Interview - Jo Beighton, Childcare and education manager at Happy Days Nurseries

The group's most recent acquisition, a new nursery in Exeter, brings the chain's total number of settings to 16.

Why did you leave your job as an Ofsted quality and training manager to carrying out childcare and education research for Happy Days?

I saw a lot of EYFS provision from an Ofsted point of view, but I wanted to be 'on the ground', helping children by combining international research and best-practice models with what is set down by the Government.

How has Happy Days used research to help its expansion?

We know that as soon as children can move, they want to be independent. At Exeter we have freeflow so they can take themselves outside. Research says that this is where children really want their learning space to be, and parents have reported that children eat and sleep better when they've been moving.

In this country, three- and four-year-olds often play in a variety of areas while younger ones have only one room. We want to offer different areas to our two-year-olds. The challenge is to provide a large space that also feels safe and secure. We're confident that in the Exeter nursery we got it spot on, with quiet, creative areas, as well as a large space giving children the freedom to explore.

We also want to cut down on transitions, which no matter how well managed can be challenging, so we have just two rooms: Explorers for children up to two years and four months, and Adventurers after that.

What designs and methodologies has Happy Days developed?

There's a massive gap in the market for quality resources supporting open-ended play, so we started to develop some with the design team at equipment supplier Playforce.

Companies often just downsize primary school equipment for early years, but adapting it effectively is about more than that. At Playforce, every designer has the EYFS on their desk so they know what physical development means for all ages.

How is Happy Days responding to the Ofsted agenda for nursery education?

The early years are a fundamental cornerstone of child development and you have to get it right because you're setting them up for the rest of their lives. That's what we're all about. Satisfactory is not enough for children; good and better is always our goal and we're increasing the number of outstandings we've received from Ofsted across the group as a result.