Rainbows Day Nursery
Good★ 4.1 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Caterham for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2023. Open since 2013, with 30 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
What childcare usually costs in Surrey
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Surrey 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
CR3 6RHWhat 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, 4 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children happily arrive at the setting and are excited to start their day. Staff welcome children into the setting and give them time to settle at the activities they have organised. Babies explore play food items, and staff introduce new words to them, such as 'broccoli'. Staff are responsive to babies and provide comfort and reassurance to help them feel secure. Staff encourage older children to tidy up after themselves. For example, children wash up their cups and plates after lunchtime. Staff remind children to clear up any spillages so that they don't slip over. This helps children recognise and manage risk.
Children benefit from a range of opportunities to be physically active and play outdoors. For example, staff take children out on walks around the park that is opposite the setting. Children take magnifying glasses with them and talk about the bugs they think they might find. Babies join older children on their outings.
Younger children play games outside, such as 'What's the time, the manager?' Staff support children to learn the rules of group games and encourage them to take turns. As a result, younger children are beginning to show respect for each other.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff knowledge of how children learn to help them recognise children's emerging interests in order to build on what they already know n improve the organisation of transition times, including lunchtime, to minimise interruptions to children's learning.
- 4 December 2023Good
- 20 December 2022Needs improvement
- 18 April 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Rainbows Day Nursery
- 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.