Charlton Heights Children Visit Local Fire Station

Children from Charlton Heights enjoyed a fun and educational visit to the local Fire Station this week.

The trip offered a hands-on experience where the children had the opportunity to sit inside a real fire engine, spray water using the hose, explore fire-fighting tools such as torches, and even try on some of the equipment worn by firefighters.

In addition to the interactive activities, the children took part in fire-themed colouring and had the chance to ask lots of questions about the important role of the fire service in our community.

The visit was a fantastic way to learn about fire safety in a memorable and engaging way. A heartfelt thank you to the firefighters for their time, kindness, and the warm welcome they gave to our young learners.

A Week of Food, Fun & Family at Happy Days Nurseries

Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools are gearing up for a very special event – Activities Week: Food from Around the World, running from Monday 6th – Friday 10th October 2025.

This exciting celebration will bring together children, families and nursery teams to enjoy a whole host of activities inspired by food, culture, and wellbeing. Think cultural food festivals, sensory spice play, creative crafts, kitchen discos, outdoor mindfulness walks and so much more.

But Activities Week is about more than just fun – it’s also an opportunity for families to get a real feel for life at Happy Days. Parents can:

• Meet the dedicated practitioners who care for and inspire children every day
• Explore the nursery environment and discover how play supports learning
• Chat through everything from settling-in sessions to funded childcare hours

To make the week even more special, families who visit during Activities Week will be able to enrol at their chosen Happy Days nursery without paying the enrolment fee – a great saving for those considering childcare.

📌 How to book

To keep things simple, each nursery has its own Activities Week calendar.

• Head to our Find a Nursery page.
• Enter your postcode to see your nearest Happy Days nursery.
• Scroll down to the Events section on that nursery’s page.
• Select Activities Week: Food from Around the World.
• Click the calendar to choose your session and confirm your place.

We can’t wait to welcome families for a week filled with food, fun and community spirit! 🌈✨

Last Thursday, we were delighted to host our very first community event at Boorley Green Community Centre, allowing families and local residents to meet the team behind the brand-new Happy Days Nursery and Pre-School, which is currently under development at Boorley Green.

Set to open in January 2026, the nursery will provide a vibrant, nurturing, and inspiring environment where children can learn, play, and thrive. The event was designed to engage with parents who are considering a nursery or pre-school place for their child and to give the community a chance to learn more about what Happy Days has to offer.

Throughout the day, families were able to:

• Discover the Happy Days Curriculum, which supports every child’s unique learning journey
• Explore the exciting development plans for the new nursery building
• Find out about the government funding schemes available to help with childcare costs
• Learn more about career opportunities at Happy Days

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with our team on hand to answer questions, share insights, and talk parents through the journey of securing a place for their child. We were thrilled to meet so many families who are interested in joining our new setting and to receive such positive feedback from the local community.

This was the first of a series of information events we’ll be holding in the run-up to opening. They are a fantastic way for families to get to know our team, ask questions, and feel confident about the care and education their child will receive at Happy Days Boorley Green.

📅 We’re excited to announce that our next information event will take place on Tuesday 4th November at Botley Grange Hotel. Further details of this event will follow shortly.

We look forward to continuing to build strong connections within the Boorley Green community and can’t wait to welcome families to our brand-new nursery and pre-school in January 2026.

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Charlton Heights Shortlisted for Community Nursery of the Year

We are proud to announce that Happy Days Nursery & Pre-School, Charlton Heights, Bristol has been shortlisted as a finalist for Community Nursery of the Year at the 2025 Nursery Management Today (NMT) Awards.

Since opening its doors in 2023, Charlton Heights has placed community at the very heart of everything it does. Families benefit from free weekly Stay & Play sessions, tailored advice on everything from toilet training to school applications, and ongoing support with EHCPs and SEN funding.

The nursery is a familiar face at local events, from Charlton Wood Primary Academy’s Christmas Fair and summer picnics in the park to hosting its own Community Christmas Fair in support of St Peter’s Hospice. Staff and families regularly rally behind causes such as food bank collections and Easter egg donations, while children take part in community initiatives like litter picking, planting for pollinators, and visits to care homes, fostering empathy and intergenerational connections.

Charlton Heights also leads the way in sustainability, achieving the Eco Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction in 2025. Projects such as a Clothes Swap Shop, free nappy donations, and plans for a food larder ensure families feel supported while children learn the importance of protecting the planet.

Manager and team are thrilled to see their work recognised:
“We want Charlton Heights to be more than just a nursery – a hub where families, schools, businesses and charities come together to support children and each other. This nomination is a celebration of the whole community.”

Happy Days is delighted to announce that Bella, Apprentice at Verwood, has been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at the prestigious Nursery Management Today (NMT) Awards 2025.

At just 17 years old, Bella is completing her Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship with Realise, having joined Happy Days straight from school at the age of 16. From her very first introduction at an open day—where she confidently declared her ambition to one day own her own nursery—it was clear Bella had the passion, drive, and dedication to make a real impact in early years.

Since starting her apprenticeship, Bella has shown exceptional warmth, creativity, and a natural ability to connect with children. She consistently goes above and beyond, contributing ideas for activities, supporting her colleagues, and taking initiative to plan and lead group learning experiences. Her work ethic, eagerness to learn, and professionalism have set her apart as a true role model for others beginning their career in childcare.

In just eight months, Bella has already exceeded her apprenticeship progress targets by an impressive 23%, putting her on track to complete her qualification ahead of schedule. She has demonstrated strong knowledge in safeguarding, communication, child development, and leadership, applying her learning directly to practice. Her colleagues describe her as “a superstar” and “an asset to the nursery,” while her assessor praises her as “an outstanding apprentice” who is a joy to teach.

Bella’s nomination celebrates not only her achievements so far, but also her bright future in early years education. With her passion, commitment, and talent, Bella is sure to go far in her career.