Cheeky Monkeys Day Nursery

Ducklings in the park, action songs and yoga give Cheeky Monkeys Day Nursery’s April 2022 account its character: children explored ideas through movement, conversation and play. Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 12 April 2022. That judgement provides a dated assessment rather than a description of today’s daily routines.

On Elstree Way in Borehamwood, the nursery has capacity for 85 children and accepts children aged three months to five years. Its weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6.30pm.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care: play supports communication, physical development and growing independence. In April 2022, a park visit prompted conversations about ducklings and their life cycle; children then explored related ideas through animal pictures and their choice of craft materials. An interest outdoors became something to discuss and create indoors.

Movement also featured in April 2022. Yoga gave children opportunities to stretch and balance, while younger children joined action songs using gestures and simple signs. Role-play traffic lights prompted children to explain their ideas and organise a game together. These examples show the different ways children could participate, through words, movement or imaginative play.

Outdoor exploration included looking for insects and worms in April 2022. However, learning opportunities outside needed extending for children who preferred that environment. Enjoying outdoor play and having sufficiently developed outdoor learning were separate issues.

At its April 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and assessed progress for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities positively, supported by collaboration between staff, families and other professionals.

In April 2022, children mixed with staff and children from other rooms, helping make room changes familiar. Staff also listened to children’s ideas and supplied early-reading packs for use at home. Those arrangements connected nursery experiences with family life.

Health routines needed more consistency in April 2022. Children took part in an activity about thorough handwashing, but staff did not consistently put the nursery’s agreed health and hygiene procedures into everyday practice. The issue was translating an activity into a dependable habit.

The address is Elstree Way, Borehamwood, WD6 1JU. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In April 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This describes its funding provision at that time.

• Outdoor learning. Extending opportunities outside was an April 2022 improvement point. Families whose children prefer outdoor play should give this part of the provision particular attention.
• Everyday hygiene. More consistent health routines were also required in April 2022. The practical issue was carrying learning about hygiene through into daily habits.
• Attendance pattern. The weekday opening window extends from 7.30am to 6.30pm. At a visit, which booking pattern would fit your child’s routine within those hours?

Cheeky Monkeys suits families seeking weekday childcare in Borehamwood, with an opening window that accommodates an early start or later finish. Its April 2022 assessment offers concrete examples of learning through conversation, movement and play, balanced by clear improvement points around outdoor learning and daily hygiene. Those details give families useful priorities for judging the nursery’s present provision.