Life at Happy Mindz
What does a Happy Minder's day look like?
It looks like stories, muddy hands, big questions, new friendships, quiet moments, busy moments and plenty of opportunities to find out what happens next.
It looks learning through every experience.
It looks like childhood should - filled with wonder and fun.
Growing together
A journey of adventure and discovery
Discoverers (0-2 years)
Explorers (2-3 years)
Inventors (3+ years)
Our youngest Happy Minders
Our Discoverers room is a calm yet colourful space, where Happy Mindz babies are known individually, and their changing needs, interests and development shape the day. Safe sleep. Time to play and discover. And of course, plenty of cuddles.
Growing independence
Creative play, stories, messy making, role play and trying things for themselves. With themed activities, outings to the local area, lots of games, fun and laughter galore. Explorers at Happy Mindz know that fun and learning comes hand in hand.
Ideas take shape
Happy Mindz Inventors develop their confidence, independence and skills as they prepare for their next big adventure: school. Our pre-schoolers create, innovate, and develop their literacy, with the option to stay with us until the term after they turn five.
A typical day at Happy Mindz
Every day brings time to explore, learn, play, connect and recharge. Our day has a gentle rhythm, combining child-led discovery with shared experiences and focused learning.
7.30am–8.30am | Breakfast together
The day begins with a shared breakfast, giving children time to settle in, connect with friends and the grown-ups, in preparation for the adventures ahead.
8.30am–9.00am | A time to come together
Our older children gather for circle time, with counting, songs, a thematic focus and shared group activities. Our youngest Discoverers begin exploring through activities led by their interests.
9.00am–9.45am | Exploring through play
Children follow their interests, make discoveries and learn through play.
9.45am–10.00am | Snack together
A shared snack gives everyone a chance to pause, refuel and enjoy time together.
10.00am–11.15am | Time to discover
Child-led activities continue, with opportunities to explore outdoors prioritised during this time.
11.15am–11.45am | Moving and growing
Dedicated time for Sticky Kidz and gross motor activities helps make movement and physical development part of the day.
11.45am–12.45pm | Lunch together
Lunch brings the children together for a shared meal and a chance to practise everyday social skills, learning and discovering all the time, as grown-ups join them at their tables.
12.45pm–1.00pm | Songs and rhymes
We enjoy songs and rhymes together before our morning session ends. Discoverers have time to rest and relax, while children attending the afternoon session arrive.
1.00pm–1.30pm | Circle time or Rest and Relaxation
Our older children come together again for counting, songs, a thematic focus and group activities. Meanwhile our Discoverers head for some rest and relaxation time until 2pm
1.30pm–2.00pm | Focused learning
Practitioners offer focused activities based on children's individual next steps during this time, helping each child build on what they already know.
2.00pm–4.00pm | Child-led discovery
Children take the lead and enjoy exploring through play, following their interests, making their own discoveries and inventions.
4.00pm–5.00pm | High tea together
High tea offers an opportunity for children of all ages to eat together, chat and enjoy the company of friends and grown-ups.
5.00pm–6.30pm | SQUIRT: A quieter finish
As the day winds down, 'SQUIRT' provides "sustained, quieter reflection time", with activities such as jigsaws, puzzles, stories and songs.
It's a gentle way to round off a busy day of adventure and discovery.
A little note for parents
This is a guide to our typical daily rhythm. Activities and routines are adapted to children's ages, needs and individual care routines, particularly for our youngest Discoverers.
The Imagination Library
Our passion for early reading is deeply personal for Shane and Claire, founders of Happy Mindz, cemented through their extraordinary experience in 2007 when their daughter, Emma, became the first child in the UK to benefit from Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library."
The superstar visited Emma, aged just two days old at the time, upon arriving in the UK to launch Imagination Library, and little Emma made the national news!
Seeing first hand the impact that receiving her book monthly could have on their young child reinforced Early Years specialist educators Shane and Claire's shared belief that access to books and the joy of reading should start as early as possible.
That belief continues to influence everything we do at Happy Mindz.
We want children to grow up seeing books as something exciting, comforting and magical.
Skills for lifelong learning
We want them to develop a love of stories long before they are expected to read independently, and to understand that books can take them anywhere- introducing them to new ideas, different cultures, wonderful characters and endless possibilities.
Our approach is much more than preparing children for school. Its about giving them the best possible foundations for life.
Through stories, conversations, songs, rhymes and shared reading experiences, we encourage them to develop communication, language and literacy skills they need to flourish.
Most importantly, we want every child to leave Happy Mindz with a genuine love of books and reading. All the books received through the Imagination Library are available and readily shared in setting.
At Happy Mindz Day Nursery and Preschool, we believe that every child deserves the very best start in life.
From the moment children join us, our aim is to nurture their curiosity, confidence and love of learning, creating strong foundations that will support them through their educational journey. A particularly important part of this foundation is reading.
We strongly believe that reading should begin from birth.
Books are not simply a tool for learning to read; they open up a world of imagination, language, discovery and connection. Sharing a story helps develop vocabulary, listening skills and understanding of the world, whilst also creating precious moments of bonding between children and the adults who care for them.
Developing foundations for life through stories and early reading
Reading begins from birth
"A very special place"
"We cannot thank each and every one of you enough for the care you have given to E since she began in early 2025. I was so nervous about going back to work and E starting nursery when still so young-only 7/8 months old. But your care is fantastic and you not only helped E with the transition but also me. It has been a massive thrill and joy seeing her thrive at Happy Mindz. She always comes home animated and talking happily about her day. There is no doubt that she enjoys her nursery days. Whenever we have been away she is always excited to come back to nursery. She has learned so much. We have been impressed in particular with her social skill development. Happy Mindz is certainly a very special place." A&S - July 2026