Rainbow Pre-School

Parents help run Rainbow Pre-School, rather than simply buying childcare from it. This community preschool in Southgate, Crawley, relies on families’ involvement, with a parent group handling its business affairs and organising fundraising and social events. That gives the relationship a practical dimension: joining means considering what you can contribute as well as what your child needs.

Rainbow accepts children from two and a half to school age and has 32 places in total. Its premises stand beside Southgate Primary School and the Southgate Family and Children’s Centre. At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and judged safeguarding effective. Morning, afternoon and full-day attendance are offered.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for children’s learning, development and care. At Rainbow in September 2023, this meant developing vocabulary through stories and rhymes, practising sharing and taking turns, and developing movement skills through physical play. Rainbow’s approach gives children scope to develop at their own pace, with activities organised around learning through play.

In September 2023, staff gathered children’s interests from parents before they started and used those interests when planning activities. This made family knowledge useful in shaping the day. Children could choose activities, while practitioners used what children already knew to plan their next learning steps.

Storytelling brought language and imaginative play together in September 2023. The Three Little Pigs involved story props and building little houses for children with SEND, giving them something concrete to handle alongside the narrative. Singing, rhymes and discussion also introduced vocabulary, while sharing and taking turns received deliberate attention. These were everyday opportunities to practise communicating with others.

Adult direction was less consistent. In September 2023, some organised activities demanded more understanding than some children had, and those children disengaged. The improvement point was specific: adjust the level so that children can participate meaningfully, rather than simply sit through the same task.

Outdoor and Community Life

In September 2023, physical play included throwing and kicking balls, using large play equipment and making shapes in the air with bubble wands. Children had opportunities for exercise and fresh air; physical play gave them opportunities to practise movement and coordination.

Community involvement also extends beyond children’s activities. Parents organise social occasions and fundraising during the year, alongside managing the preschool’s business. For families who enjoy contributing to a local organisation, that is a tangible part of Rainbow’s character.

In September 2023, new children received comfort through books, games and cuddles when adjusting to time away from their parents. Staff also sought information about children’s interests before attendance began. Together, these practices connected familiar preferences with the unfamiliar experience of preschool.

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted identified SEND provision as a strength, with managers and the special educational needs coordinator working alongside parents and other professionals to address individual needs. The practical mechanism matters: support involved collaboration around the child, rather than relying solely on activities planned for the whole group.

Communication in September 2023 included daily updates for parents. Children also took responsibility for small jobs, including distributing friends’ lunch boxes and helping put toys away. These tasks gave them opportunities to contribute to the group’s routine and practise consideration for others.

Snack time needed more attention in September 2023. Staff sometimes missed opportunities to discuss food or sustain conversation, so an ordinary daily routine did less to extend children’s learning than it could. This was a separate improvement point from adapting adult-led activities.

Sessions and Attendance

Rainbow’s address is Barrington Road, Crawley, RH10 6DG. Opening hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. A morning session runs from 8.30am to 11.30am; an afternoon session runs from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Families can combine morning and afternoon attendance or use a full day.

The general full-day pattern is 8.30am to 3.30pm. The funded full-day patterns differ: the 15 hour Free Entitlement day starts at 9am and finishes at 3.30pm, while the 30 hour Free Entitlement day runs from 8.30am to 3.30pm. The start-time distinction matters when fitting preschool around other commitments.

Applications involve completing and returning a form; a black post box on the main front gate provides a return point. Rainbow operates a waiting list and invites the next family on that list when a place opens. Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by telephone or by email.

Funding and Paid Extras

Rainbow offers funded early education for three- and four-year-olds, with up to 15 hours per week over at least 38 weeks per year, alongside its 30-hour funded attendance pattern. Funding is also described for some two-year-olds where their families meet the eligibility conditions. Staying between the morning and afternoon sessions, from 11.30am to 12.30pm, carries an additional attendance charge.

Getting There

The premises are adjacent to Southgate Primary School and the Southgate Family and Children’s Centre. Attending Rainbow does not guarantee a Reception place at Southgate Primary School; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Different funded start times. The 15-hour funded full day begins at 9am, whereas the 30-hour pattern begins at 8.30am. During a visit, discuss how the relevant pattern fits your week and what the lunch-slot attendance charge covers.
• Parent participation. Rainbow relies on families’ support, and parents organise fundraising and social events as well as managing business affairs. Consider what involvement you could sustain.
• Learning at the right level. September 2023 improvement points concerned overly demanding adult-led tasks and missed conversations at snack time. Ask how activities now accommodate different stages of understanding and how staff use snack time for discussion.

Rainbow suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool sessions, as well as those needing a full day within its school-hours opening window. Its parent-managed structure will appeal to families who want an active role in the organisation. The September 2023 picture combined collaborative SEND support and engaging story activities with clear work to do on adult-led learning and snack-time conversation. Those specific strengths and improvement points give families useful questions to take into a visit.