Rainbow Day Nursery (Harlow) Ltd
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Harlow for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024. Open since 2016, with 34 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Essex
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Essex 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
CM20 1QXWhat 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.
Ofsted inspector, 9 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children with genuine warmth and kindness. The nursery is child friendly and welcoming as the attentive staff ensure the environment captures children's interest. Children demonstrate they are enthusiastic and eager to learn and settle quickly. They leave their parents with ease and become engrossed in activities offered. Staff provide a curriculum that is planned around the children's developing needs and interests. They follow the children's lead and plan in the moment to fully support what captures children's attention. Staff speak respectfully to the children, for example, they gently ask them if they if they may change their nappy or wipe their nose. They have high expectations for the children and children's behaviour is good.
Children are supported to learn the skills required to be independent, for the transition to school and successful future learning. Older children are positively encouraged to take care of their own personal needs, fully supported by staff who are close by. Younger children also make good attempts of getting ready for outdoor play. Staff are skilful in their interactions with children and provide running commentaries during play. Children's speech and language development are good, and they demonstrate that they are confident speakers. Children enjoy their time in the garden. They exercise and have fresh air as they play with their friends.
Children cooperate in groups, listen to instructions and are keen to help as they set up new games, such as a badminton net. They delight in using the bats and learn new words, such as 'shuttlecock'.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan more opportunities within the curriculum to challenge children's thinking, so that it consistently builds on what they already know and can do n support staff to provide opportunities for children to explore and express their creativity and imagination, and celebrate their artistic achievements.
- 9 February 2024Good
- 29 May 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Rainbow Day Nursery (Harlow) Ltd
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- 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
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? 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.