Rainbow Playgroup
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in The Green Welling for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 1992, with 21 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 Bexley
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bexley 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
DA16 2PGWhat 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, 30 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happily at this playgroup, where they are greeted warmly by staff who know them well. They are eager to explore the engaging environment and become engaged in their learning. Children quickly settle into circle time, where staff skilfully encourage all children to talk about how they are feeling. This gives children the confidence to acknowledge their emotions. They chat confidently and enjoy sharing their experiences.
Children use their small-muscle skills as they build models with construction resources and complete jigsaw puzzles. They further develop their skills as they paint and use scissors to cut shapes to make Christmas trees. Children practise their large-muscle skills in the inviting garden. They demonstrate a good understanding of how to take risks and keep themselves safe. For example, children choose to use the trikes on the flat area and point to the sloped area saying that it could be dangerous.
Staff have high expectations for children and provide activities that build on what they can already do. They use praise to encourage children to persevere with tricky tasks. This helps children to keep going and overcome problems. Staff play alongside children and are positive role models. They encourage children to consider the needs of others and resolve difficulties.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider ways to extend children's language and learning, to further challenge them in all activities so that they make the best possible progress.
- 30 November 2022Good
- 9 January 2017Good
- 14 May 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Rainbow Playgroup
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.