Happy Trails Play

Old Hall Works, Arborfield Road, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9DY
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9.4 12 Reviews
  • Happy Trails Play, Reading
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Owner

  • Happy Trails Play Ltd
  • Privately Owned

Person in Charge

  • Mandy Cooper (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 38

Total Places for Children

  • 85

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30

When Closed

  • 24th December - 2nd January

Parking

  • There are 5 visitor bays at the front of the building.

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Happy Trails Play Reviews (12)

9.4

Happy Trails Play has a Review Score of 9.4 (9.409) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Happy Trails Play has 12 reviews.

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Total of 12, showing 1-12
Review from Kishan P (Father of Child) published on 4 November 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Dear Happy Trails Management,
We wanted to share our heartfelt thanks to Ella and Eleanor for their wonderful care of our daughter in the Blueberry room. They made her nursery transition smooth with their warmth, patience, and genuine kindness. We're also grateful to Kerry, her initial key worker,
for her early support.
We've loved the photos and updates through the app-seeing our daughter happy and exploring gives us such peace of mind. Ella's personalised handovers have been especially thoughtful.
As our daughter moves into the Kiwi room, it's reassuring to see Ella and Eleanor continue their support. Their professionalism, empathy, and positivity have made a lasting impression.
We'd also like to thank Becca for always being cheerful, helpful, and responsive.
Thank you for having such an amazing team who go above and beyond every day.
Reply from Ricky Bhurji, Managing Director at Happy Trails PlayHello Kishan,
Wow!! Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and heartfelt message - it truly means the world to us.
Ella, Eleanor, Kerry, and Becca will be over the moon to read your words. They care deeply about the children and families they support, and it's wonderful to know they have made such a positive impact on your daughter's journey with us.
We're so pleased that her transition into the Kiwi Room has felt smooth and supported - that sense of continuity and care is exactly what we strive for at Happy Trails Play.
Thank you again for your trust and kind words - they really do brighten our whole team's day.
Warmly,
Happy Trails Play Team
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Review from A I (Mother of Child) published on 11 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are truly happy with our choice of this kindergarten for our little one.
First of all, it is very clean, cozy, modern, and safe. The staff are wonderful people who create a warm and sincere atmosphere - something that was extremely important to me as a mother.
Another key point is the food. The
kindergarten has its own kitchen and chef, which means the children always enjoy fresh, healthy, and delicious meals.
Our little one really enjoyed going there - I always left him with peace of mind, knowing that he would not only be well taken care of, but also hugged and loved whenever he needed it.
Thank you so much, really appreciate.
Reply from Ricky Bhurji, Managing Director at Happy Trails PlayDear Parent!
Thank you so much for your lovely words - that really means a lot to all of us here at HTP.
We're so glad your little one felt happy, cared for, and at home with us - that's exactly the environment we strive to create every day. Our team (and our chef!) will be thrilled to know their efforts made such a positive difference.
It's been an absolute joy having your family as part of our Happy Trails community.
Wishing you all the very best for the future and we hope to see you around.
Warmly, The Happy Trails Play Team
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Review from C M (Mother of Child) published on 23 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I cannot express enough how grateful we are for Happy Trails Play and the Blueberries team. My daughter started at just 1 year old, and during her time there, she has truly thrived. The care and attention she received from the Blueberries team and the wider staff have been exceptional. They are incredibly
supportive and accommodating, making her transition seamless and enjoyable. I wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to anyone looking for a nurturing environment for their child. Thank you, Blueberries and HTP team, for being such a wonderful part of our lives!
Reply from Ricky Bhurji, Director at Happy Trails PlayWhat a beautiful message thank you from the bottom of our hearts Its been an absolute joy watching your little one grow from her very first days in Blueberries into the confident, happy child she is today. The team still talks about her big smiles and curious spirit! Were so glad her journey with us felt seamless and full of care thats exactly what we strive for every day.Thank you for trusting us during such a precious stage in her life. Well miss you all and wish your family nothing but happiness and adventures ahead!With love,The Blueberries & Happy Trails Play Team
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Review from Ranjeeta J (Mother of Child) published on 16 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We've had a truly wonderful experience with Happy Trails Nursery! My son absolutely loves it there and is going to miss it so much now that he's graduating. The environment is nurturing, fun, and filled with so much joy. A special thank you to all his lovely teachers who took such great care of him-listening
patiently to all his stories, encouraging him to express himself, and even making him dance with happiness! Your kindness, dedication, and love made all the difference. We'll always carry these memories with us!
Reply from Sally Timms, Deputy Manager at Happy Trails PlayWhat a beautiful note - thank you for sharing such warm words. Watching your son grow into the confident, joyful, storytelling (and dancing!) little star he is today has been an absolute privilege. His stories brightened our days, his energy lifted the room, and his hugs? Unmatched.Graduation always brings a mix of pride and emotion - we'll miss him more than words can say, but we know he's ready to take on the world and conquer school!Thank you for letting us be part of your family's journey - these memories stay with us too, always.With love,All of us at Happy Trails
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Review from Lizzie L (Mother of Child) published on 27 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Happy Trails Play truly is an amazing nursery, I only have positive things to say about this nursery.
All the staff are wonderful, my son has absolutely loved his time at Happy Trails Play.
Would highly recommend Happy Trails Play to everyone.
Reply from Ricky Bhurji, Director at Happy Trails PlayThank you so much for your kind words! Its been such a joy having your son with us at Happy Trails Play watching him grow, learn, and thrive has been incredibly special for the whole team. Your support and recommendation mean the world to us. Well all miss him when the time comes, but were so happy to have been a part of his early years. Wishing your family all the happiness ahead and best of luck with School for him!Warmly,The Happy Trails Play Team
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Review from Ahana D (Mother of Child) published on 23 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter moved to Happy Trails, Pineapples room last October from a different nursery. We had loved the nursery right from the first visit. Big rooms, lot of light, very thoughtfully designed. Our daughter did not take long to settle down, they did an amazing job there. And since then she loves
the place. She looks forward to going to nursery, even on weekends. She loves the staff there and tells us all about her different experiences (specially the time she spends in allotment and kitchen). We also find the food options very healthy and consists of a variety of cuisines which helped diversify our daughters eating. She is more keen on trying different things now. All the staff members are so loving, caring and always happy! We are extremely pleased that we decided to go with this particular nursery for our daughter. Cannot recommend it enough!
Reply from Ricky Bhurji, Managing Director at Happy Trails PlayThank you so much for your beautiful words - they truly made our day! We're so glad your daughter settled into the Pineapples room so quickly and has made Happy Trails Play her second home. It's lovely to hear how much she enjoys the allotment and kitchen (we've definitely spotted her creative flair in both!). Knowing she looks forward to nursery-even on weekends-is the biggest compliment we could receive. Thank you for trusting us with her care and early years journey. We feel genuinely lucky to have her with us!Warm wishes,Happy Trails Play Team
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Review from C H (Mother of Child) published on 19 February 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic childcare from this nursery, especially the coconuts room. The activities they do with the children are great and my child absolutely loves her days here. Five members of staff in particular have such a great and lovely way with my daughter, and she loves seeing them and spending her days
at nursery with them They have helped her development and social skills so much and I feel comfortable leaving my child in their care.
Reply from Mandy Cooper, Nursery Manager at Happy Trails PlayThank you for your wonderful feedback! We're so glad to hear your child loves the activities and enjoys their time in the Coconuts room. Our team truly appreciates your trust in us to support their development and social skills. We look forward to continuing to care for your child!
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Review from Chloe M (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter joined Happy Trails last year where we have slowly increased her days to her now attending full time. The nursery is incredible and we love the impact it is having on our little girl. The nursery staff are amazing and really passionate about their job; they have really brought her out of
her shell and I feel they really care about her needs and development. The focus on food and sustainability is one of the reasons we joined, the access to the allotments is great and the independence for the children to grow and make their own food is a highlight. They have a kitchen where they can prepare their own food and the food itself is always so varied and healthy which has really encouraged my daughter to try new things. The nursery put a lot of time in to make the children more independent and we are definitely noticing these traits coming home. The whole ethos of the nursery is great and feels like a family, it's such a fab place and we feel happy to be part of it.
Reply from Mandy Cooper, Nursery Manager at Happy Trails PlayThank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear how much your daughter is thriving at Happy Trails. It's wonderful to know that our passionate staff, the focus on sustainability and the hands-on approach to food have had such a positive impact on her development. We truly believe in fostering independence and creating a nurturing environment for all our children, so it's fantastic to hear that you're seeing those traits at home too. This is always our goal that these eating habits enter the house too! We're so grateful to have your family as part of our Happy Trails community. You guys always support us in a major way which is so appreciated. Thank you again for sharing your experience!
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Review from Abbey B (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is a wonderful nursery. The food options are a cut above the rest. The atmosphere is lovely, with welcoming staff and beautiful clean toys for the children to play with. Our son has febrile seizures and this has been taken very seriously by all the staff, with regular updates to his care plan and
temperature checks frequently throughout the day. Additionally, they offer events for parents and children (a Christmas event including presents for the children, and a potty training class for parents, for example - all free of charge).
We cannot speak highly enough about this nursery! All of the staff are brilliant, fun, passionate and love children. As someone who was nervous about sending my baby to a nursery setting, I would highly recommend Happy Trails Play.
Reply from Mandy Cooper, Nursery Manager at Happy Trails PlayThank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We are so pleased to see your son is enjoying his time at Happy Trails Play. Our team is committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment and it's fantastic to know that the care and attention we give to each child, especially with regard to health and well-being, has made a positive impact on your family. We're also thrilled that you've enjoyed the events we offer (lots more to come!) - we love creating special experiences for both the children and their families. Your kind words about our staff mean so much to us and to them and we're so happy to be part of your journey. Thank you for trusting us with your little one, we love having him here - we truly appreciate your recommendation!
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Review from Natasha W (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Happy Trails is such a lovely nursery and I would recommend to anyone looking for a warm, family-friendly setting for their child to be a part of. Having worked at a nursery before I was quite picky when choosing, but the moment I looked around Happy Trails I knew it was the place I wanted my son to
go.
The staff are all so friendly, you can tell they really care for the children and enjoy it. The facilities they have are great, they spend a lot of time outside in the garden and lots of messy play as well as teaching them so many new things. The food they serve is so varied and nutritious, my son eats so well!
His confidence has grown massively, his speech has come on leaps and bounds and he has built really lovely connections with the staff. The nursery itself put on events for parents to go to which is a nice way to meet other parents as well as parents evenings. Their ethos as a whole is really wonderful and I couldn't wish for my son to be in better childcare.
Reply from Mandy Cooper, Nursery Manager at Happy Trails PlayThank you so much for your lovely review! We're thrilled to hear how Happy Trails Play has made such a positive impact on your son's development and confidence. It's wonderful for us to know that our team, facilities and events have created such a warm, welcoming environment for both you and your child. We're grateful for your trust in us and truly appreciate your recommendation. It's families like yours that make our nursery such a special place!
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Review from H M (Mother of Child) published on 12 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Always know my little boy is well cared for by staff. All staff members I've met so far are welcoming and friendly. My little boys team of staff are very much loved by him and he always has a great day playing alongside the friends he's making. Plenty of good quality toys, resources and equipment available
indoors.
As the nursery grows it would be nice to see the outdoor space landscaped and designed in a way that brings indoor learning outside more.
The nursery is unique in having an allotment next door where my little boy can explore and discover the natural environment and learn the process of fruit to table for example.
Overall extremely happy with my choice to enroll my little boy into nursery here!
Reply from Joty Bhurji, Director at Happy Trails PlayThank you so much for your kind feedback! We're so happy to hear your little boy is enjoying his time with us and that he's making great friends and building strong relationships with his team of staff. It's lovely to know that he's exploring our allotment and learning about the natural environment - that's what we're all about! We also wanted to highlight that we serve superfoods like our acai bowls, chocolate avocado mousse, or our homemade granola that's both nut-free and gluten-free, our soups are made from scratch - this is just part of daily life here in what we do to ensure the children have nutritious and exciting meals - the goal for this to spread across into the home too. If you'd like, feel free to ask us for a sample of our acai bowl next time you're in! Thanks again for your support and we're thrilled to have your little boy with us!
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Review from Lily W (Mother of Child) published on 4 December 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My 1 year old son started at Happy Trails Nursery in September 2024 and since then we have had nothing but a positive and happy experience there, not just for my son but for all of us as a family.
He has come on so much since he started in September, we can't believe the difference in his confidence
and social skills. He is now saying lots of new words, dancing and counting which is just lovely to see. We are so pleased with how much he is learning at nursery at such a young age.
All of the staff members are so lovely and friendly. The facilities and activities they provide are amazing. Lots of healthy eating and great outdoor play.
A truly outstanding, family-friendly nursery, I would recommend it to anyone.
Reply from Mandy Cooper, Manager at Happy Trails PlayDear Lily, thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt review! We are thrilled to hear that you and your family have had such a positive experience with us at Happy Trails Play Nursery. Watching your little one grow in confidence, social skills, and language is exactly why we love what we do-it's so rewarding to be part of his journey! Our team takes great pride in creating a nurturing, engaging and fun environment for every child, and it's wonderful to hear that the facilities, activities and healthy meals have been appreciated by you and your family - we really try hard and are always innovating new ideas. Your recommendation means the world to us and we're so grateful for the opportunity to support your son's early learning journey. Thank you for trusting us and being part of the Happy Trails Play family!
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Current Review Score: 9.4 (9.409)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.4 (9.409) out of 10 for Happy Trails Play is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 12 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.5 out of 5 from 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.903 for Happy Trails Play is calculated as follows: ( (135 Excellents x 5) + (4 Goods x 4) + (5 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 144 Ratings = 4.903
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4.506 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Happy Trails Play is based on 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 20 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews, 0.05 Points for the next five Positive Reviews, and finally 0.025 Points for the next ten Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.050, 7th = 0.050, 8th = 0.050, 9th = 0.050, 10th = 0.050, 11th = 0.025, 12th = 0.025, 13th = 0.025, 14th = 0.025, 15th = 0.025, 16th = 0.025, 17th = 0.025, 18th = 0.025, 19th = 0.025, 20th = 0.025) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.05 + 0.025 + 0.025 = 3.8
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 85 number of registered child places is 17. 12 Positive Reviews ÷ 17 = 0.706
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Happy Trails Play

What is the Age Range of Children that Happy Trails Play accepts?

Happy Trails Play accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Happy Trails Play Open?

Happy Trails Play is open: Monday 07:30-18:30, Tuesday 07:30-18:30, Wednesday 07:30-18:30, Thursday 07:30-18:30, Friday 07:30-18:30.

How many Children does Happy Trails Play have capacity for?

Happy Trails Play has capacity for a total of 85 Children.

How far is Happy Trails Play to the centre of Reading?

3.6 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 Trails Play to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Happy Trails Play has an Basic Service - more info.