Rainbow Nursery

Inspection of Rainbow Nursery Rock Road, Middlestone Moor, County Durham DL16 7DA

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

Children are happy and at ease in this nursery, which has a calm and relaxed atmosphere. They enter their playroom with confidence when parents drop them at the door.

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The provision is good

Staff and managers want the very best for every child. They provide appealing activities for all children. Babies explore a range of household objects. They bang spoons and plates together and delight in the sounds they make. They develop early mark-making skills, tracing their fingers through a mixture of flour and water. Two-year-old children show remarkable personal and social skills. They share bowls and spoons when they pretend to mix and add cement to wooden blocks to build a wall. They work together, helping one another to carry heavier blocks. Pre-school children are curious, independent learners. They predict what will happen next when they observe the caterpillars they are caring for, using books to check their facts. Children show excellent mathematical skills while hunting for Easter eggs and animals. They tell staff how many more or less they need to get to five objects.

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The provision is good

Staff encourage children to learn about other cultures and what is important to their friends. For example, they teach children about Polish traditions, including how they share doughnuts on 'Fat Thursday'.

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need to do better?

n Overall, the curriculum is well balanced. It is responsive to children's preferences and abilities. Staff plan activities that encourage children to develop a broad range of skills and knowledge. Key persons then differentiate their teaching to focus on individual children's learning needs. This helps children to learn more and remember more. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported very well. Staff are mindful of some children whose development has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They quickly identify gaps in children's learning and plan interventions that help them to catch up. n Staff are excellent communicators. Those working with young babies are tuned to their non-verbal cues and respond to them quickly. Staff use a rich and varied vocabulary with older children. They ask skilful questions and give children lots of time and opportunities to speak. Children are fluent and articulate talkers who

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need to do better?

use and understand lots of words. n Children are inquisitive learners. Staff working with two-year-old children expertly involve themselves in their self-chosen play. They offer suggestions and prompts that deepen children's involvement and extend their learning. In the pre-school group, teaching is mostly directed by adults. Older children, therefore, have less support to develop their own ideas and extend their learning

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need to do better?

13 April 2022 during play. n The long-serving staff make up a well-established team who work together effectively. They feel supported and valued, and morale is high. They are keen to continue their own learning and they share their individual expertise with one another. This helps to enhance children's experiences and learning in nursery. n Additional funding is used well to promote children's learning and well-being. For instance, yoga classes and physical exercise sessions help to support children's physical and mental health. Outings in the community help children to learn more about life in their own neighbourhood and beyond. n Mealtimes are relaxed occasions. Staff encourage children's independence and social skills and engage them in conversation. However, they do not use these opportunities to talk to children about the importance of a good diet and the benefits of the nutritious, home-cooked meals that are served in nursery.

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need to do better?

n Staff manage children's behaviour in a positive way. For example, they remind children to use their 'walking feet' and to be kind. Children behave remarkably well. They are polite and show respect to one another and adults. They are eager to please and glow with pride when staff praise them. n Partnerships with parents are a distinct strength. Staff share highly detailed information about children's time in nursery and their activities at home. Parents' feedback is overwhelmingly positive. They describe staff as 'an extension of our family' and comment on the rapid progress children make while attending nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers have a very good understanding of their responsibility to safeguard children. They maintain secure and up-to-date knowledge of what to do if there are concerns about a child's welfare. All staff have a clear understanding of their role in keeping children safe. They know about the different kinds of abuse that children may be at risk from and they know how to identify them. They have very good knowledge of broader aspects of safeguarding, such as risks posed by extreme views and behaviours. Arrangements for identifying hazards in nursery are highly effective. Accident and incident forms are monitored to identify patterns and eliminate any apparent risks.

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should:

n support pre-school children more consistently to develop and extend their ideas during self-chosen play n promote children's good health even more effectively, for example, by teaching them about the benefits of healthy foods.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY282940 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10233648 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person Rainbow Nursery (Middlestone Moor) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01388 815815 Date of previous inspection 6 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Rainbow Nursery registered in 2004 and is located in Spennymoor, County Durham. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 5.30pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting has received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and staff and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The manager showed the inspector around the nursery and talked about the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Managers met with the inspector to discuss leadership and management of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documents provided, including evidence of staff qualifications. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She also spoke to a number of parents and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

13 April 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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