Ofsted has updated the way nurseries are inspected from 2025, with clearer report cards that show simple grades alongside short explanations of what each setting does well and where it can improve.

Nurseries are now graded on a five-point scale,  Exceptional, Strong Standard, Expected Standard, Needs Attention and Urgent Improvement, across key areas such as teaching, early years care, children’s progress, inclusion, leadership, wellbeing, and behaviour.

Monkey Puzzle Cheam’s most recent Ofsted report was published in November 2025, confirming that safeguarding standards were fully met and children’s safety and wellbeing remain a top priority. The nursery achieved Strong Standard across four key areas of inspection, alongside Expected Standard in two areas, reflecting the high-quality care, learning and support provided by the team. Parents and carers can read the full Ofsted report here to learn more about the inspectors’ findings.

At Monkey Puzzle Cheam, leaders and staff work together to promote children’s health, safety and wellbeing by providing nutritious meals, carefully supervising mealtimes to prevent choking, and consistently supporting good oral health. They build strong partnerships with parents, aligning routines such as sleep to ensure children are well rested and ready to learn, while also working closely with families and medical professionals to meet individual needs. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe and understand healthy lifestyles, have regular access to outdoor activities to develop their physical skills, and are supported with compassion during care routines, where staff speak respectfully, ask permission, and encourage independence.

Children make secure progress from their starting points and are generally well prepared for their next stage of learning. They recall what they have been taught, for example discussing road safety and reminding their parents to stop at red lights. Children are motivated and engaged in activities, although they do not always have sufficient time to fully embed new learning. They are confident communicators who readily talk to staff about their play and experiences. Children who speak English as an additional language successfully learn and use new vocabulary in context to form sentences, while babies respond to questions with babbling, begin to say their first words, and confidently name animals and match sounds to toys.

Leaders and staff have high expectations for children’s behaviour and create an extremely positive, supportive learning environment where children help and encourage one another. Strong, secure bonds are evident, with children confidently approaching staff for reassurance and cuddles, while staff engage them in meaningful conversations that support their personal and social development. Children readily show kindness, for example helping each other during forest school activities. A consistent culture of respect and kindness runs throughout the nursery, from babies to pre-school, with staff expertly teaching the importance of listening and caring for others. Leaders also work closely with parents to monitor attendance and address any barriers, ensuring children are happy, settled, and able to attend regularly.

Leaders recognise the importance of delivering a high-quality curriculum to support children’s learning and development. Staff use effective questioning to promote communication and language skills, build on children’s interests to create an engaging curriculum, and extend what children already know. However, at times staff step in too quickly, limiting opportunities for children to think independently and solve problems for themselves. Planning is thorough and covers all seven areas of learning, with staff skilfully adapting activities to support different groups and close gaps in learning. Physical development is a particular strength across the nursery, with children of all ages accessing a wide range of resources, and older children demonstrating strong skills in the forest school area as they prepare for their transition to school.

Monkey Puzzle Cheam are proactive in training staff to identify when children need additional support and ensure that extra funding is used effectively to remove barriers to learning and prevent gaps from emerging. Staff adapt the curriculum to meet children’s needs, and recent evaluations have led to increased outdoor play, with forest school training enhancing staff knowledge and enriching the educational value of the outdoor curriculum. Strong partnerships with other professionals and regular meetings with parents help to identify clear next steps and review children’s progress at home and in the nursery. Staff are highly skilled in adapting activities so all children can participate and benefit, and leaders carefully review the impact of early interventions to ensure gaps in learning are successfully closed.

Monkey Puzzle Cheam have successfully addressed all actions from the previous inspection and made significant progress, with the quality of practice improving notably following changes in leadership. They are highly reflective and clear about areas for further development, recognising that some improvements are still in the early stages, but have secured relevant training and provide ongoing coaching and support to drive continued progress. Leaders and staff have worked hard to strengthen the curriculum, and targeted professional development has enhanced staff’s ability to identify barriers to learning, implement early intervention, close gaps, and secure appropriate referrals. Leaders also prioritise staff wellbeing, ensuring workloads are manageable and regular breaks are taken.

Children arrive settled and eager to begin their day, demonstrating confidence and enthusiasm as they engage in activities and talk openly with staff about their needs. They remain deeply involved in learning throughout the day, supported by strong partnerships between staff and parents that help children make secure progress and transition smoothly between rooms. Babies particularly enjoy activities that promote physical development, with ample space to move, practise standing, cruising along furniture, using ride-on toys, and building early walking skills in safe environments. Children thrive in a nurturing setting where they feel valued, show pride in their achievements, and receive meaningful praise that boosts their self-esteem. Inclusion is firmly embedded in practice, with barriers to learning quickly identified and addressed in partnership with parents and relevant agencies. Support for children who speak English as an additional language is especially strong; staff work closely with families to understand home languages, enabling children to develop English skills quickly, form friendships, and confidently communicate in both their home languages and English as they prepare for their next stage of learning.