Cheeky Monkeys

Butterfly cocoons, a mud kitchen and children choosing their own stories give Cheeky Monkeys a recognisable character: practical discovery alongside opportunities to make decisions. These were features of daily life in June 2022, rather than simply a list of activities.

At its June 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. Cheeky Monkeys has capacity for 24 children aged 24 to 60 months, at Westfield County Infant School in York.

In June 2022, children followed the transformation of caterpillars into cocoons, consulted books about butterflies and developed their ideas through drawing and making. Science, conversation and hand control came together in one absorbing subject. The mud kitchen provided another kind of exploration, with children combining earth and water while playing cooperatively.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the June 2022 examples show what that could mean in practice: counting during play, discussing stories and experimenting with writing. Children used pens, scissors and tape, while balancing on crates and climbing low tree branches gave them opportunities to practise larger movements.

Choice had a practical place in the day. In June 2022, children voted for a story and selected songs using picture cards on a song board. Those small decisions gave them a say while requiring them to accept their friends' choices. Books were also accessible for children to explore independently.

In June 2022, children had close relationships with the adults caring for them. Staff exchanged information with parents at collection and drop-off, covering activities and children's developing skills. That made everyday conversation part of the relationship between home and nursery.

At the June 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff identified developmental concerns early, used funding to target support and worked with other professionals, including sharing relevant information with school staff during individual transitions. This is useful detail for families whose child may need additional support: the finding concerned practical coordination, rather than a general promise.

The address is Westfield County Infant School, Askham Lane, Westfield, York, YO24 3HP. Opening hours are 8.35am to 3.05pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays. That calendar matters as much as the daily finishing time for families arranging care around work.

In June 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. This is a dated funding position, rather than a promise of a funded place now.

• Individual next steps. In June 2022, planning did not consistently translate observations into precisely targeted activities for each child. On a visit, ask how observations now shape an individual child's next activities.
• Younger children in group activities. In June 2022, some younger and less-confident children participated less fully than older children in whole-group teaching. This matters for families weighing how much of the day their child spends learning in a large group.
• Term-time calendar. The 3.05pm finish and school-holiday closures suit a school-day routine; families needing care into the evening or through holidays need to account for those boundaries.

Cheeky Monkeys suits families seeking term-time care within a school-day opening window. Its June 2022 strengths were tangible: cooperative outdoor play, children's choices and purposeful conversations with adults. The balancing points concern the precision of individual planning and the youngest children's participation in group teaching. Both deserve attention alongside the Good judgement.