Happy Days for nursery group with nine Outstanding ratings

Happy Days nursery group has just achieved its ninth Ofsted Outstanding rating and since last summer it has ridden on a wave of success with seven of its Cornwall-based nurseries getting the top rating.

Outstanding education at Happy Days

The nursery group has 16 nurseries in Cornwall and Devon and is celebrating a very happy 25th birthday this year after Ofsted inspectors gave five of its settings Outstanding ratings in a 12 week period since January.

Two of the group’s St Austell nurseries; Happy Days Penrice (inspected on 1 March) and Happy Days St Austell Integrated Neighbourhood Nursery (30 March), achieved their first ever Outstanding rating.

This follows Outstanding judgements for Happy Days Nursery & Pirates Club, St Minver in Wadebridge (20 January), Happy Days Penair in Truro (5 January) and Happy Days Treloggan in Newquay (22 February).

After visiting the Happy Days Penair setting, Ofsted inspectors said: “Children are highly confident and self-assured, moving freely around the secure premises to choose and access activities that excite and interest them".

Founded in 1991, Happy Days was praised by inspectors for developing a strong management team.

In a report about Penair, they wrote: “The management structure is very clear and the extremely strong management team diligently support all staff's development through excellent support and monitoring. They expertly encourage all to reflect on and develop their practice as they strive for continual improvement.”

Jo Beighton, childcare and education director said the group’s success draws together international best practice and key messages from research.

“I’m delighted that the dedication of our staff teams to provide the very best for the children in our care and the investment we have made in staff training, nursery resources and environments has been recognised. To achieve five outstanding assessments within a 12-week period is a tremendous and unique achievement.”

Happy Days Treloweth in Redruth (April 2015) has kept hold of its Outstanding rating for the third time.

The highest rating was also given to Happy Days Treliske in Truro (October 2014), Happy Days Nursery in Exeter, Devon (August 2014) and Happy Days Nursery Summercourt (January 2013).

With more than 50 per cent of its 16 nurseries rated Outstanding (its other settings are rated Good), Happy Days is due to open a third nursery in Bristol this year. It also plans to extend its presence across the South by opening a nursery setting in Poole, Dorset. The group’s expansion is set to continue through 2017 with further settings opening across the South and South West.

Jackie Arthur, Happy Days managing director said: “I’m thrilled that our policy of placing children at the centre of every decision we make is clearly evident in the quality of experience that every child receives in our nurseries. This external recognition from Ofsted validates our business decision that high quality is the driver of an outstanding company.”