Opening hours
Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm
Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Eltham
Ofsted: Good
(May 2022)
Number of places
59 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2022
Local authority
Greenwich
About this day nursery
Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Eltham, owned by Vikki and Lesley, is dedicated to fostering a love of learning in children through play in a nurturing environment. The nursery prides itself on its dedicated staff who work closely with parents, valuing their feedback to ensure the best possible care and development for each child.
Emphasising outdoor learning, the nursery boasts an extensive garden equipped with various play areas, including a mud kitchen and woodland hideaway, providing children with opportunities for exploration and discovery. They encourage free-flow access to outdoor spaces, alfresco dining, and regular outings to local parks, aiming to build confidence and independence.
The nursery also provides freshly prepared, nutritious meals and snacks on-site, catering to dietary needs and allergies, with children even participating in growing their own fruits and vegetables. An all-inclusive approach covers nappies, wipes, and creams within the fees.
Monkey Puzzle Eltham offers outstanding care tailored to different age groups, with appropriate staff-to-child ratios in dedicated baby, toddler, and preschool rooms. The curriculum is guided by the EYFS, focusing on individual interests, and the nursery is part of an award-winning group with over 47 years of experience.
Our ethos
Our approach is to encourage children in their play while learning and being part of a caring and nurturing setting. We are dedicated to looking after your children and offer support to care givers and parents, as your feedback is so important to us. By blending structured learning with real-world exploration, we help children build confidence, independence and a lifelong love of discovery.
What it's like
Children are happy and settled in this well-resourced and welcoming setting. They enjoy a wide range of challenging indoor and outdoor activities. Children are very well behaved and respond well to gentle reminders by staff. Children know and understand the daily routines as staff give them warnings about what is happening next and sing songs that link to the daily routines.
Outdoor learningFreshly prepared mealsAll-inclusive feesEYFS-led curriculum
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
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
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Eltham
Last inspected 18 May 2022 · Jo Geoghegan
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Children are happy and settled in this well-resourced and welcoming setting. They enjoy a wide range of challenging indoor and outdoor activities. Children are very well behaved and respond well to gentle reminders by staff. Children know and understand the daily routines as staff give them warnings about what is happening next and sing songs that link to the daily routines.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders, managers and staff have made good progress since the last inspection, making significant improvements and successfully meeting all actions raised.
- Children are supported well in learning about their different home languages through new books, an electronic pen that translates stories, and the introduction of Makaton sign language.
- Children's understanding of good hygiene practice and personal care is promoted well by staff, including regular hand washing and discussions about protecting skin from the sun.
- Older children enjoy focus activities with staff, learning to count accurately and begin simple addition, resulting in good mathematical skills.
- Children learn about good oral health and develop healthy eating habits by serving their own food and self-regulating their water intake.
Areas to develop
- 1reduce noise levels, particularly in the pre-school room, to promote children's speaking and listening skills and optimise their learning experiences
- 2review nappy changing routines in the pre-school room to assure children's privacy and further promote their personal independence
- 3monitor and embed the recent improvements made to mealtime procedures into all staffs practice, to ensure all managers and staff understand about the consequences of children's allergies and minimise risks so that children's individual dietary needs are consistently met.
Inspection #10220321 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
their children are happy and making good progress
Their children are more confident, independent and ready for when they move on to school
staff are friendly and regularly share information about their children's progress
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
This helps all children, including those who have additional needs, to feel safe and secure in their learning environment. Children who have additional needs are supported exceptionally well. Staff have used funding appropriately to make improvements to the learning environment, resources and staffing arrangements. As a result, children who have additional needs make good progress from their starting points.
Outdoor space
Children enjoy a wide range of challenging indoor and outdoor activities.
Parent Reviews of Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Eltham
5.0
(48)
Mel Pearce
3 months ago
We couldn't be happier with the wonderful care and kindness of the staff at Monkey Puzzle Eltham. We was really worried about our son going to nursery but he has settled in so well and he loves it. All the staff in baby room are so kind, really caring and I know my son is in safe hands so it makes dropping him off and leaving him so much easier. I'm amazed at how many lovely things they get to do, you can see how much thought and planning goes into them. They keep you updated with snip its through out the day which we love to see and always happy to chat about his day on pick up. Special thanks to Becky my son's key worker who has been amazing, my son is always happy to see Becky. We are so happy with our choice of Nursery.
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Laura McLean
7 months ago
My daughter absolutely loves her time at Monkey Puzzle! From the moment she started, the staff have been nothing but warm, caring, and attentive. It’s so reassuring as a parent to know she is in such safe and loving hands every day. The team clearly put so much thought and effort into creating a nurturing environment where the children can learn, play, and thrive. I’ve seen my daughter grow in confidence and happiness since being here, and it’s obvious how much she enjoys her days. The staff treat every child with genuine care and kindness, and I couldn’t ask for a better place for her to be. I would recommend Monkey Puzzle to any parent.
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Helen
7 months ago
Both of my boys have gone to Monkey Puzzle Eltham and we honestly couldn’t be happier. My eldest has now moved on to school, but he had such a brilliant start here and was more than ready for the next step. My youngest is still attending and absolutely loves it, he runs in every morning with a big smile on his face! The staff are so caring and genuinely know the children so well. They’ve always made us feel welcome and kept us updated on how the boys are getting on, which has been so reassuring. It really feels like a little family, and I know both of my sons have been looked after, supported, and encouraged every step of the way. Couldn’t recommend the nursery enough!
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Maria Roy
8 months ago
We are so grateful for the wonderful care and dedication of the staff at Monkey Puzzle Eltham. The team go above and beyond every day, creating a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for the children. It’s clear how much they truly care, and the bond they build with each child is really special. What impresses us most is the focus on learning and development. The staff put so much thought and effort into activities that are both fun and educational, helping the children grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity. We couldn’t be happier with the support and encouragement the nursery has provided. It’s reassuring to know our child is not only cared for but also learning so much every day. We would highly recommend this nursery to any parent.
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Clazz
7 months ago
We viewed lots of nurseries in the area when our baby was newborn but felt the most warm, homely atmosphere when shown round Monkey Puzzle Eltham. It was our first choice based on that positive gut feeling from the staff and how happy the kids were in all the rooms. Our 1yo joined a few months ago now and it’s been a lovely, smooth experience. They did lots of settling in sessions which put our minds at ease. It was fairly quiet then so my baby got lots of dedicated time and support from the lovely practitioners. Now the govt funded hours for 9 month olds’ has kicked in the nursery is at full capacity and there is a long waiting list! In the summer, the practitioners took the babies out for lots of activities and to the local parks. Everyday they put on different sensory play activities and have themed days/months. They use Famly app to keep parents updated on food, naps, nappies and any accidents etc. I love it when they add photos of my baby involved in the activities or at meal times 😋 My baby always seems happy to go to nursery! Looking forward to seeing what more activities are coming up!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Eltham. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2022
Date: November 2021
- May 2022Good
- November 2021Inadequate
Frequently asked about Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Eltham
About the setting
Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Eltham registered in 2018. It is located in Eltham, in the London Borough of Greenwich. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessional care is also offered Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 1pm and from 1pm to 6.30pm. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There is a team of 34 staff, of whom 20 staff hold early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6.
- URN
- EY553599
- Registered person
- Little Learning Academy Ltd
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
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