Rainbow Childcare

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this truly inspiring learning environment. The management team and staff place children at the heart of everything they do. Staff focus primarily on providing children with nurturing, high-quality interactions to help them form strong attachments. They place high priority on ensuring that children have a voice, feel safe and are respected. This means that children form exceptionally strong bonds with staff.

Children are deeply engaged in their learning and immediately immerse themselves in activities that capture their interest. For example, children use foam and food colouring to make ice creams as they absorb themselves in imaginary play. The curriculum is highly ambitious and well sequenced. Staff go above and beyond to provide children with exciting, high-quality experiences. This allows for all children to make the best possible progress.

Children are extremely well behaved. They show kindness and consideration towards their friends. Staff expertly support children to manage their behaviour, and children respond positively. They understand the nursery expectations well. For example, they wait patiently in line for their turn to throw their beanbag into a basket during outdoor play. Staff give children's feelings and emotions a high priority. For example, children self-register by placing their names and photo cards on the feelings board to communicate how they feel each day. This allows children to manage their emotions and self-regulate their own feelings and behaviour.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• Staff fully understand the nursery's curriculum. They have an excellent understanding of what children already know and can do and skilfully plan their next steps. For example, children are encouraged to use mathematical language in play. Staff identify children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and put in place individual learning plans to support them. This means that all children make exceptional progress in their learning.
• Communication and language development are a strength at the nursery. Staff consistently extend children's vocabulary and engage in high-quality interactions with them. For example, staff introduce exciting new vocabulary such as 'liquid substances' as children enjoy experimenting with flour and water. This successfully extends children's knowledge and language. Children are confident, articulate communicators who are very well prepared for the next stage in their learning.
• Partnerships with parents are exceptional and highly successful. Parents are extremely complimentary about the support and care that their children receive and recognise the commitment that staff show. Staff share daily information with parents about their children's time at nursery. They consistently encourage parents to be a part of their child's learning journey by continuing their learning at home. This allows parents to be involved in every aspect of their child's learning.
• The outdoor areas are excellent and provide opportunities for children to negotiate space, climb and investigate. The areas have been skilfully planned by the management team to offer a wide range of learning opportunities. For example, the newly built reading shed offers older children a place to relax and listen to stories. Staff help children to gain an understanding of the natural world. Children enjoy weekly visits from a specialist gardener to plant and grow vegetables, herbs and flowers.
• The management team review their practice to help make ongoing improvements to the nursery. They place high priority on feedback from parents and staff. Staff enjoy the responsibility of implementing their ideas in the nursery. They speak highly of the management team and say that they feel valued and proud to work at the nursery. Staff have regular opportunities to extend their knowledge, based on their own development and the needs of the children.
• Children show amazingly high levels of independence and self-control. For example, older children wash their hands independently, queue up and carry their plates back to the table at lunchtime. Staff encourage children to be independent in managing their self-care, such as dressing and feeding themselves. This prepares children well for the next stage of their learning.
• Staff support children and families exceptionally well in preparation for school. The manager works in close partnership with some of the schools children will attend. For example, teachers are invited to visit the nursery and meet the children to discuss their individual learning needs. In addition, the manager attends meetings with schools and shares information and guidance with teachers. This helps to offer children a seamless move on to school.