Over the Rainbow
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in York for from 2 years up to school age, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. £39.00 a day for 2 yr olds, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2024. Open since 2004, with 36 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Price list dated 1st June 2026.
| Age | Full day | Session | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 yr olds2y to 3y | £39.00Preschool full day | £20.50Preschool morning only or Preschool afternoon only, 3.5 hrs | |
| All ages | £34.00Holiday Club ‘School Hours’ Day £37.00Holiday Club Full Day | £6.00Breakfast Club, 1.5 hrs £12.00After School Club, 3 hrs |
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £3.40 Cooked lunch
What a funded hour still costs
Funded hours cover the childcare. These are charged alongside them.
- £2.50 a session Additional daily enrichment activity charge (half day) –Government funded children only
- £5.00 a day Additional daily enrichment activity charge (full day) –Government funded children only
Funded hours
Government Funded Hours.
Worth knowing. Additional daily enrichment activity charge (full day) – Government funded children only: £5.00; Additional daily enrichment activity charge (half day) – Government funded children only: £2.50. Our Daily Enrichment Activity Charge is a voluntary additional charge for enrichment activities that we provide every day which are above and beyond the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. These are activities such as Scientots, KidsLingo, Mini Masterchef, Music and Movement and Ou.
What childcare usually costs in York
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in York from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
YO19 5QGWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 21 February 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 12 June 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive at this stimulating and exciting pre-school. They arrive happy and eager to start the day. Children are greeted at the door by warm, welcoming and caring staff members. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure as they quickly settle into activities that are attractively set up for them on their arrival. For example, staff have set up a dough activity, children excitedly discuss their favourite coloured dough. Staff extend children's learning by asking ageappropriate questions and introducing vocabulary. Children describe the dough as
Children of all ages demonstrate their independence as they locate their names at the entrance and self-register. They hang up their own bags and coats, and choose where they want to play. Children have many opportunities to play outside, in the well-resourced garden. They explore a wide range of resources that promote their physical development. For instance, children confidently climb on large apparatus, and propel themselves on bikes and scooters. Children expertly manoeuvre a parachute to throw a soft toy from the material. They squeal with delight as they count and bounce the toy up and down. Staff are excellent role models and have high expectations for all children. Children's behaviour is very good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to further develop their understanding of the specific skills and knowledge they want children to learn from activities n strengthen the procedures for professional development for staff, to raise the quality of already good practice to an even higher level.
- 12 June 2024Good
- 3 July 2018Outstanding
- 7 October 2009Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Over the Rainbow
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £39.00 a day still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.