Rainbows Montessori Pre-School

Pouring a drink, sharpening a pencil and testing how a ball travels down guttering give Rainbows Montessori Pre-School a practical character in its September 2021 account. Small tasks put children in charge of doing things for themselves.

Ofsted judged the pre-school Good on 30 September 2021. The pre-school is at the Church of Good Shepherd church hall in Carshalton; the children attending in September 2021 were aged two to four.

In September 2021, learning combined activities selected by staff with children's own choices. Art materials and connecting toy trains offered opportunities to concentrate, while sorting buttons introduced differences in size. Staff extended conversations with words such as angle and friction, bringing mathematical and scientific language into practical play.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the September 2021 examples included stories, recognising letters and experimenting with slopes: children listened, talked and tried things out rather than simply receiving instructions.

Planning in September 2021 used assessments and individual needs to decide what children should tackle next. However, the arrangement of the space sometimes interrupted sustained engagement. The physical layout therefore mattered as much as the activity itself.

At the September 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to raise welfare concerns and daily checks addressing potential hazards. This is a dated judgement.

In September 2021, key people gave parents updates and shared assessments, including developmental gaps. Conversations also drew on children's experiences at home, connecting family life with the pre-school day. Children practised sharing, manners and personal hygiene alongside practical independence.

Staff support needed attention in September 2021. Supervision meetings happened inconsistently, although they provided opportunities to discuss workload and wellbeing; more dependable support was an improvement priority.

The address is Church of Good Shepherd, Church Hall, Queen Marys Avenue, Carshalton, SM5 4NP.

In September 2021, opening hours were Monday to Friday, 9am to midday, during term time. A breakfast club ran from 8am to 9am and a lunch club from midday to 1pm, offering extensions on either side of the main opening window.

In September 2021, the pre-school received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation is separate from any family's entitlement.

• Space for sustained play. In September 2021, the layout did not consistently help children stay absorbed in activities. How the hall supports uninterrupted play deserves attention during a visit.
• Support for practitioners. September 2021 supervision meetings needed greater consistency. Reliable opportunities to discuss workload and wellbeing matter for the staff caring for children.
• The attendance pattern. The September 2021 model combined term-time opening with breakfast and lunch extensions. What timetable and booking arrangements apply now?

Rainbows' September 2021 account has a clear appeal for parents who value practical independence, conversation and hands-on exploration. Its attendance model then suited families seeking a shorter morning, an earlier start through breakfast club, or a later finish through lunch club. The Good judgement sits alongside two concrete improvement priorities: organising the space and making staff supervision more consistent.