Happy Days Nursery
Good★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Rayleigh for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 2016, with 44 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Essex
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Essex from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SS6 9QGWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 25 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children and babies thoroughly enjoy their time in this inclusive and welcoming nursery. An invaluable home visit before children start, means children settle smoothly and swiftly as staff implement bespoke settling-in processes. Children are well behaved and show acts of kindness by hugging their peers affectionately on arrival. Babies and children feel safe as staff consistently implement strategies that support their understanding of daily routines, so they know what is expected of them.
Staff offer the right level of support to ensure children learn to risk access environments themselves. Children frequently express the pride they feel in their achievements. They excitedly raise their hands after independently pulling themselves up to stand on a wooden bridge. Staff consistently provide meaningful praise for their efforts, which motivates children to continue to test their physical limits, express themselves and build their self-confidence.
Children love the endless choice of stimulating play experiences and continuous access to outdoor play. They learn about the world around them with bus rides and regular nature walks in the local community. Children plant seeds in the nursey allotment and learn about life cycles. Staff promote healthy eating habits by giving children the opportunity to taste what they have grown.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to continuously review the use of available resources to increase children's engagement and enhance their overall learning and development.
- 25 September 2024Good
- 29 November 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Happy Days Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.