Over The Rainbow Day Care

In December 2022, storytelling in tents and careful play with pipettes gave Over The Rainbow Day Care a recognisable character. At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. Those findings provide a dated assessment of care and education, with clear improvement points alongside the strengths.

The Manchester setting has 54 places in total. Children attending in December 2022 were aged one to four; that age range describes the children at the time.

In December 2022, everyday play brought together practical skills and early learning. Babies explored sand through touch, while children used tweezers to lift buttons and experimented with pouring water. These activities exercised the small movements needed for later writing. Counting buttons and water scoops also brought number and measurement into play.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports communication, physical skills and learning to get along with others. In December 2022, children could develop their own ideas during play, although staff needed to do more to build learning from those emerging interests.

Books had a comfortable physical setting. In December 2022, cushions and tents supported daily storytelling, with puppets helping children act out characters. Community walks, wheeled toys and steps provided opportunities to practise movement and coordination. Outdoor play took place daily, but its educational planning needed more attention for children who preferred learning outside.

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found strong support for children's emotional development and communication, including the use of home-language phrases for children learning English.

In December 2022, staff joined children's play, encouraged independence through daily routines and demonstrated respectful behaviour. Parents received detailed accounts of their children's experiences and ideas for continuing learning at home. Nutritious meals and drinking water supported children's dietary and health needs.

The address is Unit 3, Wilsons Park, Monsall Road, Manchester M40 8WN.

In December 2022, weekday sessions ran from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery operated throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and a Christmas break lasting one week. Funded care then covered children aged two, three and four. These arrangements describe that period.

• Extending children's ideas. In December 2022, staff needed to develop learning further from children's emerging interests. Look for how an activity develops beyond its starting point.
• Outdoor learning. December 2022 brought a specific improvement point about planning purposeful outdoor experiences. This matters for children who prefer learning outside.
• Attendance and funding. The December 2022 arrangements combined weekday sessions with funded care. Which current booking patterns and funded-hours terms would fit your family?

Over The Rainbow Day Care's December 2022 assessment points to a setting suited to families who value learning through practical play, storytelling and communication, while the teaching and outdoor-planning priorities deserve attention. At that time, its character came from small, tangible experiences: handling buttons, acting out stories and building independence through ordinary routines.