Summary
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
Expected standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Expected standard
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
The Rainbow Centre (Marham)
- Inspection datesingle source
18 Jun 2026
- Inspectors under review
Readings disagree
- Postcode verified
PE33 9NF
- Name on report verified
The Rainbow Centre (Marham)
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
EY383623
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 routinesExpected
- Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
- Curriculum and teachingExpected
- InclusionExpected
- Leadership and governanceExpected
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- Occasionally, children's independence is not supported in at way that meets leaders' expectations of consistently high-quality teaching and learning. p.3
- Staff share that they feel extremely well supported and their wellbeing is given high priority. p.4
- Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are making more rapid progress in their communication and language through recently implemented targeted approaches and generally achieve well. p.2
- Children are well cared for by staff who know the children very well and value their individuality. p.5
- Leaders consistently promote a positive working culture. p.4
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
- This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. p.5
- This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register. p.5
- Leaders should develop and embed a more effective system to monitor staff practice that helps to ensure teaching meets leaders' expectations more consistently. p.6
- Leaders should continue to embed a program of supervisions that provides effective coaching of staff and helps them ensure that professional learning and expertise opportunities are of high quality and precisely matched to improvement priorities. p.6
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Parents & families11
“Staff are warm and responsive to all children and their families.” p.3Wellbeing & mental health6
“Staff share that they feel extremely well supported and their wellbeing is given high priority.” p.4
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 9
- Words of findings
- 1,729
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 42, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 17 words
- Next steps
- 4
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 4%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
The Rainbow Centre (Marham)
Unique reference number (URN): EY383623 Address: Elm Road, Upper Marham, KING'S LYNN, Norfolk, PE33 9NF Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 25/02/2009 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: The Rainbow Centre (Marham)
p.1
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.
p.1
How we evaluate safeguarding
When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:
p.1
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.
p.1
Achievement Expected standard
Children are suitably prepared for starting school. They are curious learners, for example, older children ask insightful questions that improve their knowledge and understanding. They have a deep understanding of past learning. For example, when exploring books, children recall the story, name authors and recall specific sentences from their favourite books. Children engage in acting out stories in the garden, confidently recounting, 'We are going on a bear hunt' with their friends. Children hear and engage enthusiastically in stories, singing and rhymes throughout the day. These experiences help to develop their communication and language skills. Babies smile and sway to familiar songs, such as 'Row, row, row the boat', demonstrating their enjoyment.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
Children confidently move through the nursery towards the next stage of their development. They are supported by a clear transition process during each room move. Children develop secure emotional wellbeing. They are kind and are beginning to build positive social skills through play. They develop problem-solving skills and independence through everyday routines, including managing their own care needs. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are making more rapid progress in their communication and language through recently implemented targeted approaches and generally achieve well.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Children throughout the nursery are fully engaged and busy in their learning. This contributes greatly to the generally high levels of positive behaviour that children display. Older children listen intently at group times and follow instructions well. For example, at tidy up time. or to line up ready to move to the lunch hall. Any minor incidents are handled positively by staff, who speak calmly to children and support them to understand how they can regulate their emotions. Staff consistently praise children for their efforts and achievements, helping to build their self-worth and confidence.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders and staff manage routines well overall, ensuring that these are typically used as opportunities to develop independence. Children are familiar with routines and confidently queue, wash their hands and take care of their own personal care needs. Children who may face barriers to their learning participate fully, and group activities support their learning and development. Staff work well as a team to ensure that routines flow and children are well cared for. Behaviour management of staff is generally monitored by leaders to ensure consistency across the nursery. This includes teaching kindness and good manners through effective role modelling as staff help to prepare children for later life.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders promote attendance and punctuality well. They discuss the importance of this with parents and help parents overcome any barriers to attendance as they arise. This ensures that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those known to social care, and others who may face barriers to learning are supported to maintain routines and learning experiences.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Leaders provide an environment, where children continually feel safe and secure. Staff are warm and responsive to all children and their families. They quickly build very secure attachments with babies, helping those new to the nursery to settle easily. Babies gesture for cuddles and smile when staff approach them. They explore their environment with increasing confidence, showing enjoyment when staff sing to them or help them engage in sensory play, such as crunching dry cereal with their hands. Babies excitedly copy the actions of familiar rhymes.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Across the nursery, mealtimes are encouraged to be social occasions. This helps children develop positive relationships with other children and staff. Children eat well, access water regularly throughout the day and follow familiar sleep routines that supports their health and wellbeing. Staff follow personalised feeding and weaning routines for babies that meets their individual needs. Staff have carefully considered and implemented the new regulations around safer eating and sleeping to ensure children are continually kept safe from harm. Staff embed positive hygiene practices, such as handwashing. Nappy changing and toilet areas afford children their privacy. All children, including those facing additional barriers to their learning, access care that supports their wellbeing and development. At the end of each day, parents receive a comprehensive breakdown of their children's day, including care
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
routines and activities they have participated in. Parents comment that they welcome the communication and support they receive.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
The curriculum is well thought out and led well. Leaders and staff have an insightful understanding of child development and promote sequenced learning that provides the skills children need to develop before starting school. Staff understand the intended learning of the planned activities and how these experiences will develop children's individual learning needs. Staff make suitable adaptations, often in the moment, and adapt their approach depending on the age and stage of children's development. They ensure activities are an appropriate length, engaging and fun. Children who face barriers to their learning benefit from learning in smaller, targeted groups, which supports their development and learning well.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Staff place great emphasis on supporting and developing children's social and emotional skills, communication and language and physical development right from babies. Staff consistently provide babies with resources and support to help strengthen the muscles needed for standing and walking and to be able to climb and balance. For example, babies learn to climb steps and crawl up and down a short ramp.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders are developing how they monitor and support staff practice more regularly. Mostly, staff's interactions with children are purposeful and supports their ongoing development. Occasionally, children's independence is not supported in at way that meets leaders' expectations of consistently high-quality teaching and learning. For example, at mealtimes, some staff tend to carry out tasks for the children.
p.3
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders and staff consistently prioritise children's emotional security. They form warm and secure bonds with all children and get to know them and their individual needs quickly to build trust and help them settle. The nursery special educational needs coordinator is passionate and dedicated to the role. Despite, only taking on the role in recent months, she has implemented a more specific and targeted approach to identifying and monitoring children's needs. This is continuing to be embedded across the nursery to help develop a more consistent approach among staff. Staff have become more knowledgeable about strategies that can be used to further promote and develop learning for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), children known to social care and those who face other barriers to their learning. For example, staff regularly plan structured physical activities that help children focus and self-regulate. Staff understand and use simple sign
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
language as another means of communication. These types of strategies are helping children to become confident and engaged learners.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders work alongside external agencies to provide targeted support for children and families. They meet regularly with families of children with SEND to discuss progress and ensure their children receive enjoyable learning experiences, achieve well and close gaps in their learning. Leaders are aware of those children in receipt of additional funding. They use these funds to target support, such as resources that promote communication and language based on children's interests and learning needs.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders are reflective of the provision and have ensured that there is a continuing positive culture of safeguarding throughout the nursery. The newly configured management team has worked hard to ensure that both the team and staff are continuing to meet high standards of care and learning after an unsettling period for the nursery. Leaders are aware that there are still some improvements to be made. Some teaching practice does not always meet expectations and leaders realise that staff may benefit from more consistent monitoring of practice and coaching to consistently provide the highest quality teaching. A new system for effective supervision of staff is still in its infancy and not embedded enough to drive improvements in quality or clearly focus on the professional development needs of staff. Leaders continue to be positive and proactive about the future and are committed to working closely alongside families and other professionals to ensure they continue to meet
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
the needs of all children and their families.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders consistently promote a positive working culture. Staff share that they feel extremely well supported and their wellbeing is given high priority. Leaders conduct regular check-ins, have an open-door approach and opportunities for team development. Morale among staff is high and they are passionate about providing children with an enjoyable and motivating childcare experience. Overall, this all contributes to a cohesive and supportive staff team. There is regular engagement with parents and other professionals to ensure that children's needs are consistently met and leaders plan to further develop parent engagement through activities, such as home story sacks and attending nursery lunches.
p.4
Compulsory Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
p.5
Register
When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.5
Voluntary Childcare Register requirements
This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.
p.5
Register
When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children and their families are warmly welcomed by familiar staff who come out to the entrance foyer to greet them personally. Babies confidently wave at staff and visitors who enter the room. Children are well cared for by staff who know the children very well and value their individuality. They have a clear understanding of family backgrounds and what makes them unique. Children benefit from rich-learning experiences, and staff make learning fun and exciting. For example, children dance excitedly to their favourite disco music. Children's skills and knowledge are extended over time as activities help them to
p.5
Inspectors:
Carly Mooney Julie Meredith-Jenkins Tracy Joyce
p.6
About this setting
build on what they know and already can do. Children who face barriers to their learning receive specific, tailored support that enables them to thrive.
p.6
About this setting
Children are well prepared for starting school. They make friendships and show kindness towards their friends. For example, they make space so they can sit in the circle at group time. Children confidently learn the behaviours expected of them, such as sitting upright and crossing legs to listen to a story. Children learn that it is beneficial to work as a team for some tasks and learn the skills needed to do so. Room mascots, such as 'Gerald the Giraffe' are used well to support children's emotional wellbeing and communication. On the day of the inspection, children were excited to receive a letter, a magnet and pictures of the giraffes from the local zoo, after they wrote to them about Gerald. Children begin to use early mathematical skills, such as counting and recognising quantity. Children learn to enjoy books and reading from babies. For example, through regular story times, both as a group and individually.
p.6
Next steps
Leaders should develop and embed a more effective system to monitor staff practice that helps to ensure teaching meets leaders' expectations more consistently. Leaders should continue to embed a program of supervisions that provides effective coaching of staff and helps them ensure that professional learning and expertise opportunities are of high quality and precisely matched to improvement priorities.
p.6
About this inspection
The inspector spoke with leaders, practitioners, the special educational needs coordinator, and parents and carers during the inspection.
p.6
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. Unique reference number (URN): EY383623
p.6
Address:
Elm Road Upper Marham KING'S LYNN Norfolk PE33 9NF
p.7
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.7
Address:
Registered person: The Rainbow Centre (Marham)
p.7
Address:
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:00 - 18:00
p.7
Facts and figures used on inspection
This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
p.7
Exceptional
Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.
p.7
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
p.8
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.
p.8
Needs attention
The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.
p.8
Urgent improvement
The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.
p.8
Urgent improvement
services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.
p.8
Urgent improvement
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p.8
Urgent improvement
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p.8
Urgent improvement
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Urgent improvement
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