Happy Days Nursery Exeter

Inspection of Happy Days Nursery Exeter Estuary House, Peninsula Park, Rydon Lane, Exeter EX2 7XE

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily and immediately settle into playing at this welcoming nursery. They make good friendships with other children and enjoy spending time playing alongside them. Children develop equally warm relationships with the kind and caring staff. Staff are knowledgeable and have a good understanding of how children learn and develop. They provide children with a wide range of learning opportunities as part of a rich and varied curriculum. They quickly recognise when children might need extra help and arrange for them to receive appropriate support in the nursery and from other professionals.

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The provision is good

Children are excited by their learning. They delight as they use their imagination while playing with play dough. They use garlic presses to carefully make 'worms' to put on their imaginary pizzas. Staff make good links to children's prior learning as they play, such as reminding them of the herbs they grow together. Staff help younger children experiment with adding flour to their play dough to see how they can change its consistency. Children become immersed in their play and concentrate for extended periods.

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The provision is good

Staff promote early literacy skills and vocabulary development particularly well. Children learn to listen to individual sounds and blend them to make words to support their early reading skills. Staff help children to develop a love of stories, including by encouraging children and their families to take part in the nursery's 'awe and wonder book club'.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have a clear vision for what and how they want children to learn. They carefully consider how to adapt the curriculum to make it accessible for all children. For instance, to support children who learn English as an additional language, they ensure staff know key words in children's home languages to aid effective communication. n Children spend much of their day learning through music. Staff provide frequent group singing activities to help children become more confident communicators. Children participate in these sessions with great enthusiasm and demonstrate a genuine love for music from a very young age. Children learn the words and actions to a wide range of nursery rhymes and demonstrate very good skills in playing simple musical instruments, such as small drums, bells and xylophones. n On the whole, staff promote children's mathematical development well. For instance, they help children to learn about counting through singing. However,

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need to do better?

staff do not consistently support children to develop their understanding of mathematical concepts during free play activities and do not always extend their knowledge.

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need to do better?

20 June 2025 n Staff promote children's physical development very well. They provide frequent opportunities for children to develop their small muscle skills, such as through squeezing wet sponges. Children demonstrate good control when mark making as they play. For instance, they concentrate as they use chalk to draw around their own and other's feet as they learn in the outdoor area. n Staff help children to learn to keep themselves healthy. Children learn the importance of wearing hats and putting on sun cream to protect them from the sun when playing outdoors. Staff build well on children's understanding of helping to keep cool during the hot weather, including explaining the importance of regularly drinking water and staying in the shade. n Overall, staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and conduct. They support children to learn how to recognise their emotions and build well on their

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need to do better?

understanding as they get older. However, at times, staff do not apply the behaviour expectations consistently and children are unclear on what is acceptable and what is not. At these times, children can find it difficult to regulate their behaviour, which can cause other children to become upset. n Leaders regularly assess the effectiveness of the nursery to help ensure children make the best possible progress. For instance, they have recently conducted an audit of the support they provide to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders respond well to any areas for development, such as through providing additional staff training. n Partnerships with parents are good. Staff share information on children's progress through both daily discussions and regular written feedback. Parents comment how they particularly appreciate the suggestions staff give them to help support their child's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n help children to consolidate their mathematical knowledge during their free play to support their understanding even further n support children more consistently to regulate their behaviour and understand the impact of their actions on others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY476190 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10399111 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 78 Number of children on roll 166 Name of registered person Happy Days Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01392369741 Date of previous inspection 20 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Happy Days Nursery Exeter registered in 2014 and is part of the chain of nurseries run by Happy Days Day Nurseries Limited. It is located in Exeter, Devon. The nursery is open each weekday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are 36 members of staff, of whom 22 hold early years qualifications at levels 2 to 4. The nursery provides government-funded childcare places.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity in the baby room. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

20 June 2025 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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