Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross

296 Queens Road, New Cross, London SE14 5JN
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8.1 84 Reviews
  • Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross, London
Monkey Puzzle New Cross is a day nursery in the New Cross Area. It opened in February 2018 and has been building a team of enthusiastic and dedicated staff to give outstanding care to the children and families are welcomed into the Monkey Puzzle family.

The interior provides an enabling and challenging environment for children throughout the nursery while the garden brings an additional classroom and many learning opportunities for all who use it.

Staff would love to show you around the amazing facilities, so why not book in for a viewing to come and visit.

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Care Provided by Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Liesl Hewitt (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 30
  • Total Places for Children
  • 76
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays, 1 week at Christmas & 2 INSET days per year

Funding & Fees Guide for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross

  • £84.00 per day (full time only)
  • Parking

  • Pick up / drop off car parking facilities are available outside the nursery gate. All other visitors can find parking along the road.


Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross Reviews (84)

Total of 84, showing 21-40
8.1

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross has a Review Score of 8.1 (8.066) out of 10, based on 1 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross has 84 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Review from Natalie H (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We've been really pleased with the care that Monkey Puzzle have given our 2 year and 11 month old and would recommend this nursery to other parents.
Our children seem to be actively engaged in a range of age-appropriate activities that they wouldn't necessarily get to enjoy at home - lots of sensory
and messy play. We love hearing the new songs that our 2 year old daughter learns at nursery and then sings to us at home.
We also really enjoy the weekly observations which let us see what our little monkeys have been up to.
Any queries or concerns we've had have always been responded to attentively by management and staff, which has been appreciated especially over the last year with the pandemic.

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Review from Dona G (Mother of Child) published on 17 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We love Monkey Puzzle New Cross! Our daughter joined the explorers classroom at four months and we couldn't be happier.
We find the staff to be very knowledgeable and loving towards the children. Our daughter loves her key person and her eyes sparkle every time she goes to nursery. We find the nursery
to be very organised, with clear updates and communications from management. The staff are really amazing at giving great feedback at the end of the day, whereas the daily online updates are fantastic - especially for new mums that tend to worry like myself. We particularly enjoy the observations coupled with pictures and videos of our daughter clearly having a splendid time at the nursery.
Both my husband and I have recommended other families to join Monkey Puzzle New Cross and they are equally satisfied. We feel very lucky to have such a lovely nursery in the area!

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Review from Sophie B (Mother of Child) published on 13 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Lovely setting. The nursery staff are so caring and so supportive. It has been challenging for them especially throughout the last year but they have surpassed all expectation on how to manage the situation and continue to support all the little ones with as much care and attention as needed.

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Review from A C (Mother of Child) published on 11 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery team have been incredible in supporting us as a family and making our sons transition to nursery as smooth and supportive as possible in Covid times. The support feels very human and reassuring at every step. The management team were even flexible with a change in start date due to personal
circumstances which was so appreciated at a stressful time.
The settling in has been personalised to our son's needs and every care is given to making him and us feel secure. It’s wonderful to see the little steps of progress in a short time and to have him run out the door in paint and mud from a fun day of activities. We have had no hesitation in deciding to enrol our baby daughter for this coming September based on what we have experienced to date.

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Review from Winnie I (Mother of Child) published on 10 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter is now 3 years old and has been at Monkey Puzzle since she was 1. She started off as a shy little girl to now a confident little person who loves seeing her friends and teachers on her nursery days. Our 5-year-old son was also a 'graduate' of Monkey Puzzle and we feel very lucky to have
found such a great team of people to help our children grow and develop. The carers are very engaging and we love seeing the daily reports on the app. I hope our little girl will also get to do the extracurricular activities our son got to do pre-COVID times such as going to the theatre and visiting the fire station; and having the weekly music and sports lessons. We also miss the summer and Christmas parties!

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Review from Carey B (Mother of Child) published on 10 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

So far we've had a positive experience with Monkey Puzzle. Our daughter is still settling in, but she has already started to form attachments to her key carer and some of the other adults in the explorer's room. She seems happy and sometimes even excited to be at nursery, and we are very pleased with
her relationship with her key person.
We also love the range of activities that are available to her at Monkey Puzzle, and that she is getting experiences that we could not provide at home.
As she has not completely settled into her new routine yet, her naps are not great and she is still not eating a lot at nursery. We understand that this is part of settling into a new routine, but we wish there was more clear communication at the end of the day regarding things like eating and sleeping. The learning journal is very helpful, but it does not always give us the full picture of her day.

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Review from E L (Mother of Child) published on 10 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Very friendly staff. My daughter seems happy going there and I can tell she has learnt things such as counting and new songs when she comes home. We really like the photos of her at nursery as we cannot go inside to see how she is doing due to covid.

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Review from Joey G (Father of Child) published on 10 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Overall, I feel like my daughter is getting a great deal out of Monkey Puzzle. She goes twice a week and will have a full day's worth of activities on both days. She recently stopped having naps, and often comes home very tired, which to me is a positive sign. Her speech and vocabulary have developed
leaps and bounds which I attribute to the nursery.
The staff typically give a condensed report of my daughter's day when I pick her up in the evenings and are super friendly and professional. Monkey Puzzle have a website where they publish a report of your child in much more detail. The website framework could benefit from some modernising but otherwise serves its purpose.
The management team give regular reports about the business and any activities that will take place in the coming months. They also report any illnesses in each room and what to do in those events.
I'd also like to say that Monkey Puzzle has been fantastic and very supportive during the pandemic.

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Review from Rebecca W (Mother of Child) published on 6 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our two boys have been so happy at Monkey Puzzle over the last 2 years. The staff are kind, happy, and nurturing and the nursery is run well with great correspondence between parents and management. Our children have learnt lots and enjoy visiting the local park on trips out.

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Review from Avninder G (Mother of Child) published on 6 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We love the attention and care given to our daughter at Monkey Puzzle. The nursery has always been receptive to our daughter's needs; diet, sleeping pattern, personal circumstances. We have found them to be really caring and understanding.
My daughter also loves attending the nursery and has many
friends from there!
She's also developing so much with the range of activities offered at the nursery.

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Review from Hannah H (Mother of Child) published on 5 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We feel so fortunate that this is our closest nursery, the staff go out of their way to really know us as a family and they care for our children with such energy, kindness and humour! How lucky we are.

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Review from Jayne A (Mother of Child) published on 5 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are very happy with our Monkey Puzzle experience. Our daughter has attended two of the rooms and enjoyed herself greatly in both. We’ve been impressed by the nursery leadership, particularly through Covid, and the room staff who go to such lengths to plan activities and keep the children engaged.
The staff retention has been great which really helps to build a bond and the key worker system works very well. Staff have shown such love and care towards our daughter, and we really value their updates in person and through the learning journal. We are happily sending our son this autumn to begin his own adventures!

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Review from Demi C (Mother of Child) published on 5 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My son has been attending Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross for 5 months now. At first, he was a little unsettled (which is normal as it's such a big transition) but now he walks straight in without looking back, which is so nice to see and puts my mind at ease.
My son's keyworker is so friendly
and nice to talk too, always has smile on his face and my son is always so happy to see him.
When my son first started the nursery, his speech was very limited the staff and management spotted this straight away and were so helpful and willing to support me with his speech as soon as he started. - After 'Zoom meetings' and clear communication with his key worker and management my son's speech has come a long way, he is becoming more vocal and is really trying to communicate much more - I can see such great progression and improvement with his development.
- I would highly recommend it.

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Review from Nicholas J (Father of Child) published on 5 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross is a fantastic nursery!
Our daughter has been attending for nearly a year, we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been able to secure a place for her. She started in the room for the younger children around age one and at about 16 months moved to the middle.
There is a third room for the older children getting ready to start school.
The carers providing the childcare deserve the most praise - they are extremely professional, coupled with warmth and smiles that seems boundless. For our family (as for all families!) our daughter's safety is number one priority, we continue to be very impressed with the management structure within the nursery. The systems, checks and balances that are in place seem to be rock solid and fully understandable.
Being part of a wider group, and then part of a smaller group under the same ownership - provides depth to the quality of care and ensures greater accountability.
Lastly, it's fun! Our daughter loves it!

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Review from Kate S (Mother of Child) published on 5 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We absolutely love Monkey Puzzle, as does our son.
He’s been there since September 2020 and after settling in brilliantly he’s been happy ever since.
The staff are all brilliant, he loves his key workers and if he’s ever had a wobble when he goes in the staff proactively contact us to let us know
he’s ok.
They do a ton of activities and we get a detailed daily review as well as a weekly journal and photos.
We can’t fault it and wouldn’t change it for the world!

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Review from Rosie S (Mother of Child) published on 3 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We love Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross. All the staff are warm and welcoming. My son has made friends and has definitely become more social and improved his communication. The online diaries are a nice way to see what they get up to and the communication we get as parents from management is great.
One thing I particularly like about the nursery is how they embrace culture and diversity in the events they do and meals they eat. Overall, I think it's a great environment for him to flourish in. One hundred percent recommend. Our experience has been through a pandemic so can't comment on what it is usually like with trips.

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Review from Louis M (Father of Child) published on 3 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross has been great for us and our child especially during the pandemic. Our daughter loves coming to nursery now and is developing really well since she started. The staff have been great and it's very reassuring to know our child enjoys her time with her friends at Monkey
Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross.

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Review from C O'NM (Mother of Child) published on 3 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My eldest son joined Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross when it first opened. He was one years old and now he is four. Its been an amazing experience, I am so pleased with the service provided by the nursery. The staff are excellent, my son has had a great bond with all of his key practitioners as
he has progressed through the nursery over the past three years. Everything down to the nutritional food to the excellent teaching is what has made my experience at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross so great. It really does feel like a community, the staff and management are so welcoming and supportive to both the children and their families. My youngest son is now age one and he has also joined the nursery. The settling in period was excellent, especially as this was during the pandemic and he was not used to socialising but the staff helped him to build his confidence and he is now a social butterfly.

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Review from I D (Mother of Child) published on 3 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Sending my child to nursery so I can return to work has absolutely been made easier by Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross. My one-year-old has settled in incredibly quickly and is always happy to see the staff in the mornings. It's a pleasure to have such friendly, enthusiastic people looking after
my child. Despite not being able to go inside the building due to Covid-19 I feel confident that I know what's happened every day and always feel well-informed both by the direct carers and the management team.

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Review from Camille HO (Mother of Child) published on 3 May 2021
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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am extremely happy with our experience. The office team are extremely diligent, friendly and helpful. The carers are amazing, knowledgable, caring and kind. I have been so impressed with the level of service we have received and with the teams help in settling in my little one. I would not hesitate
in recommending the nursery.

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Current Review Score: 8.1 (8.066)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.1 (8.066) out of 10 for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 1 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.1 out of 5 from 1 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 5.000 for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross is calculated as follows: ( (12 Excellents x 5) ) ÷ 12 Ratings = 5

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 3.066 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery New Cross is based on 1 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 = 3

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 76 number of registered child places is 15.2. 1 Positive Reviews ÷ 15.2 = 0.066

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Meet the Team (2)

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Jon

Job Title: Director

Joined: 2018

Jon, Director


There are two things in life that are very close to my heart – family and education. As an Uncle and Godfather, I enjoy spending time with my nephews, seeing them learn and develop, whilst supporting their growth within a loving family unit. I am recently married and very much enjoying this new aspect of my life, looking forward to the future and all it holds.


Education is my other passion in life and having completed a Law degree I felt it was right to carry on my own education completing a post graduate degree in Education with a particular focus on the Early Years Sector.
During my studies, I worked within a number of OFSTED GOOD and OUTSTANDING settings including our sister nursery Monkey Puzzle Bromley. Working in a variety of settings has given me an excellent understanding of what an OUTSTANDING nursery looks like which is what I am striving to achieve here at New Cross.


I have also worked within local New Cross Primary Schools gaining experience in preparing children for school and also building links with teachers and principals. This is a valuable experience I will be bringing into our Preschool Room to ensure that every child that leaves us is confident, sure of their value and ready to face the challenges of Primary School.


Having lived in New Cross for 13 years I have lots of local knowledge and a real passion for the community the nursery will be a part of. There is a lot of history in New Cross which we will share with the children as we aim to enhance and develop the future of education in the area as well as demonstrating to them their role and place within their community.


Monkey Puzzle New Cross hopes to be an agent of change in the community bringing innovative and creative ideas to the areas of education and childcare. We aim to be an OUTSTANDING nursery, caring for local children and their families in the New Cross area.


I am incredibly excited about this new venture and I hope you will join with us as we grow into an influential part of your community.


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Liesl

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2018

“A teacher plants the seeds of knowledge sprinkles them with love and patiently nurtures their growth to produce tomorrow’s dreams”


I hold a Bachelors of Education Foundation Stage degree, Quality Teacher Status and qualifications in Business Administration and Management. I have worked within the Education system since 2007 and the managerial sector of Early Years since 2011.


I have a working knowledge of how to support children with special educational needs in the classroom as well as co-ordinating with outside agencies to ensure the individual needs of all our children are met.


As a mother of a 3 year old, I can relate to parents on the day to day joys of life with a little one and value the importance of ensuring every child receives the best OUTSTANDING childcare they deserve.


I believe children learn best through play, especially play focused on their interests, engaging their imagination and expanding their knowledge of the world. Creating and extending opportunities for this type of learning has always been my passion and I take great pride in supporting my team to educate our children in this way. I believe encouraging children to be confident, independent and full of self-worth is key to giving them a firm foundation on which to build their future.


It is an honour and privilege to care for your children and play an active role in their learning and development. Thank you for trusting your little ones to us and I am really looking forward welcoming you all into our Monkey Puzzle New Cross family.


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