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Monkey Puzzle Bishops Stortford

Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.1(8 parent reviews) ·Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Bishops Stortford, Hazelend Road, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2FN · Hertfordshire
Number of places
63 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2026
Local authority
Hertfordshire

About this day nursery

Monkey Puzzle Bishops Stortford, located in Bishop's Stortford, CM23 2FN, is a childcare setting registered with Ofsted on 15/10/2023. The nursery provides a warm and nurturing environment where children, from babies to those aged 4, settle well and feel safe, forming secure attachments with staff.

The curriculum is designed with an ambitious vision, offering real-life opportunities that broaden children's interests and understanding of the world, including engaging in woodworking, trips to the local park, and visits from community members. The setting offers a wonderful outdoor space where children can engage in creative and imaginative play, such as making "potions" in the mud kitchen and building sandcastles.

Staff interactions are warm and supportive, and they work closely with families to address children's needs, offering extra support for emotion regulation and transitions when required. The nursery is committed to inclusive practice, identifying and assessing children's needs and providing additional support, including for disadvantaged children, through effective use of funding and collaborations with external professionals.

Leaders are dedicated to continuous improvement, with a clear vision for strengthening routines and consistent teaching practices.

Our ethos

The nursery's educational approach is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, focusing on individual interests to foster a rich learning experience that integrates creative, outdoor, and community-linked activities. They are committed to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can thrive and develop, aiming to give them the best start in life.

What it's like

Children arrive happily and are welcomed into a warm and nurturing environment, where they feel safe and secure. They form close relationships with staff, seeking them out for reassurance and cuddles and to share their ideas. This helps children to settle quickly and develop a sense of belonging. Children enjoy a range of engaging experiences and benefit from a wonderful outdoor space. They talk enthusiastically about activities such as cooking, which they share with their families at home.

Warm & nurturing environmentAmbitious curriculumExcellent outdoor playStrong parent partnershipsInclusive practice

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday : 07:30 - 18:30

Food

Menus created following early years guidelines by nutritionist Laura Matthews.

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Apr 2026

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Monkey Puzzle Bishops Stortford

Last inspected 8 April 2026

What it's like to attend

Children arrive happily and are welcomed into a warm and nurturing environment, where they feel safe and secure. They form close relationships with staff, seeking them out for reassurance and cuddles and to share their ideas. This helps children to settle quickly and develop a sense of belonging. Children enjoy a range of engaging experiences and benefit from a wonderful outdoor space. They talk enthusiastically about activities such as cooking, which they share with their families at home.

Inspector highlights

  • Children settle well, form secure attachments, and feel safe, making smooth transitions between rooms.
  • Children make steady progress, developing communication and language skills and becoming more confident.
  • Children gain independence, make choices in their play, and develop skills for the next stage.
  • Leaders foster a positive environment where children are content and understand expectations.
  • Children enjoy a range of experiences, including creative and imaginative outdoor play experiences.
  • Relationships between staff and children are warm, with staff using eye contact and simple language to support communication.
  • Care practices meet individual needs, with staff providing warm, nurturing care and demonstrating knowledge of safer sleep procedures.
  • Children develop independence through everyday experiences, such as serving themselves meals and using cutlery.
  • The curriculum offers ambitious real-life opportunities, broadening children's interests and understanding of the world.
  • Children engage in purposeful activities, like woodworking, and learn to assess risk and keep themselves safe.
  • Staff interactions are warm and supportive, with staff modelling language to develop confident communicators.
  • Leaders demonstrate an understanding of inclusive practice, identifying and assessing children's needs.
  • Leaders effectively use additional funding to support disadvantaged children with meaningful experiences.
  • Leaders and managers are reflective and dedicated, with a clear understanding of the setting's strengths and areas for development.
  • Leaders prioritise partnerships with parents and carers, ensuring clear communication and opportunities for parental input.
  • Leaders consider staff's wellbeing and workload, making changes to how children's learning is tracked and observed.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders should support staff even more to implement clear and consistent routines across the setting, particularly during transitions, so that these better meet children's individual needs and improve engagement and behaviour.
  • 2Leaders should strengthen professional development so staff develop a clearer understanding of the intent of activities and ensure experiences are developmentally appropriate, enabling children to make the most of learning opportunities and progress even further.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those facing barriers receive some support in the setting. They benefit from a timely referral process that ensures they receive suitable plans for their progress and development. Staff seek advice from professionals and follow guidance in practice. Leaders prioritise preparing children for their next stage of learning and put systems in place to ensure smooth transitions to school.

Outdoor space

Children show positive attitudes towards their learning, particularly outdoors, where they spend long periods of time being creative and imaginative. They enjoy making "potions" in the mud kitchen, pouring water through guttering, and building sandcastles using their own ideas. Outdoor learning is a strength, with children benefiting from regular access to a well-planned environment that supports their physical development and engagement.

Parent Reviews of Monkey Puzzle Bishops Stortford

4.1
(8)
Kirsty Preston
7 months ago

My son attends this nursery and he has loved it. From a SEN perspective, I can’t fault the support the SENco Aimee has offered to us, and way they have ensured my son’s needs are supported. He absolutely loves his key person, and all of the staff from babies up to even management staff. The nursery has ensured his key person and room staff have had extra training to help support his needs, and have worked closely with us on referrals for my child, and coordinating nursery-home development focuses. He comes home filthy from the days activities but incredibly happy. Incredibly reassuring to see how happy he is with them, and it always makes me happy when I see how thrilled his key person and others are when he does something new. Lovely to see photos throughout the day, and have loved their activities over the last few months for the children (nature reserves, digger visits, fire truck visits, guinea pigs and duckling hatching, weekly monkey music times ect). Updates are provided by the Famly app, and keys communications are always messaged or given over the phone ahead of pick up if needed.

Read on Google
Tsitsi Elisa Mbofana
9 months ago

I was impressed with the structure of the day, from drop-off to pick-up. The Monkey Puzzle team ensures they communicate effectively through the Famly application as well as telephone calls. We waited just under four weeks before our daughter joined the nursery, based on a word-of-mouth referral.They kept us informed whilst we where on the waiting list which was very good I appreciate that the children follow a clear daily routine, which helps maintain consistency at home as well. The facilities are clean and state of the art garden which has been carefully designed for outdoor play. The nursery constantly updated us on our daughters development and liased with us when our daughter was their focus child for the week. The team knows all the children well, and for a relatively new nursery in the area, they have far exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend them, as my daughter thoroughly enjoyed her experience and has developed great confidence.

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Andrea Hoffman
2 years ago

Our daughter goes here, started as soon as it’s open. All new establishments have teething issues, however the care she has received and how she has come along since joining is second to none. All of the staff are super cheery and really supportive. The facilities are also amazing. We are so impressed with this and I’ve recommended this nursery to many new friends as have complete confidence in the running of it and the staff who work there and watch my little girl! Thank you to all at Monkey Puzzle Bishop’s Stortford.

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lily Hannan
11 months ago

Took six months to get back to us regarding whether or not my son had received a place. Despite chasing regularly we were told that due to staffing issues and absence they hadn’t had the time to process the application. This concerned us and as a result we looked around other local nursery’s and got the place confirmed within one week.

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Emma Tate
2 years ago

The setting has been done really well. The garden looks good and all the facilities are nice and brand new. I went for a tour and the manager was really nice and helpful. However, my partner and I had a few concerns which I felt people should know about. Firstly, the stairs to the baby room are so narrow and steep, they’re carrying babies up and down there all the time (or will be) and the landing at the top is so small.. it really worried me that someone could fall while holding my child up and down those stairs. Secondly, and what really put us both off… as we toured the toddler room there were a few children in having their settling in sessions and one nursery staff Member huffed and rolled her eyes at a small child! I was, quite frankly, disgusted. Yes I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of an eye roll on occasion but to do it about a toddler in a brand new setting where she doesn’t know the place or the staff, in front of potential parents!! Absolute no from me!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Monkey Puzzle Bishops Stortford. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

8 April 2026

Expected standard

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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