Extra sessions can be arranged directly with the Nursery Manager at Monkey Puzzle Altrincham. While we always do our best to accommodate these requests, availability will depend on current staffing levels and the number of spaces on your chosen day.

For the most up-to-date availability and to request an extra session, please contact the nursery team directly.

You’re welcome to call the nursery at any time or drop us an email if that’s more convenient. We’re also happy to send you photos to reassure you that your child is happy and enjoying their day.

At Monkey Puzzle Altrincham, we do not follow traditional school half terms. Our nursery is open 51 weeks of the year, providing consistent, year-round childcare to support working families.

We are only closed on Bank Holidays and for one week during the Christmas period, ensuring minimal disruption to your childcare needs.

To protect your child and the other children in the nursery, we do have a full list of exclusion periods, which the nursery manager will be able to provide you with. These can vary from 24 hours up to 2/3 weeks, depending on the seriousness of the symptoms. We use the guidance from UK Health Security agency which can be found on the gov.uk website. 

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 Altrincham, 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.

If you have any concerns, please speak with your child’s Key Person or the Nursery Manager. If the issue is not resolved through a verbal discussion, you are encouraged to put your concern in writing. Once received, the Nursery Manager is obliged to investigate the matter as a formal complaint. They will then respond to you in writing with the outcome. All complaints are also recorded in the nursery’s complaints file for transparency and ongoing review.

Sending your child to nursery doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By understanding your child’s unique needs and working closely with nursery staff, you can help make the transition smooth and positive for both of you.

At Monkey Puzzle Altrincham, we’re here to support every step of the way. Discover helpful tips and guidance on how to help your child feel safe, happy, and confident in their new nursery environment.

Read more here

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.

At Monkey Puzzle Altrincham, we understand that potty training is a significant milestone in your child’s development. If you or our team feel that your child is ready to begin this process, we will work closely with you to plan the most supportive and consistent approach.

Potty training typically starts at home, where your child feels most comfortable. Once the process has begun, we will continue the routine at our nursery to help reinforce the learning and ensure a smooth transition between home and nursery.

We know that young children can become deeply engaged in play and may occasionally have accidents during the early stages of potty training. To support your child effectively, we kindly ask that you provide plenty of spare clothes and underwear to keep at the nursery.

At Monkey Puzzle Altrincham, we aim to work in partnership with parents to support every stage of your child’s growth, including important milestones like potty training.

Ofsted inspects all early years providers registered on the Early Years Register at least once within a six-year window. For newly registered providers, Ofsted prioritises the first inspection, which is typically carried out within 30 months of the registration date.

At Monkey Puzzle Altrincham, we welcome these inspections as part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care and education.

At Monkey Puzzle Altrincham, we’re open 51 weeks of the year to provide consistent, high-quality childcare for busy families. Our nursery is closed on all Bank Holidays and for one week during the Christmas period.

We understand the importance of reliable local childcare, which is why our opening schedule is designed to support working parents while providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your little one all year round.

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.

At Monkey Puzzle Altrincham, 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 Altrincham, and we are always happy to discuss any changes to their sleep needs with you.

We create a warm and welcoming environment where families can receive additional support with completing admission forms and other important documents. We also value and celebrate cultural diversity and encourage parents to share aspects of their culture within the nursery setting. This helps foster a sense of belonging and enriches the experiences of all children.

An appointed EAL coordinator will record each child’s use of their home language, preferences, and communication skills upon entry to the setting. The coordinator will also carry out regular observations to monitor progress and ensure that each child continues to develop.

We recognise that continued use of home languages, both at home and in the nursery, supports children’s overall learning, including the development of English. Learning opportunities are carefully planned to help children build their English language skills while actively participating in all areas of learning.

Support may include:

• Building on children’s experiences of language at home and in the wider community by providing a range of opportunities to use their home languages so that their developing use of English and other languages support one another
• Providing opportunities for children to engage in speaking and listening activities in English with both peers and adults
• Ensuring all children have opportunities to recognise and take pride in their home languages
• Offering bilingual support to extend vocabulary and deepen understanding
• Including a variety of written materials in both home languages and English, such as books, labels, and notices
• Providing opportunities for children to hear their home languages as well as English, for example through audio and video materials

Our aim is to ensure that every child feels understood, supported, and confident as they grow in both their home language and English.

A nursery provides a structured and educational environment similar to a school, with carefully planned curricula that support children’s cognitive and social development. Accredited nurseries like Monkey Puzzle offer children a sense of stability and routine.

In a day nursery, children also benefit from interacting with a larger and more diverse group of peers, which helps to enhance their social skills. These settings provide excellent learning materials and play spaces designed to cater to a wide range of interests.

Additionally, day nurseries meet strict regulatory standards to ensure safety and high-quality care. This makes them a great choice for parents looking for a formal early education environment that prepares their child for school while offering plenty of opportunities for social interaction and overall development.

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

As part of your registration, we ask for emergency contacts in addition to your child’s primary carers. You will confirm whether these contacts are authorised to collect your child without prior consent. However, we will always contact you first to confirm collection arrangements.

For added security, we request a unique password for anyone collecting your child who is not a primary carer. Anyone other than the primary carers must provide photo ID and confirm this security password upon collection.

Additionally, some of our nurseries ask for photos of all authorised collectors to be kept securely on your child’s file as an extra precaution.

If a child becomes unwell during the nursery day, we will contact their parent or carer and ask for the child to be collected as soon as possible. While waiting to be picked up, the child will be cared for in a quiet and calm area by their Key Person, ensuring they feel safe and comforted.

The Nursery Manager will assess whether a child is well enough to attend nursery if they are showing signs of illness. This decision is made at the Manager’s discretion and will be based on the child’s overall demeanour and whether they are able to take part in daily activities.

Our priority is always the health and wellbeing of all children and staff, and we appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe and healthy environment.

All accidents are carefully recorded, and you will be informed and asked to sign an accident form, which we will keep on file for your child’s safety and our records.

In the case of any head injuries, we will contact you immediately, closely monitor your child throughout the day, and provide updates as needed.

In the very unlikely event that your child requires medical attention, we will contact you immediately to inform you and seek your advice before taking any further action.

Before your child starts at the nursery, you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. This helps us create a personalised care plan to meet your child’s specific needs.

For children requiring long-term medication, you will need to complete the relevant paperwork before we can administer any medication or creams as needed.

For all medication prescribed by a UK registered GP or medical practitioner, even if your child has taken it before, you must keep your child at home for the first 24 hours after the initial dose. This is to ensure they do not have any adverse reactions.

Once your child’s symptoms have improved and they are well enough to return to nursery, we can continue administering the minimum required dose of medication, provided the necessary paperwork has been completed.

If you anticipate being late to collect your child, please contact the nursery as soon as possible. If you have not informed us prior to your late arrival, we will first try to contact the child’s primary carers.

If we cannot reach the primary carers, we will then attempt to contact the emergency contacts provided.

If after one hour we are unable to reach any authorised contacts, we have a duty of care to inform Social Services to ensure your child’s safety.

Ofsted is a non-ministerial department of the UK government responsible for inspecting and regulating services that provide education and skills for learners of all ages. They also oversee services that care for children and young people to ensure high standards are maintained.

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.