Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School in Droitwich is celebrating after being shortlisted as a finalist for Nursery Team of the Year at the prestigious Nursery Management Today (NMT) Awards 2025.

The recognition follows the nursery’s recent Outstanding Ofsted inspection in August, which praised the team’s expert knowledge, care, and responsiveness. Inspectors highlighted the bespoke curriculum, strong parent partnerships, and inclusive, nurturing culture that ensures children thrive.

What sets the Droitwich team apart is their collaborative and child-centred approach. Practitioners work closely together to observe, assess, and plan for every child’s unique needs, ensuring learning is meaningful, playful, and responsive. From babies building early communication skills to pre-schoolers preparing confidently for school, the team consistently creates opportunities for children to flourish.

Parents have shared heartfelt praise for the nursery, describing it as “an extended family” where children are safe, supported, and inspired to learn. One parent commented: “Our son has flourished in their care—his confidence, communication, and curiosity have all developed so much, and it’s clear how much he enjoys being part of the setting.”

Sam, Operations Manager at Happy Days, added:
“The Droitwich team are truly special. Their passion for the children is obvious the moment you walk in, and they continually go above and beyond for the children, families, and each other. It’s no surprise they’ve been recognised nationally as one of the very best teams in the sector.”

The winners of the NMT Nursery Awards 2025 will be announced later this year at a ceremony celebrating excellence across the early years sector.

Happy Days Treloweth Nursery in Redruth is celebrating after achieving a ‘Good’ rating across all areas in its latest Ofsted inspection, carried out on 5 August 2025.

Inspectors praised the nursery for its warm, home-from-home environment, where children feel safe, secure, and excited to learn. Staff were commended for knowing children and their families well, building strong relationships that support both learning and wellbeing.

The report highlighted the nursery’s engaging curriculum, which prepares children for each stage of development. From babies learning new words through clear communication, to pre-schoolers building confidence ahead of starting school, staff were recognised for creating meaningful learning opportunities. Children were described as “curious learners” who show high levels of concentration and creativity.

Inspectors also noted the nursery’s focus on independence, with children cutting fruit, pouring drinks, and serving their own meals. Physical development was another strength, with outdoor yoga, ball games, and role play activities encouraging confidence, balance, and teamwork. Parents praised the nursery for its effective settling-in process, strong communication, and supportive staff.

Nursery Manager Jo said:
“We are delighted with this Ofsted outcome. It reflects the hard work, passion, and commitment of our dedicated team. We are proud to provide a nurturing environment where every child can flourish, and we will continue to build on this success to ensure the very best start in life for all children at Treloweth.”

Situated within the grounds of Treloweth CP School, the nursery has recently undergone a major refurbishment, including a brand-new baby room and enhanced outdoor garden. With free-flow access to natural play areas, a mud kitchen, growing zone, and outdoor classroom, the setting offers children rich opportunities to explore and learn.

You can read the full Ofsted report by clicking here.

Toddletown Day Nursery in Godalming is celebrating after being named Day Nursery of the Year at the 2025 Prestige Awards.

The awards, which recognise outstanding businesses across the UK, praised Toddletown for its service excellence, employee satisfaction, customer feedback, and dedication to providing high-quality childcare and education.

Karen Fish, Nursery Manager at Toddletown, proudly collected the award on behalf of the team. She said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this recognition. At Toddletown, we are passionate about creating a home-from-home environment where children can learn, grow and thrive. This award is a real testament to the hard work, commitment and care shown by our incredible team every single day.”

Based in Farncombe, just a short walk from Godalming town centre, Toddletown offers families a warm and welcoming nursery environment. With an extensive range of learning resources – from role play and arts and crafts to science, books and puzzles – the nursery is designed to inspire children’s creativity, curiosity and confidence.

Children of all ages enjoy opportunities to explore the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage. From the light and airy baby room, complete with sensory spaces and cosy reading corners, to exciting play areas for toddlers and preschoolers, the nursery is equipped to support every stage of development.

The judges at the Prestige Awards commended Toddletown for going above and beyond in its approach to childcare, with a focus on nurturing, supporting and inspiring children while providing families with a reliable and high-quality service.

Toddletown is now taking bookings for 2026 and looks forward to welcoming new families to its award-winning nursery community. You can book a tour here.

Cornish Early Childhood Conference to Support Children’s Hospice South West in Honour of Families Like Seth’s

Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools and Naturally Learning are proud to be hosting the Cornish Early Childhood Conference 2025 this Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September at the Pavilion Centre, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge. This inspiring two-day event will celebrate early years practice, bringing together leading voices, practical workshops, and an exhibitor showcase to support practitioners across Cornwall and the South West.

But this event has an even deeper meaning. All proceeds from the conference will be donated to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), ensuring that children with life-limiting conditions and their families continue to receive the vital care, compassion, and support they need.

For families like Seth’s, that support has been life-changing.

Seth, the youngest of four boys, was just four years old when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Following major surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the family enjoyed 15 precious months cancer-free, before a devastating relapse in 2020 revealed the illness was terminal. It was then that the family were first introduced to Little Harbour, CHSW’s hospice in St Austell, just a short drive from their home.

From the moment they walked through the doors, the hospice became a lifeline. Not only did the team provide expert medical support, they also helped the family to make treasured memories together – from sunny days in the sensory garden to laughter-filled activities with Seth’s brothers, and even bringing Christmas early when time felt short.

Reflecting on their journey, Seth’s parents shared:
“The hospice just takes you in and wraps a massive security blanket around you. They take away a lot of the fear and worry, and enable you to spend time together as a family at a time when you need it most. There’s so much love.”

While Seth sadly passed away in May 2021, his family continue to be supported by CHSW through bereavement care, sibling support, and community connections with other families. Their story is a powerful reminder of why fundraising for hospices is so important.

By attending the Cornish Early Childhood Conference this weekend, delegates will not only benefit from an inspiring programme featuring renowned speakers such as Jan Dubiel, Laura Henry, Ben Kingston-Hughes, and Alice Sharp, but also directly contribute to the incredible work of CHSW.

Mandy Richardson, Managing Director of Naturally Learning, said:
“This conference is about bringing the very best of the early years sector to Cornwall, but it’s also about giving back to our community. We are honoured that every ticket sold will support Children’s Hospice South West, a charity that makes such a profound difference to families in our region.”

Tickets are priced at just £30 per day, with sessions running from 8:30am–5:00pm, including a Cornish lunch and afternoon tea.

📅 Cornish Early Childhood Conference 2025
📍 Pavilion Centre, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge
📆 Friday 12th & Saturday 13th September 2025
🎟 Tickets: £30 per day – book now at Cornish Early Childhood Conference Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

With thanks to our Gold Sponsors: Famly, Community Play, EYLog, Hope, YPO, Ministry of Outdoor Education, Childcare Marketing, Owen Froebel, and MBK Training.

Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools Named Multiple Finalists at the NMT Nursery Awards 2025

Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools is proud to announce that we have been shortlisted as a finalist for Nursery Group of the Year at the prestigious Nursery Management Today (NMT) Awards 2025.

The NMT Nursery Awards are one of the most highly respected accolades in the early years sector, celebrating excellence, innovation, and dedication across nurseries, practitioners, and organisations throughout the UK. Being named a finalist is a significant achievement and demonstrates the impact of our continued commitment to providing the very best start in life for every child.

In addition to the Nursery Group of the Year category, Happy Days has been recognised as a finalist in five further awards:
Nursery Team of the Year
Deputy Manager of the Year
Community Nursery of the Year
Apprentice of the Year
SENCO of the Year

These shortlists highlight the outstanding contributions of our people at every level of the organisation, from apprentices taking their first steps into a childcare career to experienced managers and SENCOs ensuring inclusive practice for all children.

Chief Executive Officer, Kim, commented:
“We are truly honoured to be recognised across so many categories at this year’s NMT Awards. This recognition reflects the dedication, professionalism, and passion of our teams, who work tirelessly to create nurturing, inspiring environments where children can learn, grow, and shine. I couldn’t be prouder of our colleagues who bring our values to life every day.”

With 36 nurseries and pre-schools across the South West and South of England, Happy Days has built a strong reputation for high-quality childcare and early education. Our commitment to excellence is further underpinned by our SHINE values – Support, Honest, Inspire, Nurture, Empower – which guide everything we do.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and look forward to celebrating achievements across the sector at the awards ceremony later this year.

Teaching your baby or child to swim doesn’t require special equipment or a big pool, it begins with simple, playful steps you can take at home.

In this final episode of the Happy Days Nursery Podcast, Learn to Swim from Birth mini-series, Alice is joined by Jemma, Territory Manager at Water Babies, to share practical tips on how to teach babies and children to swim with confidence.

From bath-time splashes to those exciting first pool sessions, you’ll discover how to make water a safe, fun, and positive experience. Jemma explains essential safety techniques, strategies for nervous or hesitant children, and how songs, games, and play can build swimming skills. You’ll also find out what kit really matters and what you don’t need to buy.

Whether you’re introducing your child to swimming yourself or considering formal lessons, this episode gives you the tools, reassurance, and know-how to start your swimming journey together.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to make swimming safe, fun, and confidence-building for your child.

Swimming is more than a life skill, it’s a powerful way to support your baby or child’s growth from day one.

In this episode of the Happy Days Nursery Podcast, Alice is joined by Jemma, Territory Manager at Water Babies, to uncover the wide-ranging benefits of learning to swim from birth. Discover how swimming can boost physical strength, coordination, brain development, emotional confidence, resilience and even sleep and mood regulation.

You’ll also hear how swimming strengthens parent-child bonding and creates an inclusive, supportive environment for children with additional needs.

Whether your child is a natural water baby or feels a little hesitant around water, this conversation will show you how swimming can help them thrive in ways you might not expect.

🎧 Tune in now and learn why early swimming is one of the best gifts you can give your child.

Water safety for babies and children goes far beyond swimming lessons, it’s about creating awareness and building lifesaving habits from the very beginning.

In this episode of the Happy Days Nursery Podcast, Alice is joined by Jemma, Territory Manager at Water Babies, to share expert advice on why teaching water safety from birth is so important.

From bath time routines and paddling pools to holidays at the beach and swimming pools, you’ll discover practical tips to help keep your baby or child safe around water. We’ll explore how to build confidence, prevent accidents, and encourage positive water experiences that last a lifetime.

Whether your child is splashing in the bath, starting toddler swim sessions, or simply playing near water, this episode offers water safety tips every parent needs to know.

🎧 Tune in now to learn how to protect your child and make water play safe and fun.