We are very proud to share that we have finalists in not just one, but two categories at the Nursery World Awards 2026! 
One of our fantastic educators, Martin from Happy Days Salisbury is up for Nursery Educator of the Year, what an achievement! Martin’s award comes very well deserved after receiving beautiful testimonials from parents, carers and colleagues.
One parent spoke: ‘Martin has been my daughter’s key worker for a number of months now and a consistent, positive presence in her nursery experience since she was very young. When she first started, she was quite shy and reserved towards him, but Martin approached her with such patience, kindness, and sensitivity, allowing her to build trust at her own pace. He never rushed her, instead creating a safe and nurturing environment where she felt comfortable to come to him when she was ready. This gentle approach made an enormous difference in helping her settle and grow in confidence around a new person.
When my daughter transitioned into the eldest class and Martin became her key worker, she was genuinely thrilled. Each day, she comes home excited to share stories of the games they’ve played and the activities they’ve enjoyed together. It is especially meaningful to see how she carries his guidance into our home life—often repeating the values and routines Martin has instilled so thoughtfully with the children.
As a trained Norland nanny, choosing the right nursery for my daughter was something I considered very carefully. While the nursery itself stood out for many reasons, it is professionals like Martin who have made our experience truly exceptional. Having worked in nurseries myself, I am very aware of what distinguishes a great practitioner from an average one. Martin’s enthusiasm, attention to detail, and genuine care for each child are evident in everything he does—from the engaging activities he leads to the thoughtful and thorough handovers he provides.
He has a rare ability to make you feel that your child is deeply valued and understood. Every interaction leaves me reassured that my daughter is not only well cared for, but truly appreciated for who she is. His warmth, positivity, and passion for his role shine through daily.
I also had the pleasure of attending a parents’ evening that Martin presented. Despite his occasional natural shyness, he spoke with sincerity and pride about his work, clearly demonstrating how much he cares about the children and his role in their development. It was both touching and inspiring to see.
I am writing this with a smile, knowing my daughter has been supported and guided by such a wonderful individual. I have no doubt that every child in Martin’s care is valued, respected, and cared for wholeheartedly. He is an exceptional educator and truly deserving of this recognition.
And our beautiful nursery Edward Bears Private Daycare has been shortlisted for the Enabling Environments Award.
Edward Bears believes in the holistic development of children. Their curriculum, inspired by the latest research in early childhood education, it is centred around the child and is tailored to meet the developmental needs of each age group, fostering emotional, social, physical, and intellectual growth.
Through a blend of structured activities and free play, children are encouraged to explore their interests, develop creativity, and cultivate a love of learning.
Our dedicated team of qualified educators and caregivers are passionate about making a difference in children’s lives. They provide personalised care and education to ensure each child feels valued, understood, and supported in their developmental journey.
Continuous professional development ensures our staff stays at the forefront of educational best practices, enabling them to offer the best possible learning experiences for our children.
Our role is to facilitate, guide, and support, rather than direct, allowing children’s natural curiosity to lead the way.
The 2026 Nursery World award categories provide the opportunity to celebrate and recognise the amazing work that goes on right across our sector and continues to be the most prestigious accolades in early years. Winners will be chosen by a distinguished panel of expert judges that represents the diversity of disciplines and organisations that make up the sector. These judges will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to evaluate each entry, considering how well it aligns with its stated objectives.
The Awards will take place in London on September 26th.
Both incredibly well deserved and we couldn’t be prouder. Well done team and good luck! 
Come and see our nursery in action!
Are you considering a nursery place for your child? We warmly invite you to our Open House at Farlington Day Nursery, a perfect opportunity to explore our setting and find out what makes us special.
No need to book, just pop in when you can!
What to expect:
– A tour of our newly refurbished nursery
– A chance to meet our experienced, friendly team
– Information about early years funding, fees, and availability
– Insights into our engaging curriculum and daily routine
– A look at our menus and approach to nutrition
– And answers to all your questions!
For parents and carers of children aged 0–5
📍 Farlington Day Nursery, 376 Havant Road, Portsmouth, PO6 1NF
📅 Tuesday 14 July 2026
🕘 9:30am to 11:30am
No booking required
Whether you’re ready to enrol or just exploring options, we’d love to welcome you in and help you feel confident in your child’s next step.
Rainbow Discoveries and Colourful Learning
1 mins
Jul 01, 2026
Our children enjoyed taking part in a fun and engaging rainbow-themed activity, filled with opportunities for exploration and discovery. We began by talking about how beautiful rainbows appear in the sky and learned that real rainbows are created when sunlight shines through tiny water droplets in the air, bending the light to reveal all the wonderful colours of the rainbow.
Inspired by our discussion, the children worked collaboratively to carefully arrange colourful Skittles in a circle on a plate. They showed fantastic teamwork, taking turns and talking about the different colours as they created their rainbow pattern. Once water was added, everyone watched with excitement as the colours slowly spread and blended together, creating a stunning rainbow effect.
This hands-on activity also gave us the opportunity to explore colour mixing and make predictions about what might happen when the colours met. The children were fascinated by the changes they observed and enjoyed sharing their ideas with one another.
To extend our learning even further, we used our senses to investigate the Skittles. We talked about the different textures before and after they became wet, noticed the sweet smells, and carefully described what we could see, feel, and smell. This encouraged lots of rich language, curiosity, and scientific thinking.
It was a wonderful activity that combined science, teamwork, sensory exploration, and creativity. The children thoroughly enjoyed making their own rainbows and discovering how something as simple as sweets and water could lead to so much learning and excitement!
Why Settling in Sessions Matter in Early Years
5 mins
Jun 11, 2026
Starting a new nursery is an anxious time for both parents and children, which is why a structured and generous settling in process is so important.
Every child is different and for that reason a good settling in process should take as long as you and your child need. Every child will respond differently; some will settle straight away and others will need more time and reassurance before they are ready to spend time away from you.
What are Settling in Sessions?
Settling in Sessions are designated days where you can attend nursery with your child before they start their regular attendance. They allow children to get used to the nursery environment, team and routine with the comfort of their parent/carer present, as each sessions go on the duration of time at nursery and away from their parent/carer will increase. We feel this sets your child up for the best start as it leaves them with a sense of understanding and comfortability with nursery life before their first day.
What does a thorough settling in process look like?
At Happy Days we have a unique settling in process that starts 6-8 weeks before your child’s start date, with the first few visits to nursery lasting only an hour, with you, their parent/carer, staying with them. We will work at your child’s pace, gradually lengthening the time they are in nursery and are away from their parent. The settling in process can take as long as your child needs.
The Settling in Process
Step 1: The Key Person
The first step in the settling in process is allocating your child to their Key Person.
At Happy Days, we are committed to adopting the Key Person approach to ensure that every child’s care is tailored to meet their individual needs. The Key Person will provide consistent and continuous care in order to support the development of close attachments which support a child’s emotional wellbeing, providing a secure base from which to learn. Children thrive when their needs are met by people they know, trust and respect.
Your child’s Key Person will build relationships with you so you feel reassured and confident that an adult who is tuned in to your child’s individual needs is caring for your child.
Your child’s Key Person will:
- Develop secure attachments with your child to support their emotional wellbeing
- Develop a collaborative partnership with you to ensure a continuity of care and learning between home and Nursery
- Effectively communicate with you on a daily basis regarding your child’s day and learning experiences
- Wherever possible meet the individual intimate care needs of your child
- Continually monitor and assess the developmental progress of your child
- Ensure that regular communication regarding your child’s development is shared with you
- Support your child’s positive transition into Nursery and when they transition to another room/school
We will allocate your Key Person based on your child’s personality, likes and dislikes and try and align these with the Key Person. Don’t worry if your child does not form an attachment with their Key Person initially, these relationships take time and will develop over the course of the settling in process. However, on the rare occasion a child does not form a bond with their Key Person a new one will be allocated and the settling in process will continue whilst your child gets to know their new Key Person.
You will be advised of who your child’s Key Person is prior to your start date and your Key Person or Nursery Manager will contact you to arrange your settling in sessions.
Step 2: Settling In Sessions
- Upon arrival at the setting the Nursery Manager will introduce you to your child’s Key Person and the rest of the room team
- Your Key Person will have an age appropriate activity ready for your child’s settling in session
- Together with your Key Person you will discuss the ‘Getting to Know Me Form’ to ensure that full information has been gathered in relation to your child’s individual needs
- We request that you bring along a picture of your family and any pets from home that we can keep at nursery
- The first session will be for a short period of time where we ask you to stay
What to expect on your first settling in session:
At the end of the first session, we will discuss how you felt the session has gone and arrange further sessions with the length and number of these depending on how your child has settled in their first session. Don’t worry, we will assess and review these sessions every time you and your child visit and slow down or speed up the process, depending on your child’s needs.
The aim is to increase the length of the settling in sessions and the period your child is away from you, whilst allowing your child to experience every part of nursery life including, meal times, sleep time, snacks, outdoor play, structured activities and more.
At the end of the settling in process, your child will be ready and eager to start nursery, enabling you to drop off on the first day confident that your child is happy, settled and well cared for.
Happy Days Settling in session FAQ
Q. Are they free?
A. YES!
Q. When do they take place?
A. 8 weeks before preferred start date whenever possible.
Q. How many do you have to do?
A. Duration is completely dependent on the nurseries recommendation and parents preference, however 8 weeks is our recommendation whenever possible.
Q. What if my child does not settle?
A. Every child is different and that’s why our settling in process can take as long as your child needs.
The First Day
We know that even though you and your child have been through the settling in process, the first day can still be an anxious time for you and your child. Your child’s Key Person will be there to greet you and your child and help them settle in quickly.
What to Bring to Nursery
- At least one change of clothes
- A sunhat during the Summer months
- A pair of wellies
- In colder weather, a woolly hat, gloves and warm coat (the children will explore the outdoor environment in all weathers)
- Any medication your child may need during the session (please see our Medication Policy)
- Any comforters your child may need throughout their time at Nursery
Top Tips
Focus on the positive: When getting ready for nursery having a positive conversation is very important. Having your child think about positive memories should help ensure they settle well and feel happy to wave goodbye in the morning.
Routine: Having a routine in the morning is also a good way of helping your child settle. Start by saying goodbye and explain when you will be back e.g. after lunch or after tea.
Come and see our nursery in action!
Are you considering a nursery place for your child? We warmly invite you to our Open House at Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Tonbridge, a perfect opportunity to explore our setting and find out what makes us special.
No need to book, just pop in when you can!
What to expect:
– A tour of our newly refurbished nursery
– A chance to meet our experienced, friendly team
– Information about early years funding, fees, and availability
– Insights into our engaging curriculum and daily routine
– A look at our menus and approach to nutrition
– And answers to all your questions!
For parents and carers of children aged 0–5
📍 Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Waterloo Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2SN
📅 Thursday 18 June 2026
🕘 9am to 11am
No booking required
Whether you’re ready to enrol or just exploring options, we’d love to welcome you in and help you feel confident in your child’s next step.
Come and see our nursery in action!
Are you considering a nursery place for your child? We warmly invite you to our Open House at Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Tonbridge, a perfect opportunity to explore our setting and find out what makes us special.
No need to book, just pop in when you can!
What to expect:
– A tour of our newly refurbished nursery
– A chance to meet our experienced, friendly team
– Information about early years funding, fees, and availability
– Insights into our engaging curriculum and daily routine
– A look at our menus and approach to nutrition
– And answers to all your questions!
For parents and carers of children aged 0–5
📍 Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Waterloo Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2SN
📅 Tuesday 16 June 2026
🕘 9am to 11am
No booking required
Whether you’re ready to enrol or just exploring options, we’d love to welcome you in and help you feel confident in your child’s next step.
Come and see our nursery in action!
Are you considering a nursery place for your child? We warmly invite you to our Open House at Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Tunbridge Wells, a perfect opportunity to explore our setting and find out what makes us special.
No need to book, just pop in when you can!
What to expect:
– A tour of our newly refurbished nursery
– A chance to meet our experienced, friendly team
– Information about early years funding, fees, and availability
– Insights into our engaging curriculum and daily routine
– A look at our menus and approach to nutrition
– And answers to all your questions!
For parents and carers of children aged 0–5
📍 Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Clanricarde Garden, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1PH
📅 Friday 10 July 2026
🕘 9am to 11am
No booking required
Whether you’re ready to enrol or just exploring options, we’d love to welcome you in and help you feel confident in your child’s next step.
Come and see our nursery in action!
Are you considering a nursery place for your child? We warmly invite you to our Open House at Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Tunbridge Wells, a perfect opportunity to explore our setting and find out what makes us special.
No need to book, just pop in when you can!
What to expect:
– A tour of our newly refurbished nursery
– A chance to meet our experienced, friendly team
– Information about early years funding, fees, and availability
– Insights into our engaging curriculum and daily routine
– A look at our menus and approach to nutrition
– And answers to all your questions!
For parents and carers of children aged 0–5
📍 Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Clanricarde Garden, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1PH
📅 Friday 19 June 2026
🕘 9am to 11am
No booking required
Whether you’re ready to enrol or just exploring options, we’d love to welcome you in and help you feel confident in your child’s next step.