Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

The Old Granary, Units 4 and 5 Church Farm, Astwick Nr Stotfold, Hitchin SG5 4BH
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10 82 Reviews
  • Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick, Hitchin
Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick opened in September 2019, and is built in a newly refurbished barn which is located in beautiful countryside in the hamlet of Astwick, right next door to the historic church of St Guthlac. It is an area of both historic and natural beauty where regular outings are arranged so children can freely explore nature to aid their learning and awareness of their surroundings.

There are dedicated rooms for various age ranges and each room reflects the seven areas of learning, as prescribed in the Early Years Foundation Stage. There is free-flow access all year round to a purpose-built garden where children can continue their learning but more importantly have fun, jumping in the sandpit or making mud pie in the mud kitchen!

Care Provided by Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

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

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Natasha Moniz (Owner/Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 40
  • Total Places for Children
  • 105
  • 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 & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

  • Age: 3 months - 2 years:
    Full day: £82.00
    Half day: £50.00


    Age: 2 years - 5 years:
    Full day: £71.50
    Half day: £42.50


  • Please see our website for more information.


  • Parking
  • There is free parking on site for nursery drop off & pick up.


Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick Reviews (82)

Total of 82, showing 21-40
10

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick has a Review Score of 10 (9.969) out of 10, based on 22 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick has 82 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We first looked round Monkey Puzzle Astwick in January 2020, just 4 months after it first opened and got ‘that feeling’. It just felt right.
Since then our little girl has thrived at every stage and in every room. She started at 13 months and is now almost 4 - and we wouldn’t have changed anything
in that time. The amount of time they spend outside is incredible, the staff are amazing and build relationships with each and every child, and the food goes down well too!
When we had our second baby, there was no doubt in our minds that he had to go to Monkey Puzzle Astwick. Why would we go anywhere else?!
(Although being based on a farm, If you want them to come home clean every night, this probably isn’t the nursery for you!)

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for your amazing review! It’s great to hear you have loved having your daughter with us, and to hear that she’s happy with the chef’s home-cooked meals! I will be sure to let her know! We do pride ourselves on building strong bonds with all our children and capitalising on our beautiful outdoor environment, so thank you for your comments on this. I do agree, the farm isn’t the best place to keep clean, so if you’re not keen on mud - we probably are not the best choice of nursery! We do try and clean them up, change clothes but mud does make a mess! Apologies for this, but it’s a sign of a good day! We can’t wait to have the baby join us too, it’s lovely to have so many siblings joining us now.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick since July 2022, and we are so happy to have found such a great nursery. The staff are kind and caring, communication is great, and I honestly have peace of mind that my daughter is being well cared for, supported in her development and
loves attending! We receive regular progress updates on how she is progressing in her development, and there are always objectives and areas of focus. This is an excellent nursery. Thank you!

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you so much for taking the time to review us. It is lovely to hear that your child is thriving with us and you have found us to be an excellent nursery in aiding her care and development, our staff and our communication. It really does mean so much to us to hear your views, and I will be sure to share this with the team. Thank you!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Monkey Puzzle provides a safe and caring environment for our child and one where she can learn, develop and grow. They operate in a modern facility and take the children out into the fields exploring nature and developing their understanding even further.
We have been in two classes and the staff
in each have been brilliant including those in the Admin office. Continually met with a smile at drop off and pick up and they always take the time to provide feedback or ask how they have been. The staff update throughout the day on an App which is helpful to monitor how our child is throughout the day for when we pick up, this also includes a daily update with pictures.
We are overall really pleased with the nursery and would highly recommend them.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

We really appreciate you reviewing us and providing your feedback on what we offer at Astwick and what you find helpful in your child's time with us. It helps us to know what we do right and continue to develop the nursery. So pleased to hear your time with us has been positive and thank you for taking the time to give us your views.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A lovely nursery set in beautiful farmland. My daughter loves attending monkey puzzle Astwick, she particularly enjoys the forest school and the French classes. The staff are super friendly and supportive. We will miss them all when school starts in September.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for your review and it's great to hear you miss us when she heads to school. We will miss you all after being with us since a baby! We really appreciate you letting us know what you like about Astwick and means a lot for us to know how parents and little ones feel. Thanks so much.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Monkey Puzzle Astwick is a wonderfully run nursery set on farmland which is great for the little ones. My daughter absolutely loves her days there, especially as she gets to play outside every day and goes on walks through the fields where she can see sheep and horses.
The staff are all so hardworking,
caring and friendly that I have complete faith and trust in them. I have no concerns about my daughter while she is there.
I chose July in particular as my daughter was transitioning rooms at that time which she found difficult and the staff handled it all so well. They kept me reassured and did everything they could to help her settle in and it wasn't long before she was back to her old self.
Thank you Monkey Puzzle Astwick, you are brilliant!

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

It is lovely to hear such positive feedback and thank you so much for taking the time to review us. I am so glad your daughter has been happy and settled with us and we do put lots into place with transitions as understand this is a big change for them and their parents, after bonding with staff in their starting room. They soon settle and find a bond with their new team as staff work hard to make their new room fun and comfortable for them. It is great to hear it worked well!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Couldn't ask for more from a Nursery! Our daughter loves going in and has made so much progress. Great communication and such caring staff.
We love the location and the opportunity for our daughter to be outside and explore nature.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for taking the time to review us and it is great to hear your little one is progressing well and you feel the team care. We are a very family feel nursery and it is a huge part of our ethos to nurture our little ones. We do adore each and every one of them and their little personalities! We are so fortunate to get to share their growth with families.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Amazing nursery always helping my daughter to progress and always take such great care of her. Monkey Puzzle Astwick have an amazing outside space for all ages of children, especially the forestry school. The nursery has made my time going back to work so easy and especially with the great communication
throughout the day.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for such a positive review. We are pleased to hear its made your transition back to work easier and that your little one has settled so well with us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery, highly recommended! The staff and management at Monkey Puzzle at Astwick went above and beyond to support my daughter who had an awful experience at a nearby nursery. She loves to attend nursery, looks forward to running in and has a fab relationship with the key workers in her room.

All the staff are honestly amazing and I have full faith that my daughter is looked after in every sense. Leaving me with one less stress as a family of three kids. Often she comes home with paintings, handmade food and other lovely pieces of work she has created at nursery.
The children go on daily outings and have sign language classes and it's lovely to see the daily posts on the nursery app as to what themes are going on each week. Thank you!

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for taking the time to give us a lively review. So pleased to hear your nursery experience has been positive with us and you are happy with all we do with your little one!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick has provided great care and attention both individually to my daughter as well as to us as a family. The staff are so welcoming and you feel part of a family. The farm environment is fantastic and my daughter loves the outdoor adventures that the nursery location allows.
I would highly recommend Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick. Thank you to all the staff.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for taking the time to review us and provide us with feedback. Part of our ethos is to have a family and homely feel for our families and so pleased you feel this too.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is the nicest nursery in our local area. It is situated in the countryside which gives our son the opportunity to see farm animals and go for walks with his friends. All staff are always lovely and know a lot about our son. I love hearing stories of what he got up to during the day and seeing photos
of his playtime.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

We really appreciate you taking the time to review us and for your feedback. It is great to know where we are getting it right and so lovely to know we are the nicest nursery!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We couldn’t be happier with the nursery. As parents of a baby born in lockdown, leaving our daughter in someone else’s care felt particularly strange but the nursery staff made us feel immediately at ease from the beginning knowing that our daughter was getting the very best care and attention. She
settled quickly and now gets excited for her days at nursery and loves all of the staff there. The setting really is idyllically located on a working farm surrounded by countryside, and a huge benefit for us is the gorgeous outdoor space and the way the nursery promotes outdoor play and walks. Highly recommend!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going since she just turned 1 and the nursery had recently opened. The staff are all brilliant, communication is great and my daughter enjoys going. The location was one of the key decision makers of choosing to go here, the beautiful farm setting is peaceful and offers fantastic
walks and open space. We’re looking forward to moving up to the preschool class, for more educational challenges.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for taking the time to review us and so positively. We do read each review to learn what we are doing well and what we can do to improve so do value our parents views.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Monkey Puzzle Astwick are simply amazing, their dedication and care have never left me in any doubt that our son is in the best hands and receives the best care possible. He has developed so well since he has been coming to this nursery and the location in the heart of a rural village farm
is truly special.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

A big thank you for such a lovely review - the team love reading the feedback from our families and it helps us continue to grow and develop. I am so pleased your little one is developing well with us and you feel he is in the best hands with us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started here last summer having been in no childcare setting before. I was anxious about his transition but he has really thrived since starting Monkey Puzzle.
I love that he is outdoors so much, that he comes home messy and happy! The staff all go above and beyond and are creative in the activities
that they set up each day. It is a very nurturing environment and one that is different from other settings.
The food offered is excellent and the communication between parents and staff is also very responsive.
I'm so pleased that he has a place here and loves his nursery so much.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thanks for reviewing us and letting us know where we can improve. It is lovely to hear so much positive feedback and that your son is thriving with us. It really is the best to know we are creating a positive environment for him to grow and means so much to us all.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery was recommended to me by a friend and I’m so glad she did! After the first viewing, I wanted to sign my daughter up straight away. It is set in a great environment on a farm where the children are taken outside as much as possible. The rooms inside are spacious and clean. The children have
the opportunity to take part in all sorts of messy play as well as craft activities. The staff are all extremely friendly and have a great relationship with my daughter. She is always happy to go through the door and is always smiling when she’s picked up so we know she’s had a great time. The care she receives there is second to none and I’m never worried about her while she’s there. She loves the food as well and quite often will have seconds!

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

Thank you for your review of us - it is lovely to hear that you trust us with her care and that she is always happy to come in and play. It means so much to myself and the staff team to know what we are getting right and what we can improve on so thank you for taking the time to review us!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our little boy has been going to the nursery for over a year now and he loves it. The nursery has wonderful outside spaces and facilities which is important to us, the staff are friendly, caring, and helpful. He always eats healthy meals that are varied and thoroughly enjoys them! I can’t recommend
Monkey Puzzle at Astwick enough!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at Monkey Puzzle since the summer of 2020 and she has flourished. She loves the vast array of activities on offer and the children she goes to nursery with are lovely and she has made wonderful friends. The staff are superb. They keep you informed, are approachable and have a lovely
manner with the children. There is also a great deal of rigour when following the EYFS framework and this is linked to all activities and observations. Our daughter has now joined the pre-school and she is thoroughly enjoying the forest school! We would highly recommend Monkey Puzzle.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our two-year-old daughter has been attending since the age of 10-months, and we couldn’t have hoped for a more caring setting. All of the staff build lovely relationships with the children and create so many activities. My daughter especially loves going on walks and seeing the sheep. She is thriving
in their care, and they know her so well and how to support her. We are so happy to have found a nursery where she walks in and out every day with a smile.

Reply from Natasha Moniz, Nursery Owner at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick

A huge thank you for reviewing us. It’s so nice to hear she’s happy and loves coming to nursery to see us, with a big smile. We love having her and all our little ones and whilst working with children can have its challenges- we are so fortunate to have a career with such amazing little ones bringing us laughter and making us proud with all they learn. There really is no job like it and through your feedback it is good to know where we are getting it right and any areas to improve.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very welcoming. My daughter loves going and loves going out exploring in the fields and joining in the outdoor activities no matter the weather. Communication is excellent with daily updates of what has been done and I can always get hold of the nursery to check up on my child.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has now been at Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick for nearly two years and has moved from Daisies to Lillie's to Bluebells, which is preschool. My daughter is incredibly happy in her new class, and the transition has been seamless. The nursery is always working on new ideas such as French
and singing lessons, as well as looking at ways to provide support. They are also gaining feedback from parents to continually improve. Health and safety are always at the forefront, and I had no hesitation in signing my little one up to their Forest School! The whole team are engaging and listens, and it is immediately apparent how child-focused everyone is, which is exactly the assurance a parent needs when leaving their child in somebody else’s care. We moved away from the area and didn’t even consider looking for a more local nursery. We will be sad to leave when my daughter eventually goes to school.

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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.969)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.969) out of 10 for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick 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 22 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 22 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 4.969 for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick is calculated as follows: ( (253 Excellents x 5) + (8 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 261 Ratings = 4.969

  • 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Astwick is based on 22 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 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • 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 105 number of registered child places is 21, which has been reached with 22 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • 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.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

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Meet the Team (1)

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Natasha Moniz

Job Title: Nursery Owner

Joined: 2019

NVQ Level 4 – Childcare & Education
Safeguarding Officer
First Aid Officer
Paediatric First Aid
Food Hygiene


I have over 20 years’ experience in childcare, first starting as a nursery nurse, then as a deputy manager and finally a manager working for two of the largest nursery groups in the UK. I have also worked in the NHS with babies and their mothers who were suffering with severe mental health conditions.


I have always loved working with children as no two days are the same, and children have a way to make you smile so much. It is a privilege to teach a child something new and watch them grow and develop until they are ready for school.


I love working at Monkey Puzzle Astwick as its always been a dream of mine to own my own nursery and I still can’t quite believe it’s finally happened! It’s no longer a job – it’s a passion, and I have absolutely loved putting my heart and soul into making my nursery such a beautiful place (even if I do say so myself ??). I also love the location on Church farm; it’s such an amazing environment for the children and my staff team.


In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my own three boys and my husband, going on family days’ out or movie nights at home on the sofa. I also enjoy spending time with friends and travelling.


An interesting fact about me…


I used to work as a PA for Charles Worthington (celebrity hairdresser) and also trained in fashion and make-up at the London College of Fashion before realising that my passion was caring for children.