At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery West Norwood, children aged 18 months to 3 years are welcomed into our dynamic Toddlers room, a space thoughtfully designed to match their curiosity and energy. The room is equipped with carefully selected furnishings and a wide range of learning resources, all easily accessible to support independence and hands-on exploration.
Nurturing Independence at Our West Norwood Nursery
With your child’s growing independence their reliance on adults is eased slightly and we ensure that each team member has no more than four children to support at any one time. By doing so we see children at this age and stage thrive.
Toddlers continue to develop with a focus on the three prime areas and are more fully introduced to four more specific areas that support their growing enthusiasm for exploring their world. These are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive art and design.
As our Toddlers go about their play our educators sprinkle texts, books, sounds and numbers around them, promoting your child’s curiosity.
There will always be space and opportunity for them to create their own work and art, being encouraged to have a go themselves inspired by the world around them.
We also encourage children to spend lots of time outside, enjoying our fantastic garden space and all of the benefits of lots of fresh air and exercise throughout the day.
What Makes Us Special
Our Values
Our values shape who we are, how we work together, and the kind of world we want our children to grow up in. They guide every interaction, every decision, and every moment of care. At Monkey Puzzle West Norwood & Streatham Common, our values are more than words. They guide how we behave, how we care, and how we grow together. We are proud to be building a place where children thrive, families feel supported, and our team feels valued for the difference they make.
Learning Through Play
Your child will thrive through a play-based curriculum rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and child development best practices. Led by passionate, qualified educators, children explore key areas such as Expressive Arts, Literacy, Mathematics, and Understanding the World. Learning goes beyond the classroom, with rich experiences in both indoor and outdoor environments, whether it’s nature walks, sensory play, or cosy storytelling, every moment inspires growth and discovery.
Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits
We understand that a toddler’s food experiences help shape lifelong eating habits. At our nursery, we balance introducing new tastes with the comfort of familiar favourites, so every child feels confident at mealtimes. We celebrate each food adventure, giving toddlers the time and space to explore and enjoy. With gentle encouragement and positive reinforcement, we build confidence around food. Mealtimes also offer learning opportunities, helping children understand how different foods support their growth and health.
Supporting Wellbeing Through Every Moment
As toddlers grow more independent, their drive to explore, move, and play increases, sometimes faster than their awareness of personal wellbeing. That’s why our caring educators provide close supervision, offering comfort and guidance throughout the day. Our nurturing routine includes regular nappy changes, support with toilet learning, rest times in cosy spaces, and engaging areas for active play. With responsive care and attention to hygiene, we ensure your child feels safe, supported, and ready to enjoy every learning opportunity.
Play, Rest & Mealtimes for Happy Toddlers
Outdoor Play and Exploration
Outdoors, toddlers can explore our unique discovery garden, a safe and stimulating space with an impact-absorbing surface, thoughtfully designed to support balance, coordination, and physical development We believe outdoor play is a vital part of every child’s learning journey, fostering independence, exploration, and a love of discovery.
Cosy Sleep and Rest Time
We know rest is vital for toddlers. Each child has a sleep mat and blanket, creating a cosy, familiar space to relax and recharge. Our calm, comforting environment helps children feel secure and well-rested, ready to enjoy the rest of their day at our nurturing nursery and daycare.
Mealtimes and Social Development
Mealtimes at our nursery are special moments where toddlers enjoy healthy, balanced meals around child-sized tables. Partnering an early years nutritionist, we provide nutrition-filled dishes that support growth and wellbeing. This shared experience fosters social skills, independence, and routine, with children helping set the table and developing positive eating habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
There is no set age to start nursery, but we welcome children from as young as 3 months up to 5 years old.
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.
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 Norwood, 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.
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
All children have access to the outdoor area(s) every day. Therefore, we ask that you provide weather-appropriate outdoor clothing throughout the year.
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.
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.
At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool West Norwood, 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 Norwood, and we are always happy to discuss any changes to their sleep needs with you.
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 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.