At Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools, we understand that the first months and years of parenthood can be as overwhelming as they are wonderful. Feelings of loneliness, anxiety, or loss of confidence are more common than many realise, with studies showing that around one in ten new mothers experience postnatal depression within a year of giving birth.

That’s why our nurseries go far beyond childcare. We create spaces where families can connect, communicate and feel supported, emotionally, socially and practically, from the very start of their journey.

Building Bonds Through Music & Movement

Across our nurseries, we offer free Parent & Baby sessions, from baby massage and Stay & Play groups to first aid workshops. These sessions are designed to help parents feel part of a caring community, creating opportunities to meet others, share experiences, and build friendships that last.

Music and movement play a powerful role in this. Research shows that singing, rhythm, and coordinated activity can reduce stress hormones, lift mood, and strengthen bonding between parent and child. Through our Boogie Mites and Let’s Move programmes, we see these benefits every day, when parents and babies sing, sway, or tap together, their breathing synchronises, stress levels drop, and confidence grows.

This approach aligns beautifully with our Where Children Shine curriculum, particularly our focus on nurturing Strong & Confident Communicators and Healthy, Independent Explorers. Early musical experiences support emotional expression, language development, and social confidence, the very foundations of lifelong wellbeing.

A Connected Start to Nursery Life

We know that starting nursery is a huge milestone, for both children and parents. That’s why our settling-in process is completely tailored to each family. We start sessions around six to eight weeks before your child’s start date, taking the time to build familiarity and trust at your child’s own pace.

Every child is also introduced to their Key Person, a dedicated practitioner who provides consistency, comfort, and a secure base from which your child can explore and learn. This relationship helps both children and parents feel confident and reassured during transitions.

And communication doesn’t stop at the nursery door. Our famly app acts as a secure digital hub, keeping parents up to date with their child’s daily activities, meals, naps, and milestones. Parents can receive photos, videos, and developmental observations in real time, while also sharing their own updates from home. It’s an easy, two-way partnership that ensures families remain connected, supported, and informed every step of the way.

The app also features a Parent Hub, a space full of practical guidance, early learning ideas, and wellbeing resources designed to help families continue their child’s development at home.

Community, Connection & Wellbeing

At Happy Days, our nurseries act as true community hubs. We know that parenting can sometimes feel isolating, so we work hard to create networks of support and friendship. From New Mums & Dads Facebook groups in Bristol and Cornwall to family events, open days, and coffee mornings, we offer plenty of opportunities for parents to connect, share advice, and find reassurance.

Many of our nurseries also host charity events, food bank collections, and clothing swaps, helping families support one another and give back to the local community. This sense of belonging benefits everyone, families, children, and the communities around them.

Helping Families Shine Together

At Happy Days, we believe every family deserves to feel supported, seen, and heard. Whether it’s through our parent app, music sessions, community events, or tailored settling-in support, everything we do is designed to help families feel confident and connected and to help children truly shine.

👉 Find your local Happy Days nursery by clicking here and explore our free Parent & Baby sessions today.

Happy Days Nurseries recently hosted three half-day apprenticeship events over the past two weeks as part of National Apprenticeship Week, an exciting chance for our growing cohort of over 100 apprentices to connect face-to-face.

These events were organised by Claire Drake, our Learning and Development Lead, and delivered in partnership with Realise, one of our apprenticeship training providers. They supported and educated our apprentices on completing their Off-the-Job (OTJ) hours, a vital component of their apprenticeship programmes. We also focused on helping apprentices stay on track, share experiences, and understand the impact they have on the wider Happy Days Nurseries business.

“These sessions gave apprentices a chance to meet peers at different stages of their programmes, share advice, and build supportive networks,” said Claire Drake. “It’s rare for everyone to come together like this, and it was fantastic to see the engagement and enthusiasm throughout.”

The sessions were highly interactive, featuring quizzes, group activities, and discussions designed to explore common challenges in completing apprenticeships. Together with Realise, we guided apprentices through strategies for managing OTJ hours effectively, while activities encouraged reflection on how apprentices contribute to the business and how our central teams can support them. We also emphasised how our apprentices demonstrate the Happy Days Nurseries SHINE Values in everything they do.

Feedback from our apprentices highlighted the value of the sessions:

Karen from Toddletown Godalming Nursery commented, “The activities were a great insight into apprenticeships. The OTJ guidance from Realise was especially handy. Overall, it was a great session, thank you for putting it all together!”

Ellie Williams, Marketing Apprentice at Happy Days Nurseries, shared: “It was a great event that really brought apprentices together. It was interesting to learn from each other’s experiences across different types of apprenticeships, and to share ideas around Off-the-Job hours and how we can apply them within our own roles. Thank you to Victoria and Claire for organising and delivering such an engaging and supportive session, it made a real difference.”

Our apprentices also shared that they enjoyed meeting peers, learning practical tips on OTJ hours, participating in activities, and understanding more about the wider Happy Days Nurseries business.

Victoria Clifford-Jones from Realise praised the session for its delivery and impact: “It was an extremely well-delivered and valuable session. The event created a welcoming and supportive environment where apprentices could share ideas and learn from one another. Face-to-face training clearly boosts confidence, collaboration, and understanding. We really enjoyed being part of it and supporting the OTJ session, it was a pleasure to contribute.”

All three sessions were met with enthusiasm, engagement, and meaningful discussion, reflecting our strong commitment at Happy Days Nurseries to nurturing our apprentices and supporting their development.

If you are interested in finding out more about the apprenticeships offered at Happy Days Nurseries, please visit:
👉 https://happydaysnurseries.com/careers/

Every career has a starting point. For David, now a Regional Operations Manager here at Happy Days Nurseries, it began with an apprenticeship, a decision that set him on a path from the nursery floor to senior leadership within early years. 

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with David to reflect on his journey so far and how an apprenticeship has helped shape his career. 

David joined the early years sector as a Level 2 apprentice in a nursery setting, gaining hands-on experience while learning the foundations of the role. From the outset, the apprenticeship gave him the chance to build real skills, confidence, and a clear understanding of the impact early years professionals have on children’s lives. 

When asked why he chose an apprenticeship and what inspired him to work in early years, David shared a personal story from his own childhood. 
“I always remember a teacher from my primary school who had a really positive impact on me, and this inspired me to want to do the same. I wanted to have a positive influence on children during their early years, which is such an important stage of development.” 

It quickly became clear that early years wasn’t just a job for David, it was the career path he wanted to follow. 

“Early on in my apprenticeship, I realised that early years was the industry for me, so I decided to continue along that path. After completing my Level 3 studies, I was keen to keep learning and went on to complete leadership and management training. This is where I developed a desire to become a leader, not only to have an impact on children’s early years, but also to inspire practitioners to want to make that difference too.” 

Those next steps gave David a new perspective. Supporting children’s growth and learning remained at the heart of his work, while his passion also grew to include guiding and inspiring teams, mentoring other practitioners, and shaping the culture of the settings he worked in. 
 
Through continued learning, dedication, and experience, David progressed through a range of roles within nursery settings, building his leadership skills and supporting teams along the way. 

“I’ve been fortunate to continue progressing within an industry that I genuinely enjoy working in. I’ve moved up through the ranks within settings, and today I am a Regional Operations Manager.” 

When asked what advice he would give to someone considering an apprenticeship in early years, David’s message was clear. 
“Just do it. There are so many directions you can go in, and an apprenticeship really does support people in building a lifelong career.” 

David’s story is a powerful example of how apprenticeships can open doors, build confidence, and create genuine opportunities for progression. 
If you’re looking to kickstart your career in early years, why not start as an apprentice at Happy Days? We are proud to support the apprenticeship scheme, offering hands-on experience, structured learning, and clear pathways for growth within a supportive and nurturing environment. 

Please visit our careers page for more information: https://happydaysnurseries.com/careers/
 

To kick of National Apprenticeship Week, Leanne Marie (Early Years and Education Trainer Development Officer at Realise) visited the team at Happy Days Verwood to present Bella with her Apprentice of the Year Award.

Bella joined Happy days at the age of 16, straight from school. She introduced herself at an open event when she was 16 eager to start her career in early years. Her strong work ethic is admired and her passion for early years education shines through.

Bella consistently makes a meaningful difference to the lives of children and families and is an outstanding apprentice who will undoubtedly go far in her career in the early years sector, for which she deserves to be recognised. When she reached the end of her level 3 qualification she was awarded a Merit.

Leanne said: “I could not be more proud of Bella and all her hard work that led to her not only being an Early Achiever, but also receiving a Merit for her Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship! Bella is an outstanding practitioner and a true asset to the Early Years Sector! Congratulations on such a well deserved award! Hard work does pay off and you smashed it!”

Bella was also a NMT Apprentice of the Year Finalist and Shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at the Happy Days Shine Awards 2026!

National Apprenticeship Week is an entire week to celebrate the dedication our apprentices have for their education and commitment to create an environment where children can shine. Bella is just one of the 100+ Apprentices currently training at Happy Days Nurseries and we are using National Apprenticeship Week to celebrate every single one of them. Learn more about our other amazing apprentices through our Facebook and TikTok feeds throughout the week.

If you are looking to start your Apprentice journey then visit our careers page: https://happydaysnurseries.com/careers/