As a first-time dad, I exhaustively researched and compared child-care options in the area for my then one-year-old son before eventually deciding on Happy Daisies, run by the lovely Monika and her sister Paulina.

As one of the few recently Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ nurseries in the area, their setting offers all the indoor/outdoor facilities and structured learning of a larger nursery, but with the intimacy, warmth, and personalised care typically found with childminders. It truly feels like the best of both worlds.

Every day, we receive photos and videos via WhatsApp showing what our son has been doing; whether it’s creative arts and crafts that build fine motor skills, problem-solving games, or group activities that nurture teamwork. The variety is astonishing, and even nearly two years in, I’m still amazed by how consistently fresh, personalised, and seasonally relevant the activities remain. At the end of each day we’re given a helpful summary of how he’s slept, what he’s eaten from the healthy meals provided, and how he’s generally been, giving us great insight into his routine that we can carry on at home.

The outdoor space is another standout feature. The garden includes a large, sheltered area that allows the children to play outside year-round, whatever the weather, a rare offering compared to many other nurseries we considered. Recently, they’ve made the most of the warmer weather by setting up a small paddling pool and organising water-based play, which our son absolutely loves.

We could go on singing the praises of Happy Daisies and the fabulous team - Monika, Paula, Dora, Domi, to name a few - but perhaps the most telling outcome is this: we leave our child each morning without guilt, knowing he is safe, nurtured, and thriving. He comes home every day happy, confident, and curious, with his development noticeably outpacing many peers of his age outside the nursery environment. His speech, independence, and emotional intelligence have all flourished under their care.

We wholeheartedly recommend Happy Daisies / Monika Taratajcio / Paulina Witek to any parent seeking outstanding, loving childcare and have already made plans to start our youngest daughter there very soon.

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