Rainbow Childcare Centres

Inspection of Rainbow Childcare Centres Exton C of E Primary School, Garden Road, Exton, OAKHAM, Rutland LE15 8AY

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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 and babies enter happily and settle quickly to play with a wide range of interesting resources. Kindly staff greet children warmly. Staff focus on ways to enable all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to develop their independence skills. Staff help children to become confident, independent learners, ready for the next stage of their learning. This aim is at the heart of the centre's curriculum. Staff ensure older children hang up their coats and bags next to their names and place their lunch boxes on a trolley. At snack time, they ask children to pour their milk and serve themselves fruit. Staff gently encourage babies to keep trying as they pull themselves up on low level furniture to a standing position. Photos of children and their families are displayed at a low level so that children can talk with staff about these and feel valued.

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The provision is good

The caring staff are positive role models. Children know what is expected of them. They follow simple rules, such as using 'quiet voices' and 'walking feet' indoors. Staff support children to recognise and manage their emotions, while explaining the impact of their actions on others. At mealtimes, children sing about saying 'please' and 'thank you', which helps them to remember their good manners. Children make choices, such as which herbs and spices to add to create scented dough and what shape of cutters they will use.

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need to do better?

n Leaders support staff's well-being effectively. Staff work together strongly to meet the needs of all children. They access professional development, such as Makaton training, which helps them to make improvements for all children, including those with SEND. Supervision is regular and targeted to ensure that individual staff's needs and those of the centre are met. n Overall, partnerships with parents are strong. Staff share appropriate next steps with parents and exchange daily updates about routines. Parents are updated about children's ongoing progress at parents' evenings. However, sometimes, staff do not share as much information about topics that their children are exploring until after these are completed. This means that parents may miss opportunities to talk with their children at home about their ongoing experiences. n Staff prioritise building strong bonds with babies and children. They get to know

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need to do better?

them well from the start, gathering information from parents about routines, preferences and abilities. They use this knowledge to help children feel secure and welcome at the centre. n Staff provide a commentary for children's explorations of the world around them. When children hunt for ladybirds, staff talk about their size, number of spots and

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need to do better?

4 September 2025 wings. They introduce new words such as 'sprinkle' to describe children's actions. Staff ensure there are plenty of opportunities for children to practise their communication and language skills, including in one-to-one sessions. n Children enjoy plenty of exercise in the fresh air daily. For instance, staff encourage them to develop their stamina and physical skills when running vigorously across the securely enclosed field nearby. They play football and climb safely on large equipment. Staff supervise children closely so that they learn to take safe risks while they play. This supports the development of children's good physical skills and well-being. n Staff adapt activities well during children's play so that all of them can access these easily. However, during some group activities, older children are not challenged as fully to extend their learning. For instance, staff occasionally

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need to do better?

answer questions for children rather than allowing them to think and solve problems for themselves. n The centre provides good support for children with SEND. Staff are proactive in finding ways to help narrow any gaps in children's learning. They work closely with other professionals when required. There is good communication with other settings that children will attend, including schools. n Staff promote children's love of books and nursery rhymes, such as by reading to children of all ages animatedly in small groups. Babies turn pages independently and feel the different textures of the pictures. Children choose books from the accessible lending library to take home and share with their families. Staff sing rhymes with children, helping them to build their recall of familiar songs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n enhance information sharing further with parents to help them better understand what their children are learning and how to support this fully at home n support staff to plan group activities that provide greater challenge for older children, to extend their thinking and learning further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY431710 Local authority Rutland Council Inspection number 10416241 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 21 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person Rainbow Childcare Centres Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0333 666 6789 Ext 3 Date of previous inspection 10 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Rainbow Childcare Centres registered in 2011 and is situated in the grounds of Exton C of E Primary School, Exton, Oakham. The centre employs five members of childcare staff. All of them hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, and one holds a qualification at level 6. The centre opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am until 5.15pm. The centre provides funded early education.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation.

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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

4 September 2025 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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