working environmentFirst aid and safeguarding training

Nursery Careers London | Work at Abacus Ark Nursery Schools

Make a Difference
in a Child’s Life

A Welcoming Team Supports Your Dreams

Opportunities To Progress

Discover opportunities to grow and thrive in a workplace where teachers are truly valued and appreciated. We offer fair, competitive pay from the start, allowing you to focus on what matters most: inspiring and nurturing the children in your care.

Key Teacher Partnerships Help You Achieve Excellence

Successful teachers have the time, tools, and knowledge to form collaborations with parents and caregivers. Support your young learners with a strong partnership of ideas and resources that you can rely on.

Preparing Young Minds With FIRST Steps

Join a team dedicated to fostering curiosity! Our core FIRST Steps curriculum is enriched by expert teachers. Together, we prepare young minds to embrace challenges and explore the world around them with confidence.

Walk in the Shoes of Our Children

Each child is a curious, competent participant in their learning. As a teacher, you’ll embrace this child-centered philosophy, respecting their interests and perspectives and creating a truly enriching environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued!

Together, We Create an Environment Where Education Is a Shared Responsibility, Driving Growth & Discovery for Every Child.

Leadership Values All Teachers & Staff

Get all the support you need, just say the word! Leadership answers questions and gives advice about lesson plans, classroom management, behaviour, and more. You also know your contributions are appreciated and valued.

Opportunities for Advancement Motivate You To Do Your Best

You can grow professionally and work your way up to a leadership position if you desire. Advancement is based on performance and commitment, and successful leadership candidates have opportunities to become integral parts of a successful education mission.

The Abacus Ark Impact Team Encourages Professional Excellence

The Abacus Ark Ambassadors are the highest-performing people across the organisation. They are recognised for their standout expertise both internally and externally and the values they exhibit. They fly the flag for the quality of people within the organisation!

The Benefits Of An Ambassador Are:

You and your skills are front and centre
You have the opportunity to pursue and build on the skill with external training
You can use your knowledge and expertise to train others, both in person and through the Abacus Ark e-learning platform
You provide support to others around the organisation if they reach out with questions

Open Positions

We’re hiring! Visit our Careers Page to explore current opportunities and learn more about joining our team.

What we look for in our team:

We’re committed to selecting the best talent to provide high-quality care and education.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

Qualified & Experienced: Level 2 CACHE/NVQ qualified (or above) and/or experienced practitioners.
Passionate: Committed to providing outstanding care and education.
Unqualified & Eager to Grow: Keen to develop skills through training and progression opportunities.
Team Players: Positive, enthusiastic individuals who enjoy making a difference in children’s lives.

Perks & Benefits

When you join Abacus Ark, you’re joining a family that values and supports you. Here’s what we offer:

4-Day Working Week – Work full-time hours across just 4 days and enjoy 3 days off every week for better work-life balance.
32 Days Annual Leave (Includes 8 Bank Holidays, 4 Personal Wellbeing Days)
Medical Cashback Plan – Health Shield plan worth over £1,000 per year (including GP Anytime, health screening, health cash plans, MyGymDiscounts, SkinVision, online health assessments, massages, dental, optical and more)
Training & Career Development – including specialised training and support/funding with enrolling onto further qualifications
Progression opportunities within the company
New site openings – further opportunities available
Blue Light Card access with major high street stores/food/cinema/holiday/travel discounts (various discounts between 10-20% off)
Mental health and wellbeing support
Annual inset training days (fun & interactive)
Team social events and celebrations
Company pension
Ongoing professional development
Leadership development opportunities
Supportive team culture and mentorship from experienced early years professionals
Inclusive and positive working environment
First aid and safeguarding training

Hear from Our Team…

Our employees are the heart of Abacus Ark. Don’t just take our word for it—here’s what one of our team members has to say:

The staff have opportunities to grow and are always encouraged to learn new skills...

I have been working at Abacus Ark for 2 years, first in the baby room and now in preschool. I absolutely love how many extracurricular classes the children get to do throughout the week, especially forest school, which they love! The staff have opportunities to grow and are always encouraged to learn new skills at Abacus. I recently completed a potty training course, which has been extremely useful for my class. My little boy also attends the baby room site, and I am so pleased to see how brilliant and supportive my colleagues are with him!

- Miss Alysa

Check out more testimonials from our staff on our Glassdoor Company Updates.