Reckleford Infant School and Nursery: Rainbow Room Review

Water play with a purpose gives the Rainbow Room its character: taking turns matters alongside learning to talk, count and move. This is Reckleford Infant School and Nursery’s school-attached nursery on Eastland Road in Yeovil, serving children aged 2, 3 and 4. It has 72 places. The provision includes 10 places for two-year-olds and 62 for three- and four-year-olds.

Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 27 to 28 June 2023. That is the early-years judgement within the school’s inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Morning and afternoon sessions give families a choice of shorter attendance or both sessions together. Learning spans the early years foundation stage (EYFS): here, the concrete examples are conversation, early number work, physical development and learning to cooperate. In June 2023, staff planned water play around turn-taking, giving children practice in sharing an activity as well as exploring it.

Stories and sound play have a clear place. Children sang rhymes, heard stories and practised greetings in June 2023, building language through activities they could join in with. Read, Write Inc. is the named literacy programme used in the nursery and across the school; staff receive training in delivering it, and parents are introduced to the approach to help them support learning.

The Rainbow Room’s home corner becomes a setting for imaginative play. In February 2024, it became a flower shop, while road-safety activities included making traffic lights and a large stop sign, alongside a miniature car wash. These are tangible ways to explore familiar situations through play.

Outside, the nursery has its own play area, which received stepping stones in June 2024. Nursery and school play spaces also include a multi-use games area (MUGA). Physical learning has space beyond the classroom.

A senior teacher leads the nursery, with nursery nurses and a nursery SENCO forming part of the team. Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) begins with recognising a child’s needs, followed by involvement from other professionals where appropriate. The approach follows Somerset’s Graduated Response Tool.

In June 2023, children could receive support from the start of nursery. Staff adjusted learning to individual needs, with parents and outside agencies involved in planning support. This makes early identification relevant to the child’s daily learning, rather than leaving it until school entry.

Tapestry connects home and nursery: staff share photographs of children’s activities, and families can upload photographs from home too. Food safety also has a practical requirement. Lunchboxes must exclude nuts and foods containing them, a rule covering both nursery and school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Somerset County Council’s normal Reception admissions process, meeting the deadline for their intake. Applications go directly to the local authority.

Familiarity is a separate benefit. Nursery children take part in activities with Reception children each week and join school celebrations. That gives them contact with the wider school before moving on; it does not replace the Reception application or secure admission.

The Rainbow Room operates Monday to Friday in term time. Morning sessions run from 9:00am to noon; afternoons run from noon to 3:00pm. Children can attend either session or combine them, providing up to 30 hours across the week. This gives families a defined choice between a shorter session and attendance across the nursery day.

For nursery enquiries, telephone 01935 475938 or email office@recklefordschool.co.uk. Visits can be arranged through the school office.

Parking. Parents cannot use the school car park; permits are available for local car parks. Plan the journey with that restriction in mind.