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Early years · Report card

Rainbow Day Nursery

Inspected 19 May 2026 · URN 139435

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Summary

No overall grade in this frameworkSafeguarding met

Sarah Madge

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Achievement verified

    Expected standard

  • Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified

    Strong standard

  • Children's welfare and wellbeing verified

    Expected standard

  • Curriculum and teaching verified

    Expected standard

  • Inclusion verified

    Strong standard

  • Leadership and governance verified

    Expected standard

  • Framework verified

    Report card

  • Group verified

    Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

  • Inspection datesingle source

    19 May 2026

  • Inspectors verified

    Sarah Madge

  • Postcode verified

    TQ2 7AB

  • Name on report verified

    Rainbow Day Nursery

  • Safeguarding verified

    Met

  • URN verified

    139435

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • AchievementExpected
  • Behaviour, attitudes and routinesStrong
  • Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected
  • InclusionStrong
  • Leadership and governanceExpected

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+61Positivemore positive than 31% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praisepositivevery wellenthusiasmenjoyhigh-qualityfeel safeeffectivelyhigh expectations
Criticismconcernsnot consistentlynot highly effectiveweaknessesnot yetnot consistent

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspectionLeadershipWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1480w+76
  • Leadership210w+20
  • Safeguarding51w−11
  • What needs to improve99w+43

Strengths

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Concerns

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Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
9
Words of findings
1,840
about usual (typical 1698)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 49, typical 43
Average sentence
15 words
Next steps
4
typical 3
Hedged sentences
6%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 64%Leadership 9%Safeguarding 2%What needs to improve 4%About the inspection 21%

Full report text

Rainbow Day Nursery

Unique reference number (URN): 139435 Address: Torbay Hospital Annexe, Newton Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 7AB Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 15/12/1988 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Leaders and staff prioritise the curriculum for children's personal, social and emotional development. Staff form very secure attachments with children from the beginning. They model kind, friendly and respectful behaviour. Staff also establish clear routines and consistent boundaries that support children effectively to understand what is expected of them. This all helps children to learn how to form friendships and treat others. For example, staff greet each other warmly when they arrive at work. Children copy this positive interaction, welcoming staff enthusiastically with words and hugs when they enter a playroom.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Staff teach pre-school children how to recognise their feelings and emotions. They support children to understand that some children need more emotional support than others. Consequently, children behave well and play harmoniously together and alongside each other. For instance, for several minutes, babies sit facing each other each other in a basket, communicating joyfully with smiles, eye contact, shakes of their head and babbling. Children are kind, patient and caring. They learn to try to manage their feelings and behaviour for themselves before asking staff for help.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Children develop positive attitudes to learning. From a young age, they learn the daily routine and staff's expectations, and are keen to join in with activities. For example, babies listen and watch with interest for several minutes when staff sing nursery rhymes. Two-year- old and pre-school children engage deeply in their play for long periods of time.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Strong standard

Leaders monitor children's attendance and follow up any concerns. They encourage parents and carers to bring their children regularly and on time. This is supported through close professional relationships between families and staff. This positively impacts on children's future outcomes.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders and staff take the time to work with, and get to know, children and their families very well from the start. They are patient and kind. Staff praise and celebrate children's achievements with enthusiasm. The prioritisation of inclusivity and children's emotional security means that key persons form deep bonds with children very quickly.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders and staff are skilled and experienced at recognising when children may benefit from extra help. They take swift action to work with parents and carers to obtain the relevant external support for these children. Leaders and staff work very closely with other professionals to ensure that plans, routines and strategies are tailored to meet children's individual needs. Staff are very knowledgeable about the children who require additional support. They have high expectations for their development. Staff ensure that children receive plenty of help, encouragement and opportunities to meet their targets. They simultaneously provide children with time and space to play and explore independently when appropriate.

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Expected standard

Staff use a variety of strategies to communicate with children, including those with delayed speech. For example, they teach children to use signing and refer to visual displays. Children quickly become familiar with these communication strategies and subsequently use signing at home. Staff also develop children's awareness of other languages, such as teaching them familiar nursery rhymes in French. Leaders and staff consider each child's interests and development when planning how to use additional funding. They monitor the impact it has on the children's progress, to ensure that it is highly impactful.

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Achievement Expected standard

All children develop the knowledge and skills needed for later learning, including starting school. They are curious and eager to take part and have a go. Babies develop a love of books from a young age. They select a book for staff to read to them individually. Babies then focus for a sustained period while looking at the pictures, lifting the flaps and turning the pages. Two-year-old children play very well together during their imaginative games. For example, they help staff to arrange the chairs to form a 'train' and then after their journey, they go on a pretend adventure at the beach. Pre-school children show enthusiasm when staff support them to bash play dough using a mallet, to release the scents from the fresh herbs. At times, some children do not have opportunities to extend their learning. During these occasions, children continue to practise their existing skills, but do not receive the

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Leaders have worked hard with staff to focus on ensuring that children feel safe and secure. They do this through the implementation of flexible settling-in arrangements and the close relationships that staff form with children. Children settle quickly when they transition to a different room. Staff follow children's individual care routines sensitively. For example, they are close by and support children to fall asleep in a calm environment.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Leaders and staff promote healthy lifestyles for children, including through their work with children's families. For example, they support parents and carers with information about oral hygiene and nutrition. Parents feel that this is useful and appreciated. Children benefit from plenty of physical play in the fresh air. For example, pre-school children encourage each other to balance along and climb an obstacle course in the garden, before jumping off at the end. Leaders and staff provide healthy and balanced food for children. Generally, snack and mealtimes are a sociable occasion. Staff sit with the children while they eat and supervise them appropriately. However, during these times, they do not consistently give children their full attention to support and participate in conversations with and between children. This does not consistently extend children's language development.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard

Children enjoy attending the nursery and spending time with their friends. Staff are calm and patient when encouraging children to practise managing self-care tasks independently. For example, staff narrate each step of the process to pre-school children of how to put on a waterproof all-in-one suit, until they succeed. Their friends helpfully remind them not to forget to put their shoes on after, before they go outside to play.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Leaders have designed a broad and interesting curriculum that supports children's learning across all the areas of the early years foundation stage. Staff plan relevant experiences that engage children and develop their skills and knowledge. However, at times, the quality of teaching is not fully consistent across the whole nursery. For example, sometimes, staff working with the two-year-old and pre-school children do not extend children's learning during their play. This means that, on occasion, these children do not receive the support needed to extend their learning further. That said, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who face other barriers to learning benefit from high- quality support. For example, staff use specialist equipment to ensure that children with SEND can consistently engage in activities and routine tasks alongside their peers.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Typically, staff support children to build the skills they need for their next stage in learning. Staff plan and provide attractive and stimulating play areas for children. This encourages children to explore and make independent choices in their play. Staff support children's communication and language well overall. In the baby room, staff narrate what children are doing and what they point to, using simple language, and babies repeat single words. Babies watch and listen, copy the sounds and words and respond in their own ways, such as babbling and smiling. At times, such as during mealtimes and children's play, staff working with the two-year-old and pre-school children do not support their speech as effectively. For example, when children sit quietly and listen and watch with interest while playing alongside other children, staff do not encourage them to join in with discussions. Two-year-old children enjoy making marks using crayons and name the colours they use.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Staff support the pre-school children to count and become familiar with mathematical concepts, such as words to describe different sizes.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders demonstrate a professional and reflective approach. Their ambition and careful monitoring of the nursery have led to the provision of high-quality care and education for all children. Leaders have a clear understanding of how their actions are making a difference for children and their families. Leaders provide staff with regular supervision meetings and training, and support for staff's wellbeing. For example, they respond promptly to any emerging workload pressures. Staff enjoy their work and feel well supported by leaders. However, although leaders recognise occasional weaknesses in some staff's practice, they have not yet provided targeted support to develop the consistency of the quality of teaching. Therefore, some children do not receive highly effective support to extend their learning further.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders focus on supporting children and families who experience disadvantage, including carefully planning how to use additional funding to improve outcomes for children. For example, leaders use funding to support children to regulate their emotions and to provide additional staffing when children require extra help. Consequently, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and other barriers to their learning make particularly rapid progress in their learning and development. Parents and carers comment that they receive ongoing information about their children's experiences at the nursery and that their children are thriving.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children arrive with confidence, eager to greet their friends and staff. They form very secure bonds with the warm and friendly staff team. Children develop positive social skills, learning

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Inspector:

Sarah Madge many of these from staff, who act as positive role models. For example, pre-school children compliment their friends by saying 'good use of your words, well done', copying praise they have heard staff give to others.

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Inspector:

Children show confidence, enthusiasm and curiosity as they learn in the well-organised and carefully planned environment. For example, babies spend a long time looking at books with staff. They watch and listen with interest when staff sing nursery rhymes. Babies develop balance and coordination, such as when learning to climb the soft-play steps. They manoeuvre themselves into a sitting position and slide down the other side. Pre-school children become engrossed in their imaginative play, making 'hot chocolate soup' and 'cold vanilla soup' from play dough. They await feedback from staff and visitors. Children beam with pride when they receive positive reviews about the pretend food they have prepared. They learn to count and help each other to work out how old they will be on their next birthday. Children develop independence in their self-care. They have a positive attitude to trying new things. For example, pre-school children concentrate when attempting to use

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Inspector:

tongs with both hands to pick up sliced fruit for snack, until they succeed.

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Inspector:

Children with SEND are welcomed and included by staff and children. Staff understand children's needs very well. They implement clear and purposeful plans in collaboration with other professionals. As a result, these children receive high-quality care and make particularly positive progress from their starting points.

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Next steps

Leaders should support staff working with the two-year-old and pre-school children to provide more consistent support for children's speech and language, including during mealtimes. Leaders should support staff to extend the two-year-old and pre-school children's learning more consistently.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, the special educational needs coordinator, parents and carers and children during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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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Address:

Torbay Hospital Annexe Newton Road Torquay Devon TQ2 7AB

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Address:

Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Address:

Registered person: Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

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Address:

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:00 - 18:00

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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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