Monarchs Childcare

Socks pegged onto a line, flower petals painted and caterpillars watched as they change: small, tangible experiences gave Monarchs Childcare its character in July 2024. At its 19 July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found safeguarding effective.

Based at 88 Bridge Road in Grays, RM17 6BZ, Monarchs accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 48 places in total. Those are whole-nursery places, rather than a room size.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, play connects language, movement, relationships and early mathematical ideas.

In July 2024, babies made sounds with pans and a wooden spoon, while matching socks introduced similarities and differences. Counting blocks brought numbers into play; discussing their shapes and sizes added mathematical vocabulary. These were concrete ways to connect words with things children could handle.

Nature supplied another strand. Children examined caterpillars with magnifying glasses, painted real flower petals and learnt words for flower parts. Mirrors supported self-portraits, while drawing patterns on whiteboards gave children practice with early writing movements.

The garden provided room for crawling and physical play in July 2024. Sand, soil and water offered contrasting materials to explore, and walkers helped babies practise moving upright. Community outings also extended experiences beyond the nursery.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that individual care, close knowledge of children and thoughtfully ordered learning supported their development, with children included equally in experiences.

In July 2024, children could choose a story, decide when to play outdoors and indicate when they wanted a snack. Adults supported turn-taking and negotiation calmly. Everyday independence included putting on shoes and keeping clean: practical learning had a place alongside stories and creative play.

Key-person continuity supported relationships in July 2024, and preparation helped children move between rooms. Staff combined observations with information from parents when planning next steps; regular meetings gave families opportunities to exchange information. Babies' early conversations received patient responses, and some were soothed to sleep outdoors with singing. Parents welcomed the nutritious menu.

Leadership also invested in staff training and wellbeing in July 2024, with practitioners working together and receiving support from managers. That team organisation sat alongside continuity of care for children.

Monarchs opens Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, across the year. It closes for bank holidays and one week at Christmas, so holiday cover needs to accommodate those breaks.

In July 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two-year-old children. This is a dated participation fact rather than a promise of a funded place.

• Attendance planning. The opening window runs from 7am to 7pm on weekdays. Which booking pattern would fit your family's working hours?
• Changes between rooms. In July 2024, preparation for room moves and continuity of key persons were features of care. For families choosing early childcare, these relationships are a useful consideration alongside the activities themselves.

Monarchs suits families seeking weekday childcare with an early opening and late finish, and parents who value practical independence and hands-on exploration. Its July 2024 experiences connected simple materials with language, movement and curiosity. The Outstanding judgement gives that dated picture substantial weight; the Christmas closure remains a practical consideration for working families.