0–2
Babies
The perfect home-from-home environment for your baby to be nurtured through the important first years.
A brighter future starts Here!
High quality childcare and early years education in a safe, fun and nurturing environment, for children from 3 months to 5 years.
- Play
- Learn
- Grow
- Make friends
- Be amazing!
Caring, experienced staff
Stimulating early learning
Healthy, nutritious meals
Safe, happy environment
Fun activities every day
Helping children grow and thrive
Welcome to MonkeyMoos
Nursery & Preschool in Basingstoke, Caversham and Reading
Operating since 2016, MonkeyMoos Nursery and Preschools were created from the ground up to give the best quality childcare, at the best possible prices, in a loving learning environment.
Our primary focus is the wellbeing of every child. We approach each child as an individual with their own talents and needs, teach through play, and help every little MonkeyMoo grow into a happy, healthy person, confident for their next step to ‘big school’.
Our passionate, highly qualified practitioners go over and above so both you and your child feel settled. You're always welcome to visit, tour the rooms and meet the team.
- Since 2016
- Ofsted rated Good
- Funded hours for 2, 3 & 4 year olds
- Open 51 weeks a year
A room for every age
Every child follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, planned around their own interests.
2–3
Toddlers
A fun, stimulating place for curious toddlers to learn and explore as they develop new skills and make sense of the world around them.
3–5
Preschool
An education-rich curriculum with a focus on phonics and maths, so confident little learners are ready for school.
Our nurseries
Bright, safe and inspiring spaces for every stage
Open 7am–7pm, 51 weeks a year, with funded and non-funded sessions. Children free-flow between indoors and the garden throughout the day.
Winklebury, Basingstoke
Ofsted rated GoodIn the heart of Winklebury, surrounded by local shops and schools and close to Houndmills Business Park. A busy, warm open-plan setting with a separate messy room, garden and a cosy purpose-built baby room.
- Ages
- 3 months to school age
- Places
- 60
- Managers
- Becca Walters and Leigha Davis
- Address
- 58/59 Watson Way, Basingstoke RG23 8AW
What makes Winklebury special
- Daily walks to the local park, woodland and fields.
- Two children's toilets plus nappy changing, to support toilet training.
- Singing and stories in small groups for younger children; phonics group time for preschoolers.
Caversham (Highdown)
ReadingIn the stunning grounds of Highdown School, with grade II listed buildings and 30 acres. A warm home-from-home nursery with a cosy room for stories and naps and a large garden wrapping around the building.
- Ages
- 18 months to school age
- Places
- 28
- Manager
- Shanice Wells
- Address
- Surley Row, Emmer Green, Reading RG4 8LP
What makes Caversham special
- Mixed-age play: preschoolers develop their nurturing side, and under-3s' language grows from hearing older children.
- Ofsted ratios: 1:3 under 2s, 1:4 under 3s, 1:8 for 3s and over.
- Adult-led, child-led and age-focused group times every day.
Huntley Wharf New
Reading town centreA purpose-built nursery in the new Huntley Wharf development beside the canal, with a south-facing riverside location a walk from the town centre and train station.
- Ages
- 3 months to school age
- Places
- 80
- Managers
- Shanice Wells and Kayleigh Matraxhi
- Address
- Unit 4b, Huntley Wharf, Kenavon Drive, Reading RG1 3ES
What makes Huntley Wharf special
- Open-plan main room, messy room, garden and cosy baby room.
- Seven children's toilets plus nappy changing, to support toilet training.
- Meals freshly prepared by HungryMoose Catering's chefs.
Fees from April 2026
Fees are payable in advance and we accept all government-funded hours for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. Fees confirm a space and are not refunded for sickness, holidays or days absent.
Full day 8am–6pm. Half day 8am–1pm or 1pm–6pm. Sessions are available from 7am to 7pm. MonkeyMoos reserves the right to change fees.
Learning through play
We plan activities that create awe and wonder across the 7 areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Prime area
Personal, social & emotional
A positive sense of self, good relationships, managing feelings and confidence in their own abilities.
Prime area
Communication & language
A rich language environment that builds confidence to speak, listen and express themselves.
Prime area
Physical development
Being active, developing co-ordination and movement, and learning about healthy food choices.
Specific area
Literacy
Linking sounds and letters and beginning to read and write, with plenty of books and poems.
Specific area
Mathematics
Counting, using numbers, simple adding and taking away, and describing shapes, spaces and measures.
Specific area
Understanding the world
Exploring people, places, technology and the environment in their community.
Specific area
Expressive arts & design
Art, music, movement, dance, role play and design, with a wide range of media and materials.
🍎 Meals by HungryMoose Catering
Healthy eating
Good food in the early years shapes growth, development and lifelong eating habits, and children in full-time childcare can get most of their daily food at nursery. That's why every MonkeyMoos meal comes from HungryMoose, our specialist nursery and school caterer.
HungryMoose's chefs cook fresh, homemade meals every day and deliver them hot in insulated eco boxes. Their team includes a former nursery manager with over 15 years' experience, so menus are planned around what little ones really need, and really like.
Visit HungryMooseFresh and local
Seasonal ingredients and locally sourced meat from Berkshire suppliers, keeping food miles to a minimum.
Low salt, low sugar
No added salt, very little added sugar, and puddings based on fruit and milk, with the right energy for busy little bodies.
Planned to national guidance
Menus follow the ‘Eat Better, Start Better’ guidelines, meeting the Early Years Foundation Stage standards.
Every diet catered for
A designated allergen chef prepares special diets daily, including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and halal meals.
New tastes to try
Meat, fish and vegetarian dishes with flavours from around the world, so children discover foods they might not meet at home.
Just right for babies
Fresh fruit purées can be made each morning for our youngest children, following the separate guidance for under-1s.
What a balanced nursery lunch means
- A main course and a pudding every day; puddings are fruit, cereal or milk based.
- Starchy foods daily such as bread, rice, pasta and potatoes, with wholegrains at least once a week.
- A dairy food daily such as milk, cheese, yoghurt or custard.
- Fruit or vegetables daily in a colourful variety.
- Protein daily from meat, fish, eggs, beans or pulses, with oily fish at least every 3 weeks.
- A vegetarian lunch every week, and sausages or meatballs no more than once a week.
Allergies and intolerances. HungryMoose does not knowingly use nuts or nut products in its food. Managing allergies is a shared job between HungryMoose, our nurseries and you, so please tell your nursery manager about your child's dietary needs before they start.
Illustration only
Daily updates on Famly
You can't ask a baby how their day went, so we tell you. Every MonkeyMoos family gets the Famly app, keeping you connected to your child's day wherever you are.
Daily diary
Meals, drinks, naps, nappies and toilet visits, logged through the day.
Photos and videos
See what your child's been up to on your own newsfeed, and like or comment on posts.
Learning journal
Observations and photos showing your child's progress, plus termly reports.
Message your key person
A direct line to the team, so the people caring for your child are only a message away.
Absences and sickness
Let us know if your child is off without needing to phone in.
Everything in one place
Your child's details, documents, consent forms and invoices, kept up to date.
Getting started
Get your invite. Your nursery sets up your Famly account when your child joins.
Download the app. Famly is free for parents on iPhone and Android, or use it in a web browser.
Log in and follow along. Updates start from your child's very first day.
Every day at MonkeyMoos
Safe and secure
All staff are DBS checked and first-aid trained, and we strictly follow Ofsted childcare ratios at every nursery.
A key person for every child
Your child's key person gets to know them well, and termly reports show how amazingly they're doing.
Big outdoor spaces
Children free-flow between indoors and outside whatever the weather, supported by caring practitioners.
Every voice counts
Children and parents help shape the nursery through the MonkeyMoos council and parent feedback forms.
Our vision
Everyone is born free and equal in dignity and rights, with the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. All children and families can access our service and are welcomed as equal partners.
Our mission
A vibrant learning community where families, staff and local communities work together: a safe, nurturing, happy setting with positive role models and the best environment for learning.
What parents say
My son has been attending since he was 15 months old and his confidence and social skills have grown a lot. He absolutely loves his nursery family.
Caversham parent
Never thought I would feel comfortable leaving the children but can honestly say I am 100% happy to leave them in the care of MonkeyMoos staff. Everyone is approachable.
Parents of Jenna and Grayson
The setting is bright, colourful and welcoming and the staff are so lovely and enthusiastic. I go to work happy knowing my daughter is so well looked after.
Parentvia nurseries.co.uk
We have three children who have all attended different childcare settings. This one has impressed me most. The staff develop really close relationships with the children.
GillCaversham
Very good communication and we love the app updates. It's nice to have special days organised, like pyjama days. The Manager and Deputy are always ready to listen.
Giorgia and ScottCaversham
Loving the food. Harry's first reaction was “wow I got loads!” Lots of empty plates.
Winklebury parent
Meet the managers
We strictly follow Ofsted childcare ratios, with an excellent teacher-to-child ratio at every nursery.
Gemma Gregory
Regional Director, South East
Becca Walters
Manager, Winklebury
Leigha Davis
Manager, Winklebury
Shanice Wells
Manager, Caversham and Huntley Wharf
Kayleigh Matraxhi
Manager, Huntley Wharf
Follow our journey
See the fun, learning and adventures at each nursery, with the next day's activities shared every day.
Wonder.Learn.Grow.
Start their MonkeyMoos journey today!
Book a visit and come and see what makes MonkeyMoos so special.