Happy Days Nursery has fully implemented the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which covers the learning, and well being of all nursery aged children from birth to 5 years. We encourage children in learning through their play by providing a variety of materials and a wide range of experiences both inside and outside the nursery. At the Nursery, we encourage learning to take place through both adult-led and child-led activities, we provide a free-flow system at certain periods during the day where children are free to choose where their learning takes place. Each child has an individual learning journal and activities are planned around this to support their individual developmental needs. We keep records of each child’s progress which enables us to create activities that are appropriate to the children’s needs. Each child has a online learning journal that parents and carers can review at any time, these are used as part of the parent key worker review meetings. These records are also sent onto your child’s next place of education.
The staff team at Happy Days have all been fully police checked, had background references followed up and also completed professional childcare qualifications. We encourage staff as part of their work to continue with their professional development throughout their career. We have a longstanding and dedicated staff team who use professional experience to entertain and encourage the children’s development.
It is important for parents and carers to feel comfortable when leaving their child in our care, to feel confident that staff are committed to providing excellent care and learning opportunities.
At Happy Days our staff have in total over 161 years experience in childcare. Nine staff have worked at Happy Days 7 years or more. Three of us over 20 years! Nine of our staff are graduates. Eight are qualified to level 3 NVQ in childcare. One has a level 2 NVQ. We have two qualified teachers, one of which is an Early Years Teacher. Five staff are undergoing training, of which two expect to be level 3 qualified in spring 2023. Our proprietor Hazel has both a masters, PhD and is a qualified D32/D33 Early Years Assessor. We place a great deal of importance on our staff as their wellbeing, job satisfaction and careers are vital to the children’s education, social development and happiness whilst at Happy Days . A copy of our Policies and procedures can be downloaded here Policies and Procedures.zip
Hazel – Nursery Owner
I started Happy Days nursery 35 years ago in the basement of our then home in Lincoln Street Hanover. After a few years we moved to our current premises, initially just the Daisy Hall then adding the Buttercups hall. Happy Days is a family run business and both my daughters, Esme and Rosy, work there. My partner Andy also works at the Nursery part time. I am a qualified nursery practitioner and D32/D33 Early Years Assessor. I have an hons degree, masters and a doctorate. I am proud that Happy Days creates such lovely memories for children and for the dedication of all the staff – many of whom have worked at Happy Days for years!
Jodie – Co Manager
I’m Jodie I have been at Happy Days for 14 years, I started as a trainee and have never looked back. I am the nursery SENCO – special educational needs co-ordinator, I help care for children with additional needs ensuring they have the perfect learning environment. I work closely with outside agencies such as speech and language, BHISS, health visitors. I am now co-sharing the manager role with Esme. I also have a daughter who attends Happy Days who thrives and loves it here – and drives them all crazy I’m sure!
Esme – Co Manager
I have many fond memories of growing up at Happy Days. I have also worked here for 14 years and seem to have inherited a passion for childcare from my mum. I care strongly about the Nursery being a safe, caring and enjoyable place for both the children and staff. I became co-manager at the end of last year and I bring my experience as a child who attended, a practitioner and as a mother to my new role. I am level 3 qualified and enthusiastically support children with finding their own voice and the confidence to express it.
Tilly – Early Years Educator
Hi I’m Tilly, I am a nursery trainee and I have worked at Happy Days for 3 years. I have always liked caring for children, I used to help looking after my family’s children and ever since then I wanted to do and learn more. I am about to complete my childcare level 2 and will go on to train for the level 3 qualification at Happy Days.
Hannah – Early Years Teacher
I’m Hannah and I am an early years teacher, I have been at Happy Days for just over 7 years. I help guide key workers across both halls with their work to create activity planning for their key children. This ensures we consistently adapt for each individual child in a way that nurtures and supports their learning and continues to provide suitable challenges for them. I am also a mother to a lively toddler who attends the nursery.
Ainhoa – Early Years Educator
I am Ainhoa and I have been working part- time at Happy Days for over a year now whilst studying a BA in Education at Brighton University. The course has allowed me to understand different aspects of the English educational system as well as global discourses around education. As a result of my degree and my experiences working in the nursery, I am looking forward to a career in supporting children and young people in education. I am originally from Tenerife, Spain and I have been living in England for the past 8 years which has allowed me to speak English and Spanish fluently. I love animals and nature due to my upbringing in a rural part of Tenerife, which is why I have enjoyed working with the children in the garden, supporting them exploring plants and how they grow.
Joe – Early Years Educator
Hello families of Happy Days. My name is Joe and I have been working full time at Happy Days for 4 years now and still look forward to every single day I spend learning with the Buttercups, Daisies and my wonderful colleagues. I studied English Literature at UEA and spent time living in Australia, Berlin and London before to my home town Brighton. I will be completing my level 3 Early Years Childcare qualifications shortly and am looking forward to continue my studying with additional courses relating to Early Years SENCO.
Mandy – Early Years Educator
Hi, I’m Mandy. I began my childcare career when I was 20 and was then accepted to study my degree in Psychology at US. I couldn’t help but come back to early years childcare as it is a career where I felt I most thrive in and the children bring me so much joy on a day to day basis. My son is currently at Happy Days and he couldn’t be happier too! It’s only been 6 months since I’ve been here but immediately felt like part of the family. I speak fluent Spanish and love incorporating this when teaching the children about different backgrounds. I try to plan activities around what the children are interested in and to develop their education through fun and play!
Heidi – Early Years Educator
Hello, I’m Heidi and I have worked at Happy Days for three years. I love working here; we have such a brilliant team and I feel we are all aligned in our goals for creating the best early years experience for our children. I have recently gained my Level 3 in Early Years Childcare and I am Equalities and Diversity rep. Being an Early Years Educator is the most rewarding job I have had, and the children make me laugh like nothing else!
Rachel– Early Years Educator
Hi I’m Rachel, I have been working at Happy Days for over a year. I am level 2 qualified and I am also one of the fire representatives. I am looking forward to starting my level 3 qualification. I love doing messy play and art activities with the children because its a fun way for them to learn and develop their skills.
Phoebe – Trainee Early Years Educator
Hi I’m Phoebe, I started work in Happy Days in November 2021 but since I was 15 years old I have babysitting and nannying so I have had lots of experience with children. I am now working on gaining my childcare qualifications. I absolutely love creating fun activities for the children to actively participate in. I’m also the hairdresser in residence, Elsa and Ana plaits are my specialty! Also, I am very interested in maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment for children, this includes providing multi cultural toys, books and songs to support the children’s learning and enjoyment. I take pride in the activities and displays I have created to promote diversity, as a result of this I am now the Equalities and Diversities representative at Happy Days.
Bunty – Trainee Early Years Educator
I’m Bunty and I’m currently a trainee, having started at Happy Days in early 2022! I absolutely love this job and I am learning so much about child development, and making the kids laugh is my favourite part of each day. I intend to progress and achieve my childcare qualifications and stay in this field because it brings me so much happiness and I value the positive impact it can have on future generations.
Jess – Early Years Educator
My name is Jess and I’m a level 3 practitioner with over 8 years experience working with children aged 0-5. I’ve worked in many nurseries in Brighton, where I have been a key person, a 1:1 for children who need additional support and finally my role at a previous nursery was as a room leader. I currently attend Happy Days 3 days a week part-time. For the rest of the week I work as a private Nanny for a family. I’ve been working at Happy Days since January 2022 and what a pleasure it has been to be part of such a lovely community of people.
Rosy – Admin & Early Years Educator
Hello, I’m Rosy and I have worked at Happy Days for several years with my sister Esme and my mum Hazel. I have a background in illustration, I originally came into Happy Days to do art workshops and have since progressed to practitioner two days a week. I also do the nursery administrative work and occasionally get involved in refreshing areas of the Nursery with artwork and murals. My own child Albie now attends the nursery and I am fortunate enough to see how well he is thriving here.
Donna – Senior Practitioner
Hello I’m Donna, I have been a part of the Happy Days team for more then 22 years, I have had the opportunity to gain my level 3 in childcare, Level 3 in Leadership and management, also a course in mathematics for children… and many more. I have been lucky to see many children who previously attended Happy Days become ‘young adults’ (as most are taller then me) return to the Nursery for work experience or Duke of Edinburgh awards – or in a few case return as parents or member of staff!
Andy – Admin, IT & Maintenance
Hi, I’m Andy. I have been helping out at Happy Days since the end of 2019. This has extended beyond maintenance to include new IT systems and Admin. I havebackground in engineering having worked as Engineering Service Director for many years and so I love making things for children at the Nursery – from giant cardboard sleighs/cars/rockets to bigger projects like the garden.
Cristy – Senior Practitioner
I have worked at Happy days for 25 years (taking 5 months out over the winter).I am qualified NVQ2 &3 and have also been the Safeguarding lead for a big part of my time at Happy Days. I’ve enjoyed seeing many children flourish at Happy Days and is great to then see some later return to Happy Days for work experience/Duke of Edinburgh awards. I have 2 children 19 and 16 that both attended Happy Days and loved every minute with lots of happy memory’s – now I’m showing my age.
Megan – Early Years Educator
Hi, I’m Megan, I have worked at Happy Days for almost 8 years. I am qualified in children’s learning and development level 2 and 3. My role as a Nursery Practitioner is to ensure all children attending receive high quality care, are kept safe and are provided with planned and stimulating play experiences which meet their individual needs and support all aspects of their development. I also have a little boy called Roman that attends the Nursery and very much enjoys his time at here.
