The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Cheeky Monkeys at Durrell is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.
Cheeky Monkeys at Durrell
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
18 | CHEEKY MONKEYS AT DURRELL
Managing Director and Owner
JulietPearmain with son
Maximilian
Our new outdoor sleep area
Located next to Jersey Zoo, Cheeky Monkeys at Durrell opened
its purpose-built nursery in late 2015. Managing Director
and Owner Juliet Pearmain explains that the nursery has a
refreshing, magical environment and that children are regularly
able to explore the zoo. Inspired by the Italian Reggio Emilia
approach of self-directed, experiential learning, the nursery has
continued to grow and now supports more than 110 families.
When asked where my dream location for a day nursery would be, I immediately
responded by saying Jersey Zoo. Four years later, this is now a reality.
Prior to this point, I had worked around the world in the childcare industry for a
number of years, following my graduation from Norland College. I subsequently
held other management roles within private nurseries in Jersey, but I always wanted
to create my own unique nursery.
After researching best practice within childcare settings, it soon became clear to me
that I needed to enrol on a Reggio Emilia course in northern Italy. This approach
inspired me to open Cheeky Monkeys and is seen throughout the nursery’s structure.
My first objective was whether I could translate the experience I would want children to
have into a nursery environment. I have always strived to create a wonderful experience
for the children I have been caring for, as I believe childhood should be magical.
Cheeky Monkeys
I approached Durrell, the charity behind Jersey Zoo, with my idea, and we eventually
found the perfect building for the business. As a result of partnering with Durrell,
FACTS ABOUT
CHEEKY MONKEYS AT
DURRELL
»Managing Director and Owner
:
JulietPearmain
»Founded in 2015
»Located in Jersey
»Services: Reggio Emilia-
inspired nursery
»No. of employees: 24
Cheeky Monkeys
atDurrell
19CHEEKY MONKEYS AT DURRELL |
EARLY YEARS EDUCATION
we have been able to create a
unique nursery experience, with our
children having unlimited access to
the zoo. Our own cheeky monkeys
are also offered a number of special
animal encounters and educational
programmes that Durrell provide.
After a year of running Cheeky
Monkeys, I fell pregnant and found
that dreams really do come true.
My little man is one of the Cheeky
Monkeys now.
This place is a zoo
Our inside environment mirrors the
outside – our flooring looks like the
grass and our curtain poles are made up
of tree branches. We believe that our
use of calming colours in the nursery
plays a big part in the children’s mood.
We encourage the use of lots of
natural resources, often picked up off
the ground while out walking, and we
have a large selection of loose parts.
We have many pictures of the children
around the room, making them feel
welcome in their environment. All our
noticeboards are natural hessian with
branches at the borders. This natural
background really helps the child to
see their own work on display.
We have a large garden space with
recycled wooden signposts for
dedicated areas. We have recently
homed a family of robins, and
three of their chicks hatched in our
“bughotel”.
There’s a bug investigation area, where
the children have helped build a special
place for Jersey toads, newts, frogs,
a whole range of bugs and our red
squirrels, which keep us entertained
throughout the day. We also have an
outdoor forest school area, where daily
activities include toasting crumpets and
teacakes on the firepit for snack time.
The zen den area that we created next
to one of our sandpits has recently
been transformed into our outdoor
sleep area. There are many health
benefits to sleeping in a natural
environment, which include stronger
immune systems; improved brain
development, bone and muscular
development, and social and cognitive
development; and overall better
emotional wellbeing. We were careful
to source the perfect flooring and
added a sail for shade.
Personal touch
We opened our doors in 2015 with
15 children and six members of staff.
Our purpose-built nursery now has a
dedicated team of 24 staff, and over
110 families come to us every week of
the 51 that we are open each year. We
care for 68 children at any one time,
aged between three months and five
years. I know most families by their
first names – if we were much bigger,
we would lose the personal touch.
We are the first nursery on the island
to bring in an MMR policy; all children
must have their MMR vaccination to
attend nursery. The response has been
Babies taking in the
fresh air
After a year of
running
Cheeky
Monkeys, I fell
pregnant and
found that
dreams really
do come true.
My little man is
one of the
Cheeky
Monkeys now
“
“
BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020
19CHEEKY MONKEYS AT DURRELL |
EARLY YEARS EDUCATION
we have been able to create a
unique nursery experience, with our
children having unlimited access to
the zoo. Our own cheeky monkeys
are also offered a number of special
animal encounters and educational
programmes that Durrell provide.
After a year of running Cheeky
Monkeys, I fell pregnant and found
that dreams really do come true.
My little man is one of the Cheeky
Monkeys now.
This place is a zoo
Our inside environment mirrors the
outside – our flooring looks like the
grass and our curtain poles are made up
of tree branches. We believe that our
use of calming colours in the nursery
plays a big part in the children’s mood.
We encourage the use of lots of
natural resources, often picked up off
the ground while out walking, and we
have a large selection of loose parts.
We have many pictures of the children
around the room, making them feel
welcome in their environment. All our
noticeboards are natural hessian with
branches at the borders. This natural
background really helps the child to
see their own work on display.
We have a large garden space with
recycled wooden signposts for
dedicated areas. We have recently
homed a family of robins, and
three of their chicks hatched in our
“bughotel”.
There’s a bug investigation area, where
the children have helped build a special
place for Jersey toads, newts, frogs,
a whole range of bugs and our red
squirrels, which keep us entertained
throughout the day. We also have an
outdoor forest school area, where daily
activities include toasting crumpets and
teacakes on the firepit for snack time.
The zen den area that we created next
to one of our sandpits has recently
been transformed into our outdoor
sleep area. There are many health
benefits to sleeping in a natural
environment, which include stronger
immune systems; improved brain
development, bone and muscular
development, and social and cognitive
development; and overall better
emotional wellbeing. We were careful
to source the perfect flooring and
added a sail for shade.
Personal touch
We opened our doors in 2015 with
15 children and six members of staff.
Our purpose-built nursery now has a
dedicated team of 24 staff, and over
110 families come to us every week of
the 51 that we are open each year. We
care for 68 children at any one time,
aged between three months and five
years. I know most families by their
first names – if we were much bigger,
we would lose the personal touch.
We are the first nursery on the island
to bring in an MMR policy; all children
must have their MMR vaccination to
attend nursery. The response has been
Babies taking in the
fresh air
After a year of
running
Cheeky
Monkeys, I fell
pregnant and
found that
dreams really
do come true.
My little man is
one of the
Cheeky
Monkeys now
“
“
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
20 | CHEEKY MONKEYS AT DURRELL
extremely supportive, with one parent
saying: “I would choose this nursery
over all the others as this is such an
important policy to have in place.”
We have an extensive waiting list for
all age groups. This I feel is down to
our dedicated practitioners, whom we
are so lucky to have.
We try to make our staff social events
exciting. This year, the team went
on a boat trip by RIB to Les Écréhous
reef, a World Heritage Site, and were
lucky enough to spot dolphins on the
way over. Happy staff make a happy
environment, which is essential to the
smooth running of the nursery, and we
have a cohesive team.
Problems in paradise
Jersey’s policy on entitlement to
take up employment on the island is
restrictive in nature. Generally, staff
need to have been on the island for
at least five years before they can take
up employment. However, there is the
opportunity to employ cover staff, who
would otherwise not be eligible, for
nine-month maternity-leave posts.
Our pre-school children were
previously on a one-to-eight ratio
inside but a one-to-four ratio during
outings. We approached CEYS, the
Childcare and Early Years Service,
which is our governing body, and they
reconsidered this policy, which means
the children can now go on outings
with a one-to-five or even a one-to-six
ratio. This is perfect with us being next
to the zoo.
In recent years, a greater number of
the States of Jersey-funded primary
schools have opened purpose-built
nurseries, with 20 out of 22 now
having this facility. As such, it is all the
more important that we continue to
differentiate ourselves by providing
something special.
Continuing to grow
The coming years ought to see an
increase in the outdoor provisions we
provide in conjunction with the growth
of the childcare industry across the UK.
Our own future growth revolves
around our ability to find the right
building – property and land are
particularly expensive in Jersey. In my
ideal world, I would like to have an
outside nursery in addition to before
and after-school clubs. I will continue
to look for the right place, and if I were
to find one, we would not hesitate to
grow accordingly.
We have an
extensive
waiting list for
all age groups.
This I feel is
down to our
dedicated
practitioners,
whom we are
so lucky
tohave
“
“
Our inviting preschool
environment