Happy Hands Day Nursery
Good★ 4.1 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Northampton for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 June 2023. Open since 2012, with 100 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 West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
NN5 5LEWhat 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, 19 June 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy when they arrive, and they quickly settle to play. Staff welcome children and their sensitive support helps them feel confident to separate from their parents. Babies have their needs met well. They enjoy exploring outside and staff are attentive to them. Toddlers learn about textures as they help to make play dough and enjoy sitting together to look at books. Pre-school children are confident to choose their own activities. They become deeply involved in imaginative games, where they use toy vehicles and diggers to transport pebbles. Children are learning skills that help prepare them for going to school. For example, they eagerly try to put on school shirts and dresses.
Staff know the children well and they are sensitive to their needs. Staff help children with their behaviour, they provide reassurance and time for those who become upset. Staff give children lots of praise when they behave well and when they show care towards their friends. Children are motivated to get involved in the activities and they benefit from staff's positive interactions with them. Staff follow children's interests and consider children's next steps in learning when planning activities. For example, children explore a variety of red coloured fruit and vegetables. They are curious about how they look and taste.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve the organisation of adult-led group times to ensure they are meaningful for all children taking part and that children do not sit for too long waiting for the session to start n help staff develop their skills and confidence to support children in considering the risks in their play and how they can minimise identified risks.
- 19 June 2023Good
- 4 July 2017Good
- 16 March 2017Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Happy Hands Day 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.