There is huge demand for nursery places in Bristol
Happy Days Nursery unveiled the new unit this week(Image: Happy Days Nursery)
A nursery in Bradley Stoke has announced its expansion with the addition of a new baby unit, amid city-wide concerns over childcare places in Bristol.
The new baby unit at Happy Days Nursery is designed to be a “calm, nurturing space tailored to meet the needs of babies aged zero to two years”. The nursery confirmed that it has places available immediately for children under two years, as well as a limited number of spaces available for all age groups from September.
It celebrated the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the mayor of Bradley Stoke, councillor Natalie Field, and deputy mayor, councillor Jenny James.
Field said at the event: “It’s a real privilege to open this beautiful new space for babies in Bradley Stoke. The first five years of a child’s life are absolutely crucial, they lay the foundation for lifelong learning, well being, and development. It’s wonderful to see a setting so clearly committed to giving children the very best start.”
Happy Days aims to nurture ‘confident, happy, and curious learners’
The unit is described as having a “focus on high quality interactions, sensory play, and secure attachments”. It is a “valuable addition to the existing nursery’s early years provision”, Happy Days said.
A spokesperson added: “The opening marks an exciting milestone for Happy Days Nursery Bradley Stoke as it expands its offering to cater for even more families in the area, supporting working parents with flexible, high quality childcare.”
In September, Bristol Live reported on a shortage of nursery staff, which would result in the city being unlikely to have enough places to meet rising demand. The concerns were voiced after the expansion of free childcare.
From next September, all children under five will be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week. A shortage could occur as nurseries and childcare centres struggle to recruit and retain staff.
One council officer said at the time: “Initial surveys carried out with the sector shows that Bristol will be sufficient until September 2025, when we will potentially have a shortage of places for children under two. This is when the entitlement extends to 30 hours.”
Happy Days opened its first nursery in Newquay, Cornwall, in 1991. The Bradley Stoke nursery was launched in 2014, alongside the one in Exeter, Devon.
In the Bristol area, there are also Happy Days nurseries in Saltford, Charlton Heights, Cheswick, Lyde Green, Thornbury, and Yate. Meanwhile, its other venues are based in Cornwall, Bath, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, South Wales, Wiltshire, Surrey, and the South East. Overall, there are 35 nurseries taking care of about 2,000 children every day.