Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Welling

Today the Tweenie children at Monkey Puzzle Welling explored a tropical themed sensory tuff tray. The children were excited to jet off to the Bahamas where they investigated different types of trees, took the piggies to the beach and splashed in the water.
The children were able to scoop and pour the water, watching it trickle through the scarves into their open hands. The Early years Educator introduced words such as ‘palm trees’, ‘splash’, ‘trickle’ and ‘mix’
Well Done to our young jetsetters

Today the children at Monkey Puzzle Welling had a surprise visit from our local police officers.
The children were very excited to meet the officers and eagerly tried on the helmets and jackets. The children were able to identify some of the items that the officers had on their belts such as handcuffs and walkie-talkies.
The children then headed outside to look at the police van, the children took it in turns to climb inside and then were given the opportunity to press the button which switched on the lights and sirens. The children then explained to the police officers what number to ring in an emergency and who you might be able to contact.
This fantastic visit builds trust, supports the children’s knowledge of what to do in an emergency and who are safe adults if they become lost.
We would like to thank the Metropolitan Police for taking time out of their day to visit the children.

The Tweenie children at Monkey Puzzle Welling made some yummy orange muffins. They looked at the whole orange, noting its colour, shape and heavy it was, the Early Years Educator then cut the orange in half so that the children could see the different segments. The Early Years Educator introduced vocabulary such as “round”, “juicy” and “sweet”.
The children then took turns to look at, weigh and mix all the different ingredients together to create the batter which they carefully spooned into the cake cases before they went into the oven to bake.
This delicious activity introduces early maths as well as encouraging turn taking and increasing vocabulary

The children in the Baby room at Monkey Puzzle Welling had a wonderful time exploring a sensory animal tuff tray. The Early Years Educator introduced different animals, she spoke about where they live and the sounds that they make, using lots of descriptive language. The children were eager to investigate all the different textures and enjoyed making the different animal noises especially the splosh splash in the ocean, the squelchy mud and the stomping in the sand.

Well Done to our youngest explorers.

Today the Pre-School children at Monkey Puzzle Welling have been practising writing letters in sand. The children were interested in the tactile letters and used their fingers to feel the letter formation before mark making in the sand.
This sensory mark-making activity supports fine motor skills and muscle memory whilst introducing and supporting phonetical awareness.

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The Bexley businesses recognised at annual awards All the winners at the 2026 Bexley Business Awards, held at Hall Place in Bexley.

As part of our topic “People who Help Us”, The Tweenie children at Monkey Puzzle Welling, have been enjoying dramatic play. The children have been nurses, doctors , firefighters and builders. The children have been acting out familiar, real-life routines and simple stories, they have been looking poorly dolls, rescuing cats from trees and building new houses for the animals to live in.
Dramatic play is crucial for developing vocabulary, empathy and early problem-solving skills. The children have been developing their social play by playing nearby and with their peers as well as well as turn taking and sharing the resources.

I feel so privileged to be sworn in as Bexley’s Mayor for the coming year, and I want to express my sincere thanks for all the kind words and support that I've received.

For my mayoral year, I have taken inspiration from a powerful word from my country of birth (South Africa) meaning "we are one" and decided my theme will be "Simunye Bexley" or simply, "Bexley Together".

Togetherness isn't just something we feel. It's something we do. It's the everyday choices we make to look out for one another, to lift each other up, and to ensure that no one in Bexley is left to struggle alone.

I have chosen three extraordinary charities to champion this year. Each one embodies the spirit of Simunye in a different but equally powerful way.

First, Crossroads Care South East London, represents togetherness at its most compassionate. Unpaid carers are often the quiet heroes of our borough - holding families together, day after day, often without recognition. Crossroads Care steps in to ensure no unpaid carer has to carry that responsibility alone. Through respite, emotional support, and practical help, they enable unpaid carers and the people they care for to remain connected, healthy and independent. They remind us that caring should never be carried in isolation - it is a shared responsibility across our whole community.

Second, Truly Beloved - based in Belvedere and Welling, shows us what togetherness means for our children and young people. They stand beside families navigating the challenges of disability and special educational needs, ensuring that every child has the chance to grow, learn and thrive. By funding therapies, equipment and family support, they help remove barriers - and help build a Bexley where every child is valued, included and given the opportunity to shine.

And third, the Diabetes UK Bexley Support Group reflects togetherness in its purest form: people supporting people through some of the hardest moments of their lives. This cause is deeply personal to our family. When our daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2015, our world changed overnight. The learning curve was steep, the fear was real, and the responsibility was constant. This group ensures that no family in Bexley has to face that journey alone. They offer community, understanding and practical guidance — the very essence of Simunye.

I would love to have your support as I fundraise over the coming year, and every pound we raise will go directly to supporting Bexley residents — our neighbours, our friends, our families.

All our events will be posted here and on our website page https://www.bexley.gov.uk/about-the-council/mayor/current-mayor

Today our local dentist visited the children at Monkey Puzzle Welling . The children were very interested to learn about looking after their teeth. The dentist spoke about when they should clean their teeth and for how long, they had a lively discussion around foods which are good or bad for their teeth before singing some songs and listening to a story about a crocodile cleaning his teeth. The children then took it in turns to clean the puppets teeth before giving the dentist a big smile and collecting a sticker.
We are passionate about strengthening community links as this connects the children with their local area, develops a sense of belonging and supports real-world understanding.
We would like to thank the Community Dentist Team for spending time with our children