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Use the search bar below to quickly find answers to common questions about our nursery, from fees and funding to daily routines, nutrition, and more.
Popular Questions
Here are some of the questions we’re often asked by parents.
At Monkey Puzzle West Kensington we accept babies from the age of three months to two years old.
We support early child development through a rich, play-based curriculum rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Our experienced and passionate team creates engaging, age-appropriate activities that help babies and toddlers grow across all key areas of development, communication and language, physical development, and personal, social, and emotional development.
We believe in the power of play as the foundation for learning. From sensory exploration and messy play to music, stories, and mark-making, every experience is designed to encourage curiosity, confidence, and essential early skills. Our key person approach ensures each child receives individual attention, with learning tailored to their unique interests and developmental needs.
In a safe, nurturing environment, your child will be supported to explore, discover, and thrive, giving them the very best start on their early learning journey.
Yes, at Monkey Puzzle West Kensington, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which is designed to support the development and learning of children from birth to age five. The EYFS framework focuses on key areas of child development, including communication and language, physical development, personal, social, and emotional development, and literacy and numeracy.
Our curriculum is built around the principles of play-based learning, ensuring that children learn in a fun, engaging, and supportive environment. Each child’s individual needs and interests are considered, allowing us to create tailored learning experiences that promote curiosity, confidence, and creativity. By following the EYFS guidelines, we ensure that every child receives the best start to their early education, setting a solid foundation for their future learning and development.
To protect your child and the other children in the nursery, we do have a full list of exclusion periods, which the nursery manager will be able to provide you with. These can vary from 24 hours up to 2/3 weeks, depending on the seriousness of the symptoms. We use the guidance from UK Health Security agency which can be found on the gov.uk website.
You will receive verbal feedback in person each time you collect your child from Nursery. In addition, we will arrange meetings with you, typically every three months, to discuss your child’s progress. However, you are welcome to request more frequent meetings if you wish.
We also use the Famly app, where we regularly upload observations and information about your child’s daily routines.
We encourage you to share any new developments or milestones you’ve observed at home so we can work together to consistently support your child’s growth and development at Nursery.
We create a warm and welcoming environment where families can receive additional support with completing admission forms and other important documents. We also value and celebrate cultural diversity and encourage parents to share aspects of their culture within the nursery setting. This helps foster a sense of belonging and enriches the experiences of all children.
An appointed EAL coordinator will record each child’s use of their home language, preferences, and communication skills upon entry to the setting. The coordinator will also carry out regular observations to monitor progress and ensure that each child continues to develop.
We recognise that continued use of home languages, both at home and in the nursery, supports children’s overall learning, including the development of English. Learning opportunities are carefully planned to help children build their English language skills while actively participating in all areas of learning.
Support may include:
- Building on children’s experiences of language at home and in the wider community by providing a range of opportunities to use their home languages so that their developing use of English and other languages support one another
- Providing opportunities for children to engage in speaking and listening activities in English with both peers and adults
- Ensuring all children have opportunities to recognise and take pride in their home languages
- Offering bilingual support to extend vocabulary and deepen understanding
- Including a variety of written materials in both home languages and English, such as books, labels, and notices
- Providing opportunities for children to hear their home languages as well as English, for example through audio and video materials
Our aim is to ensure that every child feels understood, supported, and confident as they grow in both their home language and English.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, we understand that potty training is a significant milestone in your child’s development. If you or our team feel that your child is ready to begin this process, we will work closely with you to plan the most supportive and consistent approach.
Potty training typically starts at home, where your child feels most comfortable. Once the process has begun, we will continue the routine at our West Kensington nursery to help reinforce the learning and ensure a smooth transition between home and nursery.
We know that young children can become deeply engaged in play and may occasionally have accidents during the early stages of potty training. To support your child effectively, we kindly ask that you provide plenty of spare clothes and underwear to keep at the nursery.
At Monkey Puzzle West Kensington, we aim to work in partnership with parents to support every stage of your child’s growth, including important milestones like potty training.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, we understand the importance of a consistent and comforting sleep routine for young children. We will follow your child’s individual sleep schedule as closely as possible. However, please note that this routine may naturally adjust over time due to the structure of the nursery day and your child’s ongoing developmental needs.
We provide cots for children under the age of one and sleep mats for older children to ensure a safe and restful sleep environment. Clean sheets and blankets are provided by the nursery, but you are very welcome to supply your own bedding if you prefer something familiar for your child.
Supporting your child’s rest and wellbeing is a key part of their day at Monkey Puzzle West Kensington, and we are always happy to discuss any changes to their sleep needs with you.
If a child becomes unwell during the nursery day, we will contact their parent or carer and ask for the child to be collected as soon as possible. While waiting to be picked up, the child will be cared for in a quiet and calm area by their Key Person, ensuring they feel safe and comforted.
The Nursery Manager will assess whether a child is well enough to attend nursery if they are showing signs of illness. This decision is made at the Manager’s discretion and will be based on the child’s overall demeanour and whether they are able to take part in daily activities.
Our priority is always the health and wellbeing of all children and staff, and we appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe and healthy environment.
All accidents are carefully recorded, and you will be informed and asked to sign an accident form, which we will keep on file for your child’s safety and our records.
In the case of any head injuries, we will contact you immediately, closely monitor your child throughout the day, and provide updates as needed.
In the very unlikely event that your child requires medical attention, we will contact you immediately to inform you and seek your advice before taking any further action.
Before your child starts at the nursery, you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. This helps us create a personalised care plan to meet your child’s specific needs.
For children requiring long-term medication, you will need to complete the relevant paperwork before we can administer any medication or creams as needed.
For all medication prescribed by a UK registered GP or medical practitioner, even if your child has taken it before, you must keep your child at home for the first 24 hours after the initial dose. This is to ensure they do not have any adverse reactions.
Once your child’s symptoms have improved and they are well enough to return to nursery, we can continue administering the minimum required dose of medication, provided the necessary paperwork has been completed.
We do not expect you to hold a degree to work in our nurseries. However, for unqualified positions, some Early Years experience is expected. For qualified roles, a relevant qualification such as an NVQ or BTEC in Early Years is required.
The SENDCO role is vital in ensuring the best possible educational outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Practitioners with a Level 3 qualification or above may be considered for this role. If you are interested, please express your interest to the leadership team.
Many of our nurseries offer apprenticeships that enable you to gain a Level 2 or Level 3 childcare qualification while gaining valuable hands-on experience. These apprenticeships provide a great pathway into an Early Years career.
You can learn more about our apprenticeship programmes and how to apply by visiting our website: Monkey Puzzle Apprenticeships.
Working in childcare is more than just a job. It is an opportunity to make a real difference in children’s early experiences and education. The early years sector is one of the most rewarding and dynamic fields, where no two days are the same. If you have a passion for working with children and a strong commitment to keeping them safe, a career in childcare could be the perfect fit for you.
While your child will be cared for within their age group, it is important that we also meet their individual needs. Each child is assigned a Key Person whose role is to take special responsibility for their care and education during their time at the nursery.
Young children learn best through play, so their activities are planned around their individual interests and needs. This approach ensures they continue to learn and develop while engaging with their favourite toys, games, and experiences.
All children have access to the outdoor area(s) every day. Therefore, we ask that you provide weather-appropriate outdoor clothing throughout the year.
Early Years Practitioners spend most of their day supporting children’s learning and delivering the curriculum. Working within age group rooms, they engage with children through play, helping them develop and grow as they explore the world around them through both guided and child-led activities.
Our Practitioners work closely under the guidance of senior staff. Together, they provide the highest level of care and education for all children attending our nurseries. Following our curriculum and guidelines, they ensure every child is safe, learning, and enjoying their time with us.
A nursery provides a structured and educational environment similar to a school, with carefully planned curricula that support children’s cognitive and social development. Accredited nurseries like Monkey Puzzle offer children a sense of stability and routine.
In a day nursery, children also benefit from interacting with a larger and more diverse group of peers, which helps to enhance their social skills. These settings provide excellent learning materials and play spaces designed to cater to a wide range of interests.
Additionally, day nurseries meet strict regulatory standards to ensure safety and high-quality care. This makes them a great choice for parents looking for a formal early education environment that prepares their child for school while offering plenty of opportunities for social interaction and overall development.
A pre-school offers a more structured early years learning programme than a nursery alone, focusing on preparing children for the transition to school. It introduces key academic skills such as phonics, early reading, writing, and basic mathematics to give children a strong foundation before they start formal schooling.
At Monkey Puzzle, our Room Leaders work directly within the rooms to support inspiring learning experiences while collaborating closely with both the nursery team and management.
By bridging the gap between children and management, Room Leaders provide strong professional leadership to their room teams, ensuring every child receives the highest possible standards of care and education.
The SENCO role involves ensuring that all practitioners in the setting understand their responsibilities towards children with SEND and the setting’s approach to identifying and meeting those needs. The SENCO advises and supports colleagues, ensures parents are actively involved and that their insights shape the support provided, and liaises with external professionals and agencies to coordinate additional assistance.
The majority of our staff hold NVQ qualifications, and all team members receive training in paediatric first aid, food safety and hygiene, fire awareness, and safeguarding children. Additionally, staff undertake further training tailored to their specific roles and responsibilities to ensure the highest standards of care and safety.
Above all, working with children requires the right skills and mindset. A career in childcare is incredibly rewarding but can also present challenges, so it’s important to be well-equipped to handle whatever comes your way with confidence and ease. Here are some of the most essential skills for nursery professionals:
Communication
Since much of your time will be spent with children, colleagues, and parents, strong communication skills are vital. This means actively listening—especially as young children are still developing their communication abilities and may need extra support. Nursery staff excel at attentive listening, asking the right questions, and making children feel supported. Effective communication also includes collaborating smoothly with colleagues and engaging in open, constructive conversations with parents about their child’s growth and development.
Empathy
Young children often express strong emotions and may find socialising challenging. Empathy is crucial for understanding these experiences and adapting interactions accordingly. Nursery professionals use empathy to handle occasional conflicts fairly and sensitively, helping maintain a positive and nurturing environment for all children.
Creativity
Young children have short attention spans and thrive on play and fun rather than formal learning. Creativity allows nursery staff to design and deliver engaging, play-based activities that encourage learning and keep children interested and motivated.
Patience
Every child develops at their own pace, often needing time and gentle encouragement to complete tasks or stay focused. Patience is essential for nursery workers to remain positive and supportive, no matter how long it takes for a child to progress.
If you have any concerns, please speak with your child’s Key Person or the Nursery Manager. If the issue is not resolved through a verbal discussion, you are encouraged to put your concern in writing. Once received, the Nursery Manager is obliged to investigate the matter as a formal complaint. They will then respond to you in writing with the outcome. All complaints are also recorded in the nursery’s complaints file for transparency and ongoing review.
To make changes to your booking patterns, please arrange this directly with the Nursery Manager. While we do our best to accommodate requests, availability will determine what is possible. Please note that any adjustments may affect your monthly fees.
Monthly fees are calculated by multiplying the daily fee rate by the number of days your child attends each week, then multiplying by 52 weeks, and dividing by 12 months. This ensures your monthly fee remains consistent, making budgeting and planning easier.
If your child joins or leaves partway through a month and does not attend for the full month, fees for that month will be based on the actual number of days attended.
One month’s written notice is required.
We accept payments via Direct Debit, credit or debit cards, BACS transfers, childcare vouchers, and the government’s Tax-Free Childcare scheme. Payments can also be made online through our website using the secure online payments option.
Yes, you can cancel your place provided you give one month’s written notice and your account is up to date with no outstanding balance.
Every child living in England is entitled to Universal Funding from the term after their third birthday. This is commonly known as the “15 hours” entitlement. Nurseries can claim this funding for 38 weeks of the year (term time), which equates to 570 hours annually. No eligibility code is needed—just proof of your child’s date of birth.
There are specific rules about how the 15-hour and 30-hour funding can be applied. You should expect to pay for any additional hours your child attends, as well as for meals, drinks, nappies, trips, and other consumables.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries, we understand that term-time only hours may not suit all families’ needs. That’s why we stretch the funding across the 51 weeks we are open. This approach aims to support your family life and budgeting by allowing you to pay a consistent monthly nursery fee.
Please note that funding arrangements may vary between nurseries. For more information about the funding specific to your child’s nursery, please speak with your Nursery Management Team.
If your child is absent from the nursery, the daily fee will still apply as usual.
In the UK, the government has announced an expansion of free childcare. From April 2024, eligible working parents will receive 15 free hours for two-year-olds. Starting September 2024, 15 free hours will also be available from the age of nine months. For more information, visit: Childcare Choices.
Due to children’s allergies, we must be extremely vigilant about the foods prepared and served at the nursery. For this reason, we do not allow food to be brought in from outside.
Our nurseries have on-site chefs who prepare three nutritious meals and two delicious snacks each day. We use seasonal menus to ensure your little ones enjoy the freshest and healthiest food during their time at nursery.
As part of your registration, you will be asked to confirm if your child has any dietary requirements, including allergies and preferences. If your child has an allergy, we will complete a care plan and risk assessment to ensure their safety.
We operate a traffic light catering system: children with allergies receive meals on a red plate, those with dietary preferences (such as vegetarian) are served on a yellow plate, and children without restrictions receive meals on a green plate.
A list of all children’s dietary requirements is kept in both the kitchen and all playrooms to ensure staff are fully informed.
For formula feeding, please provide sterilised bottles along with your child’s preferred formula, pre-measured in portable formula dispenser pots. For expressed breast milk (EBM), please provide it in sterilised bottles.
We offer a varied four-week rotating menu that is nutritionally balanced, with a daily vegetarian option available. We understand that children can be fussy eaters and may not always enjoy every meal. Offering a varied diet helps introduce children to different flavours and textures, encouraging healthy eating habits and ensuring they receive a wide range of essential nutrients for their growth and development.
You’re welcome to call the nursery at any time or drop us an email if that’s more convenient. We’re also happy to send you photos to reassure you that your child is happy and enjoying their day.
The day your child starts nursery might feel like it’s come around sooner than expected — and it’s completely normal to feel a little unprepared. While planning ahead is helpful, we’re here to support you and make this transition as smooth as possible.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a simple checklist of everything your child may need to feel comfortable and settled in those early days:
What to Pack for Nursery – A Parent’s Checklist
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, we’re open 51 weeks of the year to provide consistent, high-quality childcare for busy families. Our nursery is closed on all Bank Holidays and for one week during the Christmas period.
We understand the importance of reliable childcare in West Kensington, which is why our opening schedule is designed to support working parents while providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your little one all year round.
Extra sessions can be arranged directly with the Nursery Manager at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington. While we always do our best to accommodate these requests, availability will depend on current staffing levels and the number of spaces on your chosen day.
For the most up-to-date availability and to request an extra session, please contact the nursery team directly.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, we do not follow traditional school half terms. Our nursery is open 51 weeks of the year, providing consistent, year-round childcare to support working families.
We are only closed on Bank Holidays and for one week during the Christmas period, ensuring minimal disruption to your childcare needs.
Once you decide to join Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, you will be given a Registration Pack. When you’re ready to proceed, simply return the completed Registration Form to us.
To secure your child’s place, we will then ask you to pay a non-refundable Registration Fee. This confirms your booking and ensures your space is reserved.
Choosing the right nursery for your child can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s the first time you’re leaving them in the care of someone outside your family or close friends. It’s a big decision, and getting it right matters not only for your peace of mind but also for your child’s early development and future readiness for school.
Our first piece of advice: shop around. Even if the first day nursery you visit seems perfect, it’s worth exploring a few more to truly understand what’s available in your area.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, we’re confident that once you visit and experience our nurturing environment, high-quality facilities, and dedicated approach to early years education, you’ll feel reassured about registering your child with us. Still, we fully encourage you to make an informed choice because finding the right fit for you and your child is what matters most.
Sending your child to nursery doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By understanding your child’s unique needs and working closely with nursery staff, you can help make the transition smooth and positive for both of you.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, we’re here to support every step of the way. Discover helpful tips and guidance on how to help your child feel safe, happy, and confident in their new nursery environment.
Ofsted inspects all early years providers registered on the Early Years Register at least once within a six-year window. For newly registered providers, Ofsted prioritises the first inspection, which is typically carried out within 30 months of the registration date.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Kensington, we welcome these inspections as part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care and education.
Our setting and baby room team work closely with parents at every stage of the weaning process to ensure it is a positive and enjoyable experience for both babies and parents.
We always recommend that new foods are first introduced at home to monitor for any allergies or intolerances before they are offered at nursery.
As part of your registration, we ask for emergency contacts in addition to your child’s primary carers. You will confirm whether these contacts are authorised to collect your child without prior consent. However, we will always contact you first to confirm collection arrangements.
For added security, we request a unique password for anyone collecting your child who is not a primary carer. Anyone other than the primary carers must provide photo ID and confirm this security password upon collection.
Additionally, some of our nurseries ask for photos of all authorised collectors to be kept securely on your child’s file as an extra precaution.
If you anticipate being late to collect your child, please contact the nursery as soon as possible. If you have not informed us prior to your late arrival, we will first try to contact the child’s primary carers.
If we cannot reach the primary carers, we will then attempt to contact the emergency contacts provided.
If after one hour we are unable to reach any authorised contacts, we have a duty of care to inform Social Services to ensure your child’s safety.
Ofsted is a non-ministerial department of the UK government responsible for inspecting and regulating services that provide education and skills for learners of all ages. They also oversee services that care for children and young people to ensure high standards are maintained.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries, children begin their preschool journey at the age of three, where we focus on preparing them for a confident transition to school. To learn more about what our Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries have to offer you and your family, find your nearest nursery using our nursery search page.
Please dress your child in clothes that you don’t mind getting messy. Despite our efforts to keep children’s clothes protected with bibs and aprons, accidents do happen. We recommend bringing a set of spare clothes, as well as weather-appropriate items like coats and wellies, which can be left at the nursery for convenience.
There is no set age to start nursery, but we welcome children from as young as 3 months up to 5 years old.
No, nursery education is not compulsory in the UK. Your child is required to start full-time education once they reach the compulsory school age.
