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- Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford

Staff are so supportive and I really appreciate everything they have done for my childrenHollie W(Mother of Child)

There is a great variety of toys, books and activitiesKerri M(Mother of Child)

They are amazing, trustworthy and you really feel rest assured that your children are in good handsP D(Father of Child)

Staff are so supportive and I really appreciate everything they have done for my childrenHollie W(Mother of Child)

There is a great variety of toys, books and activitiesKerri M(Mother of Child)

They are amazing, trustworthy and you really feel rest assured that your children are in good handsP D(Father of Child)

Happy Days at Derriford has both indoor and outdoor spaces for children to play and grow during their time at nursery.
Staff support children to embrace outdoor play and have as many new experiences as they can in a safe and secure environment.
The nursery provides equipment and furniture that supports children’s physical development over muscle control and co-ordination.
Two nursery chefs provide fresh meals for children every day, but children can also be involved in learning about food preparation and taught how to be independent at meal times.
Type of Service
- Day Nursery
Opening Schedule
Open all yearFull days available
YesGroup / Owner
- Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Zara Austin(Nursery Manager)
Number of Childcare Staff
- 50
Total Places for Children
- 146
Age Range
- from 0 years 3 months
- to 5 years 0 months
Opening Times
- Monday07:00-19:00
- Tuesday07:00-19:00
- Wednesday07:00-19:00
- Thursday07:00-19:00
- Friday07:00-19:00
When Closed
- Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas
Funding & Fees
0–2 Years: £72.22 per day (08:00–18:00)
2–3 Years: £72.22 per day (08:00–18:00)
Over 3 Years: £72.22 per day (08:00–18:00)
Government funding is available and can be used to reduce daily fees. Further information is available on our website, or you can call and speak with our knowledgeable nursery team. We’re here to ensure you receive all the support and funding you’re entitled to.
Please note, fee information is correct as of Dec 2025.
For fee information, contact the Nursery directly.
Contact Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford to get a personalised quote:
Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford Reviews (210)
Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.884) out of 10, based on 43 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford has 210 reviews.
My son has attended Happy Days since 18 months old and he has absolutely flourished. The staff take time to know every child as individuals and us as a family. Leaving him with Happy Days has never been a worry, their care and compassion is second to none and we will miss all of the staff so much when he leaves for school! Thank you!
Word cannot begin to describe how happy I am with Happy Days Nursery. staff are friendly and they look after the kids really well.You can tell by the way the kids relate to them. So many good things to write about.The support they give the kids is amazing.would recommend.
Happy Days Derriford you are simply the best and I cannot thank you enough for the last 4 years!
Staff always very helpful and polite. I have always felt that my child is safe and cared for. She is fed nutritious and varied meals. My child is always happy and excited to attend nursery. There are plenty of activities for curious minds. They have access to outside space also. The management team are always accessible and easy to speaks to.
My child requires additional support, and Amber is fantastic, goes above and beyond to make sure their transition will be as smooth as possible. If I ever have another child I will be ensuring they attend Happy Days as I just don't trust anyone else with my child.
She has progressed to the toddler room, now aged 2, I couldn't imagine her going to another nursery. Her key worker in explorers 3 Marika has been outstanding. She has an amazing bond with our daughter and can see the other kids adore her. Not only her, all of the nursery workers in that room we have come across have been fantastic. Our daughter is thriving, she loves going to nursery and gets so excited about it.
She enjoys the outdoor space they have and she goes out everyday they are creative with toys/games they play and she seems like she learns something new everytime she comes home! Their food menu is varied and appropriate age wise as well. I highly recommend this nursery!
The Explorer 1 staff are lovely and give detailed handovers each day, plus we get updates and photos via the app. I also appreciate that they call if she's unwell or upset.
Their focus on security really stood out when my partner collected her. They checked his ID and PIN as they didn't recognise him, which I really valued.
Overall, we've had a fantastic experience and will be sad when she moves rooms! Thank you all! x
Two of my children have attended Happy Days Derriford for the last 2-3 years and the staff feel like an extension of our family. It feels like a home away from home for them and they will often ask when they are seeing their 'key-person' next. We have found the management team to be excellent when we have raised any issues and this is reflected in the professionalism, respect and kindness we are shown from the staff that care for our boys. All of the staff, including management, ensure they know each child and this reassures us that the boys are safe and loved whilst we are at work.. we can't walk through the nursery without the boys being greeted and welcomed. The nursery have been excellent at providing alternative food for our son with allergies and seating him at meal times without making him feel excluded. We think the sensory room is a wonderful addition and love how above and beyond they go at their Christmas event!
I cannot recommend Happy Days enough - 5* always.
My son comes home happy when he's spent the day there and when I take him into the nursery he walks straight in with a smile or his face.
Happy days opening hours are fab! Due to being a nurse, it has been difficult to find somewhere which are long hours but happy days have met these with no issues.
Thank you happy days for making me and my son feel so welcome at your nursery.
My daughter has been attending Happy Days Nursery derriford since she was 6 months old, she is now 2 and is loving it just as much as when she first began. The staff at happy days have been exceptional in providing my daughter with love and care for the days she attends. The amount of progress my daughter has made since attending nursery is nothing less of incredible, and I can truly say this wouldn't have been the case if it wasn't for the help of the staff at Happy days. The rapport between not only the staff and children, but also the staff and parents creates a brilliant environment, and one where I as a parent feel really comfortable sending my child to. The communication from management is brilliant, and always have answers for any questions that are brought to them. All the staff in the rooms do an amazing job with my daughter, There is no doubt that all the staff care about the children they look after, and it shows through the relationships they build with them.
They truly do help children to flourish! No ask is too big or too small.
They staff are all so friendly, knowledgable and you know that they genuinely care for every single child.
I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done and continue to do in supporting my children!
Wouldn't go anywhere else and recommend to everyone who needs a nursery recommendation.
The staff in his room are always attentive to his needs, and it feels as though they treat him like their own. They have even let him adopt one of the teddies (Mr Teds) as he loves him so much and would gravitate to him when there.
His key worker is wonderful with him and even has a little handshake with him.
The manager has been fantastic and has always done everything in her power to ensure that he has a positive experience. I can't thank her and the staff enough for the care that they have given my son.
I have been a parent at Happy Days Derriford for 9 years. All 4 of my children have attended the nursery and I honestly wouldn't choose anywhere else. The staff are so attentive and really look after all the children's needs. Being next to Derriford really helps with the commute into work as it's so close by if the nursery need me at all. I am always kept up to date on my children's day and the new app is so easy to access so I can see them through observations when I'm at home and missing them. I have recommended this nursery to others and I will continue to recommend the nursery once I have finished using it!
Happy days has been absolutely amazing with our little boy. They helped him to settle in making sure that he was comfortable and happy here before he started. They even offered to provide him with a lot of settling in sessions because he was so little. He has settled incredibly and really bonded to his key people as well as the other people in the room. they have made myself and him feel so welcome and really accommodated our needs.
My son is currently going through assessments due to not hitting milestones and the support has been outstanding, he receives 1:1 sessions every week alongside his key worker to help him with development. They support me as a parent and also go out of there way help us as a family.
I have been a parent at happy days for over a year now and I can say I have been made very welcome. All the staff I have met are lovely and I love how special and welcome they have made my child in the room. I have felt my Child is learning so much and has come so far whilst being nursery, I love seeing all the lovely different activities set up and I love that I can see pictures of how her day has been on the parent app whilst they keep me up to date with her meals and changes. I will recommend this nursery to anyone!
I have been a parent of Happy Days Derriford for 2 years where my daughter attends the Discoveries room. My daughter runs into nursery excited to find her key person and other staff members. I was a very anxious parent that struggles to trust anyone with my daughter but the nursery manager and management team are really welcoming everyday with knowing my name which makes it personal. I really appreciate being updated everyday on parent zone of my daughters adventures and how she is achieving in her milestones.
He has bonded so well with key person and all the other girls in his room.
The communication is really good and they thoroughly tell us about his day.
My son has grown in confidence since starting the setting.
My daughter has been going to happy days since June 2022 and will be sad to be leaving for school this September. Every single member of staff at happy days is amazing. I know my daughter is so well looked after. So much so we've put our daughter (yet to be born ) on the waiting list for September 2026. What I particularly like other than the lovely staff and amazing care is staff only send my daughter home she is really poorly to be in nursery, rather than trivial things like a stuffy nose or 'if they're having a bad day' which I have heard other nurseries do. This helps with working at Derriford and not having to leave to pick her up all the time, but also knowing if I do then I need to take it seriously as it rarely happens. My daughter loves it at happy days, she's so excited to see her Key Workers in the mornings and tells me she wants to be like them when she grows up. I can't thank happy days enough!
Child Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (1) & Events (0)
- 26 Nov 2024
Happy Days Nurseries, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious Nutrition Support Programme Quality Mark from the Early Years Alliance. This recognition highlights the nursery group’s...
There are no upcoming events for Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford.
Awards / Recognitions (8)
- 31 Mar 2026Recipient: Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools
- 31 Mar 2025Recipient: Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools
- 28 Mar 2024Recipient: Happy Days Nurseries & Pre-Schools
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford.
Meet the Team (1)

Zara has worked in childcare for 17 years, 7 of those at Happy Days where she started as a Peripatetic Deputy Manager. Accompanied by her wealth of experience, Zara has also received a Level 3 Diploma, a Level 4 Team leading qualification, and a Level 5 award in Management. Zara is loving her new role and enjoys building relationships with her colleagues and the families in her care.
Frequently Asked Questions about Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford
What is the Age Range of Children that Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford accepts?
Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.
What Days & Hours is Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford Open?
Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford is open: Monday 07:00-19:00, Tuesday 07:00-19:00, Wednesday 07:00-19:00, Thursday 07:00-19:00, Friday 07:00-19:00.
How many Children does Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford have capacity for?
Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford has capacity for a total of 146 Children.
How far is Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford to the centre of Plymouth?
3.3 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Happy Days Nursery & Preschool - Derriford has an Enhanced Service -more info.