Rainbows Childcare

Song puppets, garden vegetables and a sensory room characterised daily life at Rainbows Childcare in July 2024. This Hungerford nursery occupies grounds at John O'Gaunt School and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months, with 45 places in total.

At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that support for additional needs drew on specialist advice and personalised interventions. That July 2024 picture combined play, everyday independence and space for children who needed quieter surroundings.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: everyday play and routines contribute to learning rather than sitting apart from it.

In July 2024, babies used song props to choose music and explored finger puppets, while toddlers talked with staff through larger puppets. Preschool children exchanged ideas about shapes when making a bee, testing possibilities together. These examples put communication into activities children could influence themselves.

Independence also featured in the July 2024 day. Babies practised polite signs; toddlers worked at washing their hands using pump bottles. Outdoors, children climbed substantial play equipment, ran and grew vegetables that became part of their meals. The garden connected growing food with eating it.

In July 2024, staff collected information before children started and used their interests to shape activities. Predictable routines and indoor walking rules helped children understand expectations, while staff recognised their efforts and achievements.

A sensory room offered a quieter place to play in July 2024 when children became worried or frustrated. The special educational needs coordinator sought outside advice, helped organise individual interventions and involved parents in learning at home.

Parent communication in July 2024 included photographs, videos and ideas for continuing activities at home. Parents also contributed stories in Italian, and the chef worked with families on dishes from their home cultures, including falafel. Home-cooked meals incorporated vegetables grown in the garden.

The address is John O'Gaunt School, Priory Road, Hungerford, RG17 0AN. Opening hours are 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closures.

Although the nursery occupies school grounds, attending does not guarantee a Reception place. Families should treat childcare and school admission as separate decisions.

• Individual learning. In July 2024, some activities did not take children's existing skills far enough. During a visit, ask how staff now turn assessments into suitably challenging activities for each child.
• Understanding health. Children exercised and ate garden produce in July 2024, but explanations of why healthy habits benefit their bodies were inconsistent. Look for how that understanding is built into daily routines.
• Attendance and costs. Opening hours span the working day. Which booking patterns and funded arrangements can the nursery offer your family, and what does its current written quotation include for food and consumables?

Rainbows suits families seeking care across the year. For parents who value practical independence, shared conversation and quieter play space, its July 2024 activities offer an inspection-era picture: choosing songs, discussing shapes and growing food. The decision should also weigh how precisely activities now build on each child's learning and how everyday healthy habits are explained.