Business Details
Your Trusted Nursery in Hartley Wintney for Early Years Learning
Monkey Puzzle Hartley Wintney is a dedicated nursery and preschool committed to providing exceptional early years education and care. Founded by Cherry and Sue, our team prioritises creating a nurturing, home-from-home environment where children thrive through play, learning, and exploration. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework to deliver a holistic curriculum tailored to each child's unique needs. Our experienced, qualified staff foster confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning through inspiring activities and strong partnerships with families. With two dedicated outdoor spaces and a focus on healthy eating, we ensure children develop physically, socially, and emotionally.Recognised for our warm, professional approach, we have become a trusted choice for families in Hartley Wintney and surrounding areas. Our commitment to continuous improvement is reflected in our regular staff training and development programmes. We take pride in maintaining high standards of care while offering flexible childcare solutions to accommodate working parents. The nursery's inclusive ethos ensures every child feels valued and supported to reach their full potential. By combining structured learning with creative play, we help children build essential life skills and prepare for their next educational steps.
Services
Baby Care
Toddler Programs
Preschool Curriculum
Outdoor Learning
Healthy Meals
Flexible Hours
Highlights and features
- We create a home-from-home environment with dedicated outdoor learning spaces
- Our team follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework with expert care
- We offer inclusive childcare with nutritious meals included in daily fees
- Our staff receive regular professional development and training opportunities
- We maintain strong partnerships with families through regular progress updates
Associations and certifications
- Ofsted
What people say
Loves it everyday
Thrived in this nursery
Staff are brilliant
Confidence grow
Happy environment
Services
Baby Care
Our baby room provides nurturing care for infants from 6 months old. Experienced caregivers create individualised routines for feeding, sleeping, and development. We focus on sensory play and early communication skills while maintaining close parent partnerships. The environment features age-appropriate resources to stimulate curiosity and motor development.
Toddler Programs
Structured activities for toddlers aged 1-2 years promote social skills and independence. Our curriculum includes creative play, music, and movement sessions. Staff guide children through key developmental milestones using positive reinforcement techniques. The space encourages exploration with designated areas for construction, role-play, and physical development.
Preschool Curriculum
Our EYFS-compliant preschool programme prepares children for formal education. Thematic learning combines literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving through play-based activities. Qualified teachers assess progress and provide regular updates to parents. The curriculum includes outdoor learning and community engagement experiences to build confidence and awareness.
Outdoor Learning
Two dedicated outdoor spaces support physical development and environmental awareness. Children engage in gardening, nature walks, and structured sports activities. The areas feature climbing equipment, creative play zones, and natural habitats for observation. Outdoor learning complements classroom activities with hands-on experiences in all weather conditions.
Healthy Meals
Nutritionist-approved menus provide balanced meals and snacks throughout the day. We accommodate dietary requirements while encouraging children to explore new foods. The programme includes breakfast, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, and tea. Staff model healthy eating habits and involve children in food-related learning activities.
People
Cherry
Nursery Owner, Manager & DSL
Cherry oversees daily operations and safeguarding standards. With extensive early years experience, she ensures high-quality care while maintaining a welcoming environment. Her leadership focuses on staff development and family partnerships.
Sue
Nursery Owner and Finance Director
Sue manages financial operations and strategic planning. She brings business expertise to complement the educational mission. Her approach prioritises sustainable growth while maintaining the nursery's core values of care and quality.
Charmaine
Assistant Manager
Charmaine supports nursery operations and staff development. Her background in childcare informs her hands-on approach with children and team mentoring. She implements training programmes to maintain professional standards across all age groups.
Natalie
Deputy Manager
Natalie leads the toddler room and curriculum implementation. As a designated safeguarding lead, she ensures child protection policies are rigorously followed. Her expertise informs daily activities and staff supervision across multiple departments.
Alison
Owls Room Leader
Alison manages the preschool room with qualified teacher status. She specialises in school readiness programmes and child development assessments. Her team leadership ensures smooth transitions to formal education settings for departing children.
Questions
What age groups do you accept?
We care for children from 6 months to 5 years across four dedicated rooms: Hoglets (6-18 months), Hedgehogs (1-2 years), Squirrels (2-3 years), and Owls (3-5 years).
What curriculum do you follow?
Our programme aligns with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, focusing on play-based learning through seven key areas including communication, physical development, and creative arts.
Are meals included in the fees?
Yes, all meals and snacks are provided including breakfast, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, and tea. We offer milk for younger children and accommodate special dietary requirements.
What are your Ofsted ratings?
We maintain an Ofsted registration number EY497493 and consistently achieve high standards in all inspection areas, with recent reports highlighting our caring environment and effective safeguarding practices.
What are your opening hours?
We operate Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 6:30pm, 51 weeks a year, closing only for one week between Christmas and New Year.
Reviews (4)
Chris Hooper
Jun 05, 2019
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The staff have been fantastic since we moved here 6 weeks ago. They have helped or 3 year old settle really quickly, shown care & interest and made us feel very welcome!
Rachael Mason
Jan 03, 2018
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Both my son and daughter attended Monkey Puzzle in Hartley Witney and absolutely loved it. I like the fact that it’s quite a small nursery so has a lovely family feel to it. It didn’t take long for either of my children to settle in. Cherry and Sarah were always very approachable and flexible which really helps as things in life can often change at… the drop of a hat. I would highly recommend Monkey Puzzle to anyone who was looking for an outstanding nursery setting. Thank you for everything you did for us while attending the nursery you’ve been wonderful.
Carolyn Gardner
Sep 14, 2017
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I cannot praise the staff here enough. My son started nursery at 9 months old. I made the decision to send him to nursery in advance of my return to work to give him time to settle as he had always refused to take milk/formula from a bottle and it was an extremely difficult decision. Everyone has gone above and beyond for him and within a short… time he was drinking milk with a straw thanks to the patience of the staff. I cannot describe the relief I felt. Everyone is so caring and welcoming and it is so reassuring to see your child reach out for a cuddle from their key worker. I love receiving
Laura Codd
Jun 10, 2016
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The staff at Monkey Puzzle have been so brilliant and patient helping my 2 year old daughter settle at nursery. The children take part in such a wide range of activities and my daughter always comes home full of news about the new things she has enjoyed doing there. Lovely outside space too.
