Little Rainbows Day Nursery

Speech buttons and child-led model making gave Little Rainbows Day Nursery in Liversedge a recognisable character in February 2025. Communication, choice and practising independence were threads through its nursery day at that inspection. Current SEND arrangements use individual support plans to organise activities around children's needs. It has capacity for 26 children, with a current age range from birth to five.

At its February 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found effective safeguarding, positive progress and support that helped children with special educational needs and/or disabilities develop confidence and skills. The main improvement concerned consistency: some practitioners needed a clearer grasp of what an activity should teach and how to sustain children's interest.

Full days, half days and short days give families several attendance patterns to consider.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: in everyday terms, play and practical experiences help children build language, physical skills and independence. The detail here is how activities connect with each child's starting point.

In February 2025, staff used Who am I assessments to gather information about children's interests, abilities and existing knowledge, then shape activities around them. That gives planning a personal starting point rather than assuming children of the same age need the same experience.

Language work had tangible resources. In February 2025, voice-activated push buttons supported exploration of speech, sounds and feelings, while practitioners also used gestures, signing and a language support programme. For children who communicate in different ways, the combination matters more than relying on spoken instructions alone.

Choice was another thread through the day in February 2025. Children decided how and where to play, and junk modelling prompted ideas such as volcanoes and cars. Water play, sand, mark-making equipment, pipettes and spray bottles gave them opportunities to practise control with their hands. These were practical experiences, with scope for children to develop their own ideas.

The limitation was adult support during some activities. In February 2025, staff did not consistently connect their help with a clear learning intention, and some children became disengaged. Freedom to choose was a strength of the daily arrangement; purposeful follow-through needed more consistency.

Outdoor and Community Life

In February 2025, children played indoors and outdoors and spent time beyond the nursery, including visits to parks and local schools. These experiences connected their learning with places outside the setting. School visits were part of that wider experience, rather than evidence of an admissions advantage.

Relationships and Communication

In February 2025, children developed close relationships with their key person and friendships with other children. Practising sharing, turn-taking and inviting someone into a game made relationships part of the nursery day, rather than a separate lesson.

Communication with parents worked in both directions in February 2025: staff shared children's achievements and families contributed their views. That exchange matters when planning starts with individual interests and needs, because home observations can add something different to what practitioners see in nursery.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Individual planning is central to the current SEND arrangements. My Support Plans and EHCPs are used to organise activities and support around a child's needs, with families involved in tailoring their experience. The nursery works with speech and language services, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the Kirklees Early Years Educational Psychology team. This gives support a practical structure involving both home and specialist services.

Leadership roles include a SENCO, a deputy SENCO and designated safeguarding responsibilities. The team also includes PORTAGE training, identified as early years SEND training. These are arrangements and training that families can discuss in relation to their own child; they do not replace the dated inspection judgement.

In February 2025, everyday care included children practising putting on shoes and coats, washing their hands regularly and using nose-cleaning stations. Learning to dress for colder outdoor conditions linked independence with looking after themselves. Small routines carried useful learning.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, for 51 weeks a year. It closes on bank holidays and for a week at Christmas, so families need to factor those breaks into their childcare plans.

Full-day bookings are nine hours or more within the 7am to 6pm opening window. Half-day and short-day sessions are also offered. Hourly bookings have a five-hour minimum, with morning or afternoon attendance. That minimum is an important distinction for families considering a shorter visit: hourly charging still involves a substantial block of care.

Getting There

The address is 26 Halifax Rd, Liversedge, WF15 6JQ. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01924 235264 or by email at info@little-rainbows.co.uk; visits can be requested through the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Early Years funding is offered for children aged nine months and over, and for two-, three- and four-year-olds, including the 30-hour entitlement. Working-parent funding has a chargeable-extras arrangement, so the funded entitlement and the complete childcare bill need to be considered separately.

Meals and snacks are included in the session fees. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, and its fees and funding page outlines the attendance options and funding categories.

• Purposeful support during play. The February 2025 improvement action concerned staff understanding the learning intended in each activity and keeping children engaged. On a visit, ask how practitioners now plan and support child-led activities.
• The funded-hours bill. Working-parent funding sits alongside a chargeable-extras arrangement, while meals and snacks are included in session fees. Ask for a written breakdown for your intended pattern, covering funded hours, food and non-food consumables.
• Shorter attendance and closures. Hourly bookings require at least five hours, and the nursery closes for bank holidays and a Christmas week. Those conditions matter if your working hours vary or you need continuous holiday cover.

Little Rainbows suits families considering full days or shorter half-day and hourly arrangements, especially those who value individual planning and practical communication support. Its SEND provision has concrete mechanisms, including My Support Plans and links with specialist services. The February 2025 Good judgement provides a positive overall assessment, balanced by a clear improvement priority around adult support during activities. The strongest decision is one that matches both the attendance pattern and the support approach to your child.