Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford

Unit 3a, Derriford Business Park, Derriford, Plymouth PL6 5QZ
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9.8 186 Reviews
  • Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford, Plymouth
Happy Days at Derriford has both indoor and outdoor spaces for children to play and grow during their time at nursery.

Staff support children to embrace outdoor play and have as many new experiences as they can in a safe and secure environment.

The nursery provides equipment and furniture that supports children’s physical development over muscle control and co-ordination.

Two nursery chefs provide fresh meals for children every day, but children can also be involved in learning about food preparation and taught how to be independent at meal times.

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Care Provided by Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Zara Austin (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 50
  • Total Places for Children
  • 146
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:00-18:00
    Tuesday 07:00-18:00
    Wednesday 07:00-18:00
    Thursday 07:00-18:00
    Friday 07:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford

  • For fee information, contact the Nursery directly.

Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford Reviews (186)

Total of 186, showing 21-40
9.8

Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.808) out of 10, based on 27 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford has 186 reviews.

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Review from R E (Mother of Child) published on 31 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My two sons attend Happy Days. My 14-month-old started in January. I really like that he had 8 settle sessions. The staff regularly update the parent app. The staff are so kind and friendly and they know all the children’s name. My 4-year-old is coming to the end of his nursery journey and the progress
he’s made from when he started is amazing. He’s trying new foods and is becoming very independent. He loves the outside space and forest. I can’t recommend Happy Days enough.

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Review from J W (Mother of Child) published on 18 April 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Happy Days Nursery are absolutely incredible and outstanding. I have a nonverbal ASD son who has challenging behaviours. The care, compassion, inclusivity and support over the past few years has been amazing. I have struggled with my mental health while raising a disabled child and all the staff have
supported me and my son through the highs and lows. Nothing is ever too much, they have battled alongside me with each process and made sure my son has the provisions he requires to thrive. The manager and keyworker have been so supportive, professional, friendly and most of all feel like family. I will be forever grateful for all your hard work and would be lost with you. It will be a very sad day when my son transitions to his new school.

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Review from N M (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My experience with Happy Days Derriford has been exceptional. The staff have been incredibly accommodating, understanding, and always super friendly. They always greet us with a smile and really put my mind at ease especially when going back to work and leaving my daughter in their care, (who had never
been left with anyone!).
They've shown genuine care and have made my daughter's time safe, supportive and educational. We're grateful for such a nurturing environment, she has been there almost a year now and absolutely loves it, the settling sessions were perfect and I would recommend the nursery to anyone.

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Review from E S (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The management team and all the staff at Happy Days are just so wonderful. They have set strong foundations for us for our early years journey.
Being a first-time mum it was challenging for me, however the support from the management team and staff filled me with great confidence.
The care and compassion
that is shown in the nursery is incredible to see. We are excited for this journey.

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Review from Becca L (Mother of Child) published on 26 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Happy Days Derriford have been nothing but kind, helpful and welcoming. They have been fantastic at managing my daughters' allergies and provide lots of great food alternatives that she is able to eat. They have been amazing at learning about her disability and how to manage it while she is in nursery.
I felt so welcomed this morning when we walked into her nursery room and a staff member, knowing that my daughter is deaf, signed good morning to her, it was so lovely to see! They have been fantastic at supporting my daughter as she has moved from one room to another, giving her lots of time in her new room to let her get used to both the new environment and the new staff before she fully moved up. I will be so sad when she leaves as everyone there has been amazing and I can see how much she loves it!

Reply from Kelly Russell, Digital Marketing Executive at Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford

Thank you for such a lovely review and we are so glad your daughter has settled with us so well.


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Review from Carol C (Mother of Child) published on 24 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I can’t express how much praise I have for all the staff at Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford. My son has loved every minute of his time here and we will all be so sad when it’s time for him to go to school in September. He’s turned into such a sociable little boy and his development has been
supported 100%. Nothing is ever a chore or too much trouble for them.
Thank you all so much.

Reply from Kelly Russell, Digital Marketing Executive at Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford

Thank you for your wonderful feedback Carol! We greatly appreciate it!


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Review from S C (Mother of Child) published on 20 April 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started with Happy Days in January 2023. I was extremely anxious as she had been looked after only by family members before. All staff were amazing and very patient as I phoned up a few times each day to see how she was getting on. They look after your children as if they were their own
with plenty of cuddles if needed. Would highly recommend them to anyone and everyone.

Reply from Kelly, Digital Marketing Executive at Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford

Thank you for such a wonderful review, we are so happy to hear that your daughter has settled in so well.


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Review from Gemma H (Mother of Child) published on 29 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am very happy with the care my son receives at Happy Days Nursery. Initially it took a bit of time for him to settle in, but I was able to attend plenty of settle sessions with him as needed, which really helped us both! He really enjoys his time there and I can see a big difference in his development
and temperament since starting. The staff are all very kind and caring and it makes such a difference to my working day knowing he in safe hands. Thank you.

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Review from Lauren T (Mother of Child) published on 29 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Would 100% recommend this nursery to anybody! With after having not a good experience with another nursery I was very worried about my child starting a new one, at Happy Days the children is their main priority and the level of care is outstanding. I’ve been so so happy with the level of care and the
support the nursery gives, to not only the children but the parents. They have all the correct safety measures in place and are always happy to help with any issues, worries or questions. They're all like one big family at the nursery, it’s so lovely to see. Never feel unwelcome or out of place, it’s always a lovely atmosphere for parents and the children.

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Review from Sarah T (Mother of Child) published on 28 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am very happy with the care my son receives at Happy Days. He is always happy to go and comes out smiling, which makes a working day so much easier. There's always a warm welcome on arrival and all staff have always made an effort to form a relationship with my child. He has a fantastic bond with
his keyworker, who is always happy to give plenty of time to communicate with us. There's a good range of facilities and activities available for children, which help promote independence and encourage learning.
We appreciate all of the hard work the staff do, to fulfil their job role and beyond. Thank you Happy Days.

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Review from Hollie W (Mother of Child) published on 28 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both of my children have been attending this nursery since they were 6 months old and the staff have been nothing short of amazing. They are always so helpful, kind, caring and willing to help with anything at all. Referrals have been made for my son who is suspected to have Autism and an Individualised
Education Plan has been put in place for both children to help them progress. Staff are so supportive and I really appreciate everything they have done for my children.

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Review from Jaz P (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot praise the standard of the nursery highly enough.
The staff are friendly, enthusiastic and encouraging.
My son has blossomed socially under their care.
The rooms of the nursery are beautifully airy and always filled with things to engage the children’s attention.
I feel like my son
is in safe hands with the staff and would wholeheartedly recommend the nursery to my friends.
Also, I don’t know what witchcraft is used in the kitchen but my son enjoys such a varied diet of healthy food at nursery that I could never hope to get him to eat at home! It must be delicious!

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Review from D P (Father of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Lovely clean nursery. Doesn’t have lots of plastic noisy toys that give instant gratification with no effort which encourages children to actually play with the toys rather than press a button and immediately ‘win’.
Great staff, all very kind and caring. HIs key worker is great with my son.
Always
comes home tired but I see that as a good thing because it means he’s been on the go and had a great time.
Food is excellent and well balanced. My son never comes home hungry and has normally eaten everything there.
Would highly recommend this nursery.

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Review from Rachel C (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After much consideration, we decided to move our daughter from another nursery to Happy Days and honestly it was the best decision. The staff are very friendly, warm, accommodating and knowledgeable. Each and every staff member is approachable and are great with my little one. Nothing is too much trouble
for any of the staff. My daughter is thriving. She is independent, confident, happy and well looked after. Thank you.

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Review from P D (Father of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child has gone to happy days for a couple of years and so did my other child.
They are amazing, trustworthy and you really feel rest assured that your children are in good hands when you drop them off.
They are by far the best nursery you could possibly imagine and the people are fantastic. The
food they give the children is 100% and they always have their best interest at heart.
They communicate with you every step of the way and will give you a full brief of how your child has done for the day which includes naps, play time, food and drink who they play with and what they have enjoyed the most.
This nursery has ticked every box for me and they go above and beyond for you.

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Review from Zara H (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery and its staff have been absolutely amazing. They've been fantastic with our child, always keeping us updated on what's going on with her and how she's doing with the other children. They even give us little report cards at the end of the day!
They always make sure to communicate with us
which we really appreciate, and they're very understanding if a situation comes up.
The staff are really friendly and always helpful. We're very happy we chose them for our nursery.

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Review from Kerri M (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are really happy with Happy Days Derriford for our son. There is a great variety of toys, books and activities and plenty of opportunities for playing outside. He is extremely happy there. We are particularly grateful for input and support with his speech delay; there have been regular educational
plans which have been discussed with us and he is progressing brilliantly. I have highly recommended this nursery to friends and will continue to do so.

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Review from D B (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child absolutely loves Happy Days Nursery and is always so excited to attend. I have seen her confidence grow since joining and she always has so much to tell me about her day. The staff are fab and so friendly! She eats so well and has such a varied menu on offer, it’s great to know she is so well
looked after!

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Review from Becky E (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since we been going to happy days we cannot fault the nursery and the team at all. Everyone is more than helpful when needed and the team in the explorer rooms are amazing! Our son has developed so much over the months he’s been with happy days. We can’t thank them enough for their care and support.
The team are a credit to the nursery and you can tell they love the children by how much the children love them.

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Review from Hayley R (Mother of Child) published on 27 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children attend happy days and have done since they were a year old. The nursery have always been amazing with them and they always come home happy and have enjoyed their day. The bond they have with their key workers is really something that makes me feel more comfortable leaving them to work.
They always want to run off as soon they are dropped off. They have both learnt and developed so well during their time with happy days. The management team have always been helpful with anything we’ve ever needed them for. During lockdowns, myself and my husband were keyworkers and had to work still so to know my children were in safe hands was really important to us.

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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.808)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.808) out of 10 for Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 27 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.9 out of 5 from 27 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.883 for Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford is calculated as follows: ( (291 Excellents x 5) + (28 Goods x 4) + (5 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 324 Ratings = 4.883

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.925 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford is based on 27 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 146 number of registered child places is 29.2. 27 Positive Reviews ÷ 29.2 = 0.925

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (6)

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Meet the Team (1)

Zara

Zara Austin

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Zara has worked in childcare for 17 years, 7 of those at Happy Days where she started as a Peripatetic Deputy Manager. Accompanied by her wealth of experience, Zara has also received a Level 3 Diploma, a Level 4 Team leading qualification, and a Level 5 award in Management. Zara is loving her new role and enjoys building relationships with her colleagues and the families in her care.


Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford has a Platinum Service – more info.