Rainbow Pre-School & Extended Services

In November 2022, vegetable preparation, imaginary moon journeys and an outdoor kitchen gave Rainbow’s Brunts Lane setting a recognisable character. In November 2022, children counted food, prepared soup and explored changes in wet tea bags: everyday materials became opportunities to talk, investigate and practise using their hands.

At its 7 November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Rainbow Pre-School & Extended Services Outstanding overall.

This is the West Site in Biggleswade, based in the Nursery Building at St Andrews School, Brunts Lane, SG18 0LY, with capacity for 50 children. Preschool caters for children aged two to five, while morning, afternoon and all-day attendance sit alongside breakfast and after-school services.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children’s learning and care, bringing together language, physical development, relationships and learning through play. Rainbow organises its teaching around children’s interests, with communication and language alongside another area of learning each half term; a related book and a core value help connect the activities. This gives the day a common thread while allowing children’s own enthusiasms to shape what happens.

In November 2022, collected leaves and sticks led to storytelling and counting with dough. Imaginary moon travel gave children reasons to describe destinations and explain their ideas to one another. These were practical examples of learning across several areas at once: number work grew out of handling objects, while pretend play created a purpose for conversation.

Language received additional attention in November 2022. Staff had undertaken further training, and sensory activities prompted children to describe what they could feel. Vocabulary was connected to tangible experiences.

Outdoor and Community Life

In November 2022, the outside kitchen supported sensory investigation, while climbing equipment and trikes offered different ways to move. Children also practised cutting with scissors and managing their own clothes. Together, these examples show how movement and independence were built into ordinary activities rather than reserved for a separate lesson.

The West Site has a PANCO, a Physical and Nutritional Co-ordinator whose work covers balanced menus and opportunities for active play. Across both Rainbow sites, each half term brings attention to three foods and three forms of movement, with information shared through newsletters. Families therefore have a concrete theme they can continue at home.

Rainbow also participates in the annual walk-to-school week, encouraging families to travel on foot.

Relationships and Communication

A child’s key worker is identified in the email confirming their sessions. Before attendance begins, the induction meeting brings together a discussion of the child’s needs with an activity involving the child and key worker. The relationship starts before the regular timetable does.

In November 2022, children spent time talking with their key person about home experiences. Parents’ evenings, shared home videos and a home-learning challenge book connected learning in the setting with family life. These were specific ways for parents to contribute, rather than simply receive updates.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support highly effective, with detailed care planning and work involving other professionals helping children’s progress.

A Head of SEND coordinates provision, and support follows a cycle of assessment, planning, action and review, involving parents in decisions. The policy also covers referrals for further assessment and joint work on Education, Health and Care needs assessments. For families needing additional support, this gives a defined process and a responsible role.

Physical access at the West Site includes a ramp, broad entrances and a single-level interior. A visual timetable helps children anticipate the session’s routine, while bilingual books and resources support children using another language at home. These arrangements address different needs: getting around the building, understanding what happens next and recognising familiar language.

Collection procedures require nominated adults and a family password, with parental contact when an unfamiliar collector has not been agreed in advance. Families using relatives or other carers need to keep those arrangements up to date.

Sessions and Attendance

Preschool runs Monday to Friday during school terms, for 39 weeks annually. Morning attendance is 9am to noon, afternoons run from 12.15pm to 3.15pm, and the all-day pattern is 9am to 3.15pm. Families can combine mornings and afternoons, with a minimum booking of two sessions each week.

Once allocated, sessions continue for the academic year. Changes are handled at the start of a half term, subject to space, so the timetable suits families who can plan their regular pattern ahead. Ending attendance requires written notice and takes effect at the half-term boundary; privately paid sessions remain payable for the rest of that half term.

Breakfast Club offers starts at 7.30am or 8am, and After School Club runs from 3.30pm to 6pm. Term-time extended care serves Rainbow preschool children and children attending St Andrews, with staff accompanying school children between the club and their classrooms. These bookings are made for each half term and allocated in the order completed forms arrive.

The Register Interest form allows families to select West Site, Brunts Lane. Preschool allocation depends on returned session-request paperwork, rather than reserving future sessions; existing children and siblings have priority under the stated allocation rules. General enquiries use enquiries@rainbow-preschool.co.uk, while extended-service bookings use bookings@rainbow-preschool.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded preschool attendance includes the 30-hour entitlement for eligible working families, the universal 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, and 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds receiving additional support. Delivery is term-time during preschool hours; the general funding offer’s younger age bands do not change Rainbow’s preschool starting age. Funding covers 38 weeks, and Rainbow gives funded families their usual sessions during the extra preschool week without charge.

Private sessions and attendance beyond entitlement are charged. The lunchtime supervision interval can use remaining eligible funded hours or attract a separate charge when entitlement is exhausted, and new starters make an initial contribution for a polo top, book bag and home-learning challenge book. Current prices should be obtained in a written quotation.

Preschool snacks are free; lunch is either brought from home or ordered for a separate charge from the caterer also serving St Andrews Primary School, while breakfast and after-school snacks are included in their club prices. Rainbow supplies summer sun cream, but families send nappies and wipes each day; its terms do not identify a separate sun-cream charge.

Getting There

Preschool parking is unavailable on site, and Barnett Close is restricted to residents; drivers are directed to public parking in town. The car park can be used for extended services between 7.30am and 8am or 4.30pm and 6pm, making transport planning different for preschool and club bookings.

Rainbow shares the St Andrews school site, but attending preschool does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still apply through the local authority’s school admissions process.

• Breakfast timing. Breakfast Club ends at 9am in the opening timetable and at 8.45am in the service description. Confirm the finishing time for your West Site booking before organising the morning journey.
• A timetable to keep. Preschool requires at least two weekly sessions, with changes handled at half-term boundaries. At an induction visit, discuss how the chosen pattern and key-worker contact will support your child’s settling.
• Lunch and allergies. Rainbow’s policy excludes nuts and popcorn, and hot lunches are ordered ahead. Families managing allergies should confirm current food handling and the arrangements for their child before choosing catered meals.
• School-site expectations. Preschool attendance brings no guaranteed Reception place, and preschool parking requires an alternative to the school car park. Consider both the admissions route and the daily journey when choosing this setting.

Rainbow suits families seeking morning sessions, afternoon sessions or a combined preschool day, especially those who can maintain a term-time pattern and arrange bookings ahead. Breakfast and after-school care extend the options for eligible children.

Its strongest case combines the substantial November 2022 inspection judgement with practical current arrangements: an identified key worker, a structured SEND process and a West Site coordinator linking food and movement. The attendance rules, separately charged lunch options and parking restrictions deserve equal attention. This is a setting with a clear preschool rhythm, rather than an endlessly adjustable booking arrangement.