Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools is delighted to have been given the opportunity to expand its portfolio further with the acquisition of The Yew Tree Nursery & Pre-School, Yeovil. This is the second setting in Somerset and demonstrates its desire to grow in the South West of England as part of its ambitious expansion plans.

The Yew Tree Nursery & Pre-School is located in a beautiful and historic building, providing care for children from 3 months to 5 years old, as well as offering After School Care and Holiday Clubs for children at school ages. The nursery offers safe and secure provision in dedicated spaces, providing opportunities for children to explore, investigate and develop their creativity within a caring and stimulating learning environment.

Kim Herbert, Managing Director for Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools stated, “We are thrilled to be growing our portfolio again with the acquisition of this fantastic nursery whose ethos of nurturing children in a warm, friendly environment aligns with our own and we are looking forward to building on this. The staff team at the Yew Tree Nursery will remain in place and we look forward to working with them to support children to become strong and motivated learners for life and provide a top class service to enable parents to work and live their daily lives knowing their children are cherished and cared for to the highest standard.”

Heidi McCarthy, outgoing owner of the Yew Tree Nursery said; “I am very impressed with Happy Days professionalism and their commitment in providing the best nursery experience for all children. I am very pleased that Yew Tree Nursery is now part of Happy Day`s family.”

Fiona Blackwell, Operations Director, added, “The Yew Tree Nursery is the perfect fit for us, and we look forward to welcoming our new colleagues and families into the Happy Days Group.”

The sale was brokered by Redwoods Dowling Kerr. Jenna Caldwell, Director of Childcare & Education for Redwoods Dowling Kerr, commented “It was a pleasure to assist both Heidi and Happy Days with the sale of Yew Tree Nursery and we wish Happy Days all of the best with their latest acquisition”.

Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools has now increased its total number of settings to 22, with more new nurseries in the pipeline. Anyone interested in selling their business, or a developer looking for a nursery provider to partner with, should contact

Kevin Higgs: kevin.higgs@happydaysnurseries.com;

Kim Herbert kim.herbert@happydaysnureries.com or

Marcia Viccars marcia.viccars@happydaysnurseries.com

On Thursday 5 October, Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools were delighted to welcome the Mayor of Droitwich Spa, Councillor Kate Fellows, to officially open their nursery in Droitwich. The Mayor was joined by members of the Happy Days Senior Team along with parents, colleagues and a resident and colleagues from Woodland View Care Home.

Guests received a tour of the nursery and were treated to a Happy Days cake and cupcakes made by the nursery chef, Dawn Evans.

The nursery was then officially declared open but the Mayor of Droitwich who cut the ribbon with assistance from some of the children and Sheila, a resident at Woodland View Care Home.

Mark Beadle, Chairman for Happy Days stated, “I would like to congratulate Happy Days Nursery, and it is a pleasure to be here. It is wonderful to see this building transform. It is so lovely to see the vacant space turn out how it has. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in making this possible.”

Mayor, Councillor Kate Fellows commented; “The nursery is just wonderful, and it is a pleasure to be here today meeting the team and parents. From the soft flooring to the garden furniture, I am so impressed – the environments are beautiful. I am excited to see this nursery flourish, and huge congratulations to Happy Days.”

Manger, Ashley Webb, welcomed everyone to the nursery and stated “This is an exciting opportunity for staff and children to experience a purpose built nursery with stimulating resources and a unique curriculum offering the children the opportunity to develop to their full potential”

Nestled in the heart of Yew Tree Village, the nursery is a welcome addition to the local community and has already formed partnership with local businesses, including Woodland View Care Home and the local dessert shop, Droitwich Desserts.

The team at Happy Days Droitwich look forward to welcoming more families into the nursery as they continue to grow.

Click here for more information or to book a tour.

We are delighted to announce that Happy Days Nurseries has partnered with Realise to deliver quality training. Read our joint press release below:

Expanding group Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools has demonstrated its commitment to developing apprentices by appointing Realise as its new principal training provider.

Happy Days has elected to partner with Realise to offer its learners greater consistency and quality in their development.

With 47 apprentices taking on level 2 or 3 qualifications operating across its 21 settings – and plans to increase this number as new sites are opened and acquired – Kay Howick, Head of HR at Happy Days, described it as the perfect time to seek a new training provider which could support a growing nationwide company.

She said: “Apprentices are crucial for our success as a nursery group in the short, medium and long-term. 

“Our mission at Happy Days is to provide inspiring childcare ‘where every child shines’ and our partnership with Realise allows both new and existing staff to grow and develop through apprenticeships, enabling us to deliver on our ethos.

“As we have expanded into different areas of the country, our apprenticeship provision has been shared across a number of different providers which can become difficult to manage so we were looking to consolidate under one provider.

“Realise is a provider that has been on our radar for the past few months and the reputation it has in the industry is growing all the time.

“We were delighted to hear about the innovative and forward-thinking programmes the trainers will be delivering and it’s fantastic that we have a provider which offers nationwide coverage.”

Karen Derbyshire, Head of Early Years at Realise, said: “This is a fantastic new partnership and one we are very much looking forward to working on.

“Happy Days is renowned for nurseries which offer the highest quality of care and the way the group is expanding across the UK is fantastic and testament to its success.

“The Realise philosophy is ‘right learner, right programme’ and we will work with each of the individual settings of Happy Days to tailor the apprenticeship curriculum to their specific needs.

“Ultimately, our main aim is to produce fantastic early years practitioners for Happy Days, whether that be introducing new people to the sector or adding to the skills, knowledge and experience of existing staff members.”

Click here for more information about Realise.

Click here for more information on Happy Days.

Happy Days Nurseries are delighted to be hosting community events at their nurseries across the South West in recognition of Friendship Month. 

We all rely on our friends and family in one way or another, helping us feel emotionally happy and socially fulfilled. Friendship Month is all about highlighting the importance of what friends mean and celebrating what friendship brings to all our lives every day! 

Happy Days are therefore taking this opportunity to hold their Autumn open day on Saturday 30 September, inviting parents and the community to bring along their friends and family to enjoy a fun filled morning.  

Along with fun and interactive activities for the whole family to enjoy, there will be the opportunity to meet and chat with the nursery teams, have a tour of the fantastic facilities and have a family portrait taken, just in time for Christmas! 

Everyone is welcome, no need to book, just turn up! 

We are delighted to be working with 1^st Waste Management to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting!

At Happy Days, we pride ourselves in making conscious efforts to promote sustainability within our nurseries and beyond, implementing activities such as recycling, the Eco-Schools Programme, and reducing waste.

This year we are working in partnership with 1^st Waste to minimise our contributions to landfill and to calculate the carbon created from our generated waste and recycling, alongside our offsetting activities such as tree planting and wind turbine energy projects. Between March 2023 and March 2024, we will aim to reduce our emissions by 200.46 tonnes by balancing our greenhouse gas emissions associated with our waste services through changes to our internal practices and carbon offsetting.

Through this scheme, we are already seeing a remarkable difference; we were able to reduce landfill to 0.086 tonnes out of 10.230 tonnes in April alone! Jemma Fernley, our Facilities Assistant, shares her enthusiasm for this new initiative, “We are making some really good progress with our waste disposal and hope to improve our internal processes to further reduce our contribution to landfill sites.”

1^st Waste Management kindly sent a certificate in celebration to confirm this offset. We are excited to be continuing this partnership and to continue our efforts in conserving the environment.  

To find out more, click here: https://www.1stwaste.co.uk/about-1stwaste-management.php 

Happy Days are delighted to be sponsoring Emily Lewis, Nursery Practitioner at Happy Days, Cheswick, to help her on her way to Kenya to build one of the FIRST Play Action International Playgrounds.

Play Action International are a play-based charity that is passionate about giving all children the chance to play. They go out to Uganda and now expanding into Kenya with a group of volunteers to build playgrounds, transforming their empty field into one that is bursting with colour and fun, and in the meantime leaving a legacy for children to learn and develop those essential life skills and nurturing their physical, psychological and social development through what children know best… Play!  

After previously volunteering with them last August in Uganda, Emily has been given the chance to go out with them to Kenya and build a Play Action International playgrounds but needs to raise £1,350 to be able to do this. Happy Days were more than happy to donate to help Emily achieve her target.

Emily said, “After my previous experience, I haven’t stopped thinking about how incredible the experience was and haven’t stopped saying to my colleagues at Happy Days how much I would love to go back and do this again. Play is something I am so passionate about after my studies at university and my experiences at Happy Days and I want to be able to provide this knowledge to everyone around me! Play is such an amazing thing, the happiness it can bring to children’s faces and the learning that comes from a child’s play is so unexpected sometimes! I am so passionate about giving every child the opportunity to play, so this is why I am working with Play Action International again to make this happen!”

Jackie Cambridge, Head of Quality, commented, “Play influences the way a child’s brain develops and it is therefore fundamental that we recognise the importance of providing high quality play environments and experiences which nurture a child’s learning and development. Play enables children to explore and discover the world around them. During play children practise new skills as well as learning about themselves and those around them. The positive effects of play are far reaching, all children have the right to play!”

We wish Emily all the best and can’t wait to see the photos from her amazing trip!

Anyone wishing to donate can visit Emily’s Just Giving page:  www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emilyinkenya

Happy Days are calling on students, teachers and anyone else who has spare time on their hands during the summer months, to join them and spend the summer in one of their local nurseries, having the best time with the children.

Whether you love working outside in the garden or woodland areas, are excited by STEM, or want to pass on your drama skills by reading and performing stories with the children; there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Their nurseries are opening their doors this summer to support anyone interested in a career in childcare to develop their skills and learn more about the opportunities available in a caring and fun environment.

Even if you’re not looking for a career in childcare but have a passion for caring for children and want to earn an income over the summer, then there are positions available for you.

Working in childcare empowers you to inspire a generation of children, who in turn will shape the future of the world. Where else can you becoming a train, a doctor, an astronaut, a tiger, and a gardener all in one day?

So, if you want to have a Summer of Fun with the children and earn a wage at the same time, get in touch today – we have seasonal vacancies across the South West – why not spend your summer in sunny Cornwall or vibrant Bristol?

Come and inspire their future and inspire your future, with a summer job in childcare.

Email: recruitment@happydaysnurseries.com for more information

It’s back! Bigger and better than before! 

Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools are delighted to once again be running their Summer of Fun campaign, following the success of last year. So dust off your sun hat, dig out the sun cream and prepare for an awesome Summer of Fun!

Happy Days Summer of Fun campaign consists of a host of activities for children, families and colleagues – bringing communities together so that everyone, no matter what their age, can enjoy a Summer of Fun with their local Happy Days nursery.

A major highlight of the campaign are the Happy Days Let’s Get Active Open Days being held on 24th June and 1st July – celebrating School Sports Week with a host of sporty activities for the whole family to enjoy. Everyone who attends will be able to enter a Free Prize Draw to be in with a chance of winning £200 worth of family sports equipment. Head on over to Let’s Get Active (happydaysnurseries.com).

Happy Days are once again proud to be supporting their local charity, Children’s Hospice South West, sponsoring the Rainbow Run Cornwall on 17 June and raising money for this exceptional charity during their Let’s Get Active Open Days.

Are you ready for a Summer of Fun? Then keep a look out on social media and the Happy Days website for more details of the activities planned.

Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools is delighted to have been given the opportunity to expand its portfolio further with the acquisition of The Hollies Daycare Nursery, Cardiff. This is the first setting in Wales and demonstrates its desire to move into new areas outside South West England as part of its ambitious expansion plans.

The Hollies Daycare Nursery was established in March 2002 and quickly gained an excellent reputation for providing first class quality of care for children from 6 weeks to 8 years in the Canton area of Cardiff. The Hollies now accommodates 148 children providing them with exciting learning opportunities and stimulating play experiences.

Kim Herbert, Managing Director for Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools stated, “As soon as we met Lisa Cronk and David Hutchings and viewed their fantastic nursery we knew this was a setting we wanted to be associated with. Their values and beliefs of providing children with the very best care and education align with our own and we are looking forward to building on this. The staff team at The Hollies will remain in place and we look forward to working with them to support children to become strong and motivated learners for life and provide a top class service to enable parents to work and live their daily lives knowing their children are cherished and cared for to the highest standard. 

Lisa Cronk and David Hutchings, outgoing owners of The Hollies Daycare Nursery said: “From our initial contact onwards, we have been impressed with the Happy Days ethos and approach to providing first class day-care provision. We move on, safe in the knowledge that Happy Days will continue to provide a quality focussed, nurturing and caring environment for our children.”

Kevin Higgs, Development Director for Happy Days Nurseries, said, “This is an exciting acquisition for us, following on from our expansion into Worcestershire with our new Droitwich nursery, we are now venturing into Wales, enabling us to provide inspiring childcare and education to more families across the UK.”

Fiona Blackwell, Operations Director, added, “The Hollies is the perfect fit for us and we look forward to welcoming our new colleagues and families into the Happy Days Group.”

Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools has now increased their total number of settings to 21, with more new nurseries in the pipeline. Anyone interested in selling their business, or a developer looking for a nursery provider to partner with, should contact

Kevin Higgs: kevin.higgs@happydaysnurseries.com;
Kim Herbert kim.herbert@happydaysnureries.com
Marcia Viccars marcia.viccars@happydaysnurseries.com

For more information on Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools visit www.happydaysnurseries.com  

For more information on The Hollies Daycare Nursery, Cardiff, visit https://www.holliesnursery.co.uk/ 

Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools are delighted to once again be the yellow paint station sponsors for the Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) Rainbow Run on 17th June 2023.

The CHSW Rainbow Run is Cornwall’s most colourful, family-friendly 5k this summer and raises funds to provide vital care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. These fund raising efforts make a big difference and help brighten families’ lives in their darkest times.

The Rainbow Run, Cornwall is open to anyone over the age of 5. You can run, skip, walk or jog with family, friends or work colleagues. However you choose to take part, you will be showered in powder paint at 7 different coloured stations and you will be making a difference every step of the way. 

Happy Days will once again be throwing yellow paint at runners as well as having a presence in the Events Village where you will be able to have your face painted, with all proceeds going to CHSW. This is a great family, fun filled day out!

Karen D’Aguilar, Head of Sales and Marketing, stated, “This will be my second year participating in the Rainbow Run and it is a thoroughly enjoyable event. This year we had the opportunity to visit Little Harbour Hospice for the launch of the event and it was a privilege to have a tour of the facilities and learn more about the care they offer. It has made us even more determined to raise vital funds for this fantastic charity. The attention to detail that has been given to the design of this hospice is outstanding and they truly provide a wonderful service to families in the local area. We aim to raise as much as possible this year, not just from this event but with fundraising activities throughout the year”

In addition to this sponsorship, Happy Days Nursery, Treloweth are entering a team to run the 5k. Jo Lawrence, Nursery Manager, said, “This is a great team building exercise and we are looking forward to an action packed, fun day, all whilst raising money for this worthy cause.”

If you would like to make a donation a fundraising page has been set up; visit the Just Giving page here or by scanning the QR code below. For every £20 raised, this will help to provide 1 hour of vital care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions. 

For more information on the Rainbow Run visit: https://www.chsw.org.uk/event/rainbow-run-cornwall-2023