Here at Monkey Puzzle Catford we have split the nursery into four main areas:

Tinies

Our non mobile babies benefit from the large, bright, open plan day room, well equipped with the latest in sensory equipment to test their senses and encourage development.  As babies spend a lot of time sleeping at this early age, we provide a dedicated sleep room. We constantly monitor the temperature to ensure the babies are comfortable and we monitor the children at all times.  As a golden rule, there will never be more than three babies to any one member of staff so you can be assured that your little one will get the essential attention they need at this stage in their life.  Your child’s key person will take care of all your child’s personal needs whenever possible.

Tweenies

The Tweenies room is for children aged 1-2 years with the day structured around their changing interests.  The room is very well appointed with outstanding levels of equipment, allowing your child to discover at their individual level of understanding.  The room focuses on the primary area’s of the ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ framework and encourages learning through play. There are various dedicated areas offering different activities. The ‘Story Corner’ where Tweenies can sit in a group and listen to stories. A sand and water play area, a construction area to develop coordination and a messy play area for painting and generally getting rather messy. Tweenies also benefit from a staffing ratio of one member of staff looking after no more than three children. The Tweenies also have supervised access to our fantastic garden.

Toddlers

The Toddler room also benefits from a number of dedicated areas. There is a creative area, a reading corner, circle time and a home corner for lots of role play. As this is the time when the majority of children start ‘toilet training’, the toddlers room is equipped with brightly decorated children’s toilets, encouraging independence. Our unique garden is fully equipped with an impact absorbing surface and lots of outside equipment designed to encourage coordination and balance.

Pre School

School children also follow the ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’. We support them and prepare them for their eventual move to school. This is a more settled routine, with children working in small groups. Through our observations of children learning through play, we are able to introduce adult led activities that follow the interest of individual children, linking them to the seven areas of learning:

• communication and language
• physical development
• personal social and emotional development
• literacy
• mathematics
• understanding of the world
• expressive arts and design

The children have open access to the garden every day (free flow) from their room and complete a lot of their daily activities outside through choice. The garden also reflect the areas of learning and allows problem solving on a grander scale.

All our children get the opportunity to go on local educational trips, and whether it be to the local shops or places of interest we always risk assess our outings and ensure that ratios are adhered to.  We also invite the local emergency services to come in and talk to the children about safety awareness and how to use the phone in an emergency.

If you would like to come in for a visit, please get in touch.