Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools expands to 39 settings with acquisition of Snowdrop House Montessori Nursery Group

Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools is delighted to announce the next exciting step in our ambitious growth plan with the acquisition of Snowdrop House Montessori Nursery Group. This expansion brings our total number of settings to 39, including our nursery in the final stages of construction, Boorley Green.

Snowdrop House Montessori Nursery Group comprises two well-established nurseries in Haywards Heath: Primrose House Nursery and Snowdrop House Nursery. Primrose House is located in a bright, spacious detached building in the heart of Haywards Heath. Snowdrop House is nestled within Franklands Village, positioned beside a beautiful park with open fields and woodland, and features a purpose-built, secure play area and dedicated baby garden.

Both nurseries share our values and commitment to providing children with the very best care and education. Their ethos reflects a deep belief in nurturing independent, motivated learners within a safe, stimulating, and well-resourced environment, an approach that aligns seamlessly with our own. We are pleased to confirm that the existing staff teams will remain in place, and we look forward to working alongside them to support children to become confident, curious, and enthusiastic learners for life.

Commenting on the acquisition, Kim Herbert, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Snowdrop House Montessori Nursery Group into the Happy Days family. Their high-quality care and education complement our own vision of giving every child the best start in life. We look forward to spending time in our new nurseries, getting to know our new colleagues and families, and learning more about their communities.”

Carole Ann Benson, outgoing owner of Snowdrop House Montessori Group, said, “It’s been my great honour and pleasure to run nursery schools for 30 years. My husband and I decided it was the right time to step away and fulfil other lifetime ambitions. Snowdrop House Montessori Nursery and Primrose House Montessori Nursery have excellent reputations in West Sussex, and we wished to pass them on to a group with an amazing reputation. Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools has the same high standards of childcare and education as we do. I am confident that the nurseries will go from strength to strength under their leadership. I will greatly miss the nurseries and my amazing team.”

Anyone interested in discussing opportunities to sell their nursery, or developers seeking a trusted nursery partner, is invited to contact:
Kevin Higgs: kevin.higgs@happydaysnurseries.com
Kim Herbert: kim.herbert@happydaysnurseries.com
Marcia Viccars: marcia.viccars@happydaysnurseries.com

We are thrilled to share that Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School in Boorley Green is nearing completion and on track to officially open its doors in January. The build has progressed beautifully, and our brand-new nursery is almost ready to welcome children into a warm, inspiring and purpose-built learning environment.

To mark this exciting milestone, we are inviting local families to step inside and experience the nursery for themselves throughout December, ahead of our January opening.

December Small-Group Tours – Limited Availability

For the first time since construction began, families will be able to explore the fully furnished nursery, including all age-group rooms and shared spaces. Our small-group tours provide the perfect opportunity to:

• Take a guided walk through the new nursery

• Meet members of our wonderful team

• Learn more about our approach to childcare and early education

• Ask any questions you may have ahead of enrolment

Tour dates and times are limited, so early booking is strongly recommended. Simply select your preferred slot via the link on our event page.

Festive Open House – 22nd December

In addition to our scheduled tours, we are also excited to host a special Christmas Open House on Monday 22nd December. Families are invited to drop in, enjoy some festive fun, take a look around the nursery, and meet the team in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. This is a wonderful chance to celebrate the season while getting a final preview before we open in January.

We can’t wait to welcome you

Whether you join us for a small-group tour or the Christmas Open House, we look forward to meeting you and sharing what makes Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School such a special place for children to learn, play and grow.

Keep an eye on our website and social media for further updates — and don’t forget to book your tour soon to secure your place!

Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools, one of the UK’s leading early years education providers, has secured a £30 million growth funding facility from OakNorth Bank to accelerate its expansion across southern England.

The new facility will support Happy Days’ strategic plan to grow from its current 36 nurseries, double the size of its portfolio just three years ago to more than 43 sites by early 2026 with a long-term vision to reach 60–80 nurseries in the coming years.

The capital will be used to acquire and open new nurseries, upgrade existing facilities, and strengthen operational capabilities, enabling the group to meet rising demand for high-quality early years education and childcare.

Kim Herbert, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Days Nurseries, said:

“This funding marks a pivotal moment for Happy Days. With 36 nurseries already established and strong demand for our services, we are now well positioned to accelerate our growth and achieve our goal of operating more than 43 nurseries by early 2026 with a long-term vision to reach 60-80 nurseries in the coming years. I want to recognise the outstanding role Toni Kilby, our CFO, played in leading this funding process. Her expertise and commitment were central to securing this facility and building a strong partnership with OakNorth Bank, which will support our expansion journey.”

Toni Kilby, Chief Financial Officer of Happy Days Nurseries, added:

“The funding process was rigorous and thorough, but it provided a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our business model and long-term vision. OakNorth’s team approached the partnership with professionalism and a collaborative spirit, and together we built a strong foundation for future growth. We look forward to working closely with OakNorth as we continue to expand and deliver outstanding early years education across the UK.”

Deepesh Thakrar, Managing Director of Debt Finance at OakNorth, continued: “Happy Days is a standout operator in the UK childcare sector, high-quality, well-run, and delivering on its ambition to build a scaled, high-performing early years education platform. The management team has a clear strategy, and with Zetland’s backing, they’re executing it with discipline and pace. The recent acquisition of Edward Bears Nursery in Gloucestershire reflects the group’s continues commitment to quality, scale, and integration efficiency. We’re pleased to support them with a flexible facility that provides certainty and room to grow.”

Happy Days Day Nursery in Poole is celebrating after achieving a ‘Good’ rating in all areas following its latest Ofsted inspection, carried out between 23 July and 12 August 2025.

Inspectors praised the nursery for providing a warm, nurturing environment where children form strong, loving relationships with staff and build empathy, patience, and kindness towards others. The report highlighted how staff consistently meet children’s needs with care and respect, creating a safe and secure atmosphere where every child can thrive.

The nursery was commended for delivering an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that supports every child’s unique learning journey. Inspectors noted the range of innovative and hands-on activities that encourage children to explore and build on their experiences — from making paint out of crushed blackberries to creating brushes from natural materials found in the nursery’s ‘Wild Garden’.

Children benefit from a wealth of opportunities to learn about the world around them, including bug hunts, making flower crowns to attract wildlife, and community visits to local care homes. The report also praised how staff promote children’s physical and emotional wellbeing through daily outdoor play, mindfulness activities, and yoga sessions that help children relax and regulate their emotions.

Inspectors highlighted that children of all ages are supported to develop independence, communication, and problem-solving skills. Babies were seen exploring a wide range of sensory materials, while older children built on their curiosity through discovery and investigation — using magnifying glasses to identify creatures and expanding their vocabulary with complex words such as “multiple” and “cobwebs.”

The report also celebrated the nursery’s strong partnerships with parents, noting how families speak highly of staff and the care they provide. Inspectors recognised how staff “go above and beyond” to ensure the best possible experience for children and maintain open, proactive communication with families.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive excellent support, with staff identifying additional needs swiftly and working closely with professionals to implement targeted strategies. Parents are also provided with valuable resources and drop-in clinics to help continue learning at home.

The inspection praised the leadership and management team for fostering a strong culture of wellbeing, professional development, and ambition. Staff benefit from continuous training, including SEND and the ‘Maths Champion’ programme, ensuring that learning opportunities are always rich, purposeful, and inclusive.

Located on Beechbank Avenue in Creekmoor, Happy Days Poole is a purpose-built nursery with designated parent parking and direct access to its beautiful outdoor spaces. Earlier this year, the nursery underwent a major expansion, opening a brand new baby room designed with calming colours, natural materials, and age-appropriate resources to support children under two.

Children at Poole benefit from exceptional outdoor learning opportunities in the nursery’s woodland area, complete with mud kitchens, a veggie patch, story den, wildflower meadow, and nature trail. The setting also continues its environmental efforts through the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award and the Woodland Trust Green Schools Award, encouraging children to become environmentally aware from an early age.

You can read the full Ofsted report by clicking here.

From November 2025, Ofsted will begin using a new Early Years Inspection Toolkit for all nurseries, preschools, and childminders. This change is designed to make inspections clearer, fairer, and more focused on what really matters — children’s experiences, safety, and happiness.

What is the new toolkit?

The Early Years Inspection Toolkit replaces the existing inspection handbook and provides a clear framework for how Ofsted inspectors will evaluate early years settings. Rather than focusing purely on paperwork, the new approach looks more closely at what children actually experience day-to-day — ensuring that environments are safe, nurturing, and inclusive for every child.

What inspectors will look at

Inspectors will consider how well children:

• Achieve – Are all children learning, developing, and making good progress?
• Belong – Do all children feel safe, welcome, and included?
• Thrive – Are children happy, confident, and developing the skills and knowledge they need for the next stage of learning?

Alongside these core areas, inspectors will also evaluate safeguarding, inclusion, curriculum and teaching, children’s well-being, and leadership.

What’s new about the grading system?

After each visit, settings will receive a report card showing performance in different evaluation areas rather than one overall grade. A new five-point grading scale will be introduced, replacing the previous “overall effectiveness” judgement.

This change gives parents and carers a clearer, more transparent overview of how their child’s nursery or preschool is performing in specific areas, highlighting strengths and areas for development.

What this means for parents and practitioners

For parents, this provides a more meaningful insight into a setting’s quality. Instead of a single word like “Good” or “Outstanding,” you’ll be able to see how your child’s setting performs in different aspects of care and education.

For practitioners and providers, it offers a fairer, more contextual assessment, acknowledging that every nursery is unique, with its own community, challenges, and successes.

How you can use this information

When reading Ofsted reports or speaking with your child’s nursery, consider asking:

• How does the nursery ensure every child feels included and valued?
• What does the curriculum look like in practice?
• How are children’s interests and progress supported each day?
• How does leadership reflect on and improve practice?

Why this matters

The new inspection framework reflects a wider shift across early years, from compliance to impact. It focuses on how children are supported to learn, develop, and thrive, and how each setting creates a safe, inclusive environment that helps children feel they belong.

Ultimately, these changes are designed to give both parents and practitioners a clearer picture of quality, ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.

The Benefits of Stay and Play Sessions for Parents and Children

Becoming a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but it’s also one of the most challenging. Those early months and years can be filled with joy, laughter, and discovery, yet also moments of loneliness, anxiety, and self-doubt. For many new parents, it can feel like you’ve stepped into a whole new world, one that doesn’t come with an instruction manual.

That’s where Stay and Play sessions can make a real difference.

These relaxed, welcoming groups are designed for parents and children to enjoy quality time together in a fun, social setting. But beyond the toys, Stay and Plays offer something far more meaningful, a sense of connection, community and confidence for both parent and child.

Finding Connection and Community

It’s no secret that parenthood can sometimes feel isolating. Between feeds, naps, and endless washing, it’s easy to lose touch with the outside world. Studies show that around one in ten mothers experience postnatal depression within the first year after birth and it’s important to remember that fathers and partners can feel the same way too.

Stay and Play sessions create a space where parents can simply be, no pressure, no expectations, just time to connect with others who understand. Conversations flow naturally as children play and before long, what starts as small talk often turns into friendship.

Many parents say that these sessions help them regain a sense of belonging, a reminder that they’re not alone in the ups and downs of early parenthood.

A Confidence Boost for Parents

For parents who may be feeling anxious, low in confidence, or uncertain about their new role, Stay and Plays can be a gentle first step. The welcoming, informal atmosphere helps build confidence in small, everyday ways, from chatting with another parent to watching your child try something new for the first time.

It’s also a chance to pick up ideas for play at home, share experiences and feel reassured that no one has it all figured out (despite what social media might suggest!).

And for Children?

Of course, Stay and Play sessions aren’t just beneficial for parents, they’re wonderful for children too. These sessions offer rich opportunities for little ones to explore new toys, textures, and activities, helping to build early social, emotional, and physical skills.

Through play, children learn to take turns, communicate, and express themselves. Sensory activities and messy play help develop fine motor skills, creativity, and curiosity. For many, it’s also their first experience of being around other children, a great way to prepare for future nursery or preschool life.

Stay and Plays come in all shapes and sizes, and no two sessions are the same. You might find:

• Messy Stay and Plays, where children can dive into paint, foam and textures, discovering the joy of creative play without trashing your carpet at home. 🎨
• Music-themed sessions, filled with songs, rhythm and movement to build early language and coordination. 🎵
• Themed adventures, like jungle or seasonal sessions, where little imaginations can run wild. 🦁

With so much variety, there’s something to suit every child’s interest and every parent’s comfort level.

A Peek Inside the Nursery

For families considering nursery care, Stay and Play sessions are also a wonderful way to see a setting in action. You can meet the team, explore the environment and get a real sense of how staff interact with children, all in an informal, relaxed way. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions (especially if you have ones on funding), observe the atmosphere and see if it feels like the right fit for your family.

Stay and Play with Happy Days

At Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools, we’re proud to offer a wide range of Stay and Play sessions across our settings, from messy play and music mornings to themed ocean adventures. They’re open to all families and everyone is welcome.

In the whirlwind of early parenthood, sometimes the smallest steps can make the biggest difference. Attending a Stay and Play might only take an hour out of your week, but the benefits, connection, confidence, friendship and shared joy, can last far longer.

✨ You can find your nearest free Stay and Play and upcoming dates on our Events Page by clicking here, come along, connect and see where children (and parents!) can truly shine.