Opening hours
7:00 am - 7:00 pm, 51 weeks a year
Monkeymoos Highdown
Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2022)
Number of places
28 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2022
Local authority
Reading
About this day nursery
MonkeyMoos Highdown in Caversham, Reading, offers a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 18 months to 5 years, situated within the picturesque grounds of Highdown School. The nursery operates for 51 weeks a year, providing a range of flexible sessions to accommodate varying family needs from 7 am to 7 pm, including both funded and non-funded options.
With a capacity for 28 children, the open-plan setting promotes free-flow play between indoor and outdoor spaces, with a spacious garden accessible throughout the day. Children of all ages engage in both free play and structured activities, benefiting from age-focused group times that support their development, particularly enhancing language skills in younger children through interaction with older peers.
The curriculum integrates daily walks in the local community, engaging activities based on national themes, and educational experiences aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage, tailoring activities to individual child interests. The nursery places a strong emphasis on communication with parents, providing daily photo updates and professionally catered healthy meals that accommodate diverse dietary requirements.
MonkeyMoos Highdown prides itself on creating a happy, safe, and inclusive atmosphere where children are encouraged to explore their potential and are well-prepared for their transition to school. The dedicated staff are committed to providing exceptional care, fostering strong relationships with the children, and maintaining open communication with families, ensuring a supportive and enriching experience for every child.
Our ethos
MonkeyMoos Highdown aims to create a happy, safe, and inclusive environment where children can explore their potential, integrating the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework with child-led interests and daily community walks. The nursery emphasises free-flow play between indoor and outdoor spaces, structured activities, and age-focused group times, with a commitment to fostering strong relationships and open communication with families.
What it's like
Children enjoy their time at nursery and benefit from both indoor and outdoor environments. They are confident in making decisions about their play and have warm bonds with staff. The nursery's ethos supports children's interests, and staff understand children's home and family lives.
Flexible session timesDaily outdoor activitiesProfessionally catered mealsDaily photo updates to parents
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Fees are payable in advance. Fees confirm a space and will not be refunded for any periods of sickness, holidays or days absent from the Nursery or PreSchool. MonkeyMoos reserves the right to increase the said fees at any time.
Key facts
Age range
18 months to 5 years
Term time / All Year
All Year
Session types
Full Day, Half Day
Established
2018
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Monkeymoos Highdown
Last inspected 26 July 2022 · Aileen Finan
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children enjoy their time at nursery and benefit from both indoor and outdoor environments. They are confident in making decisions about their play and have warm bonds with staff. The nursery's ethos supports children's interests, and staff understand children's home and family lives.
Inspector highlights
- Children benefit enormously from both the indoor and outdoor environments that promote their learning across all seven areas.
- There are secure systems for the recruitment and vetting of staff and an ambitious vision for the nursery.
- Staff are encouraged to develop their skills through training and research.
- Children form secure attachments with the staff who care for them and are encouraged to be confident in their self-care.
- Parents are positive about the care that their children receive and highlight the 'family' online communication system.
Areas to develop
- 1develop an even clearer understanding of learning intent to ensure children are challenged more to build on what they already know and understand.
Inspection #10191061 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
parents say children have very warm relationships with their key person and make good progress in their language acquisition and mathematical abilities.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
The conscientious manager helps to ensure all of her staff feel valued and that all children, including those who are disadvantaged, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those speaking English as an additional language, are helped to reach their potential.
Outdoor space
Children benefit enormously from both the indoor and outdoor environments that promote their learning across all seven areas. They are confident to make decisions about their play in these settings.
Parent Reviews of Monkeymoos Highdown
5.0
(7)
Natalia Bienias
3 years ago
The best nursery in Reading! Both of my daughters find their place place in the world. (We tried different nurseries also) Staff make sure that children with difficulties feel like everyone else. All struggles feels easy to manage. Every one is very helpful and very kind. Highly recommended.❤️
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M Khan
5 months ago
Our children started attending monkeymoos day nursery, caversham branch in October this year. They love simply love it!!!! drop offs and pick ups are so much fun!!!! Honestly we couldn't have asked for a better caring nursery for our children- the staff are just incredible- Shanice, Gary, Fran are so professional and caring!!!! I would strongly recommend this particular nursery. During Covid crisis, they've kept our children Safe and yet happy:))
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Kenny Cooling
3 years ago
We are so pleased with how our son has settled in! He's always happy to go in and the staff have made him feel so welcome. The communication is excellent and we love hearing how he is getting on throughout the day. The staff have been very supportive and have definitely really helped with our son's development and support We can not recommend it highly enough!
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Liz Sims
7 years ago
Our Daughter has been attending here for a couple of months now and loves it. She’s 2, feisty and can often be found still in her PJ’s with her shoes on demanding to go to ‘Monkeys’. Her learning and development has come on leaps and bounds since attending as well as having lots of fun and making new friends. Staff are amazing, friendly, professional and our Daughter adores them. The nursery itself is fab. New equipment and sooo much to do. We looked at a number of other nurseries in the area and for us this was by far the best. I was a typical anxious mum about leaving her the first few times but I didn’t need to.
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Solar X
3 years ago
Excellent nursery, very accommodating and nothing is too much. Great with SEN, patient and helpful.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Monkeymoos Highdown. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: July 2022
- September 2022Good
- July 2022Good
Frequently asked about Monkeymoos Highdown
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