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Little Rainbows in Plymouth

Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(4 parent reviews) ·Charlotte Street, Plymouth, PL2 1RJ · Plymouth
Number of places
34 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2026
Local authority
Plymouth

About this day nursery

Little Rainbows is a childcare setting in Plymouth for children aged 1 to 4 years, operating since 2014. The dedicated team ensures a warm and welcoming environment, fostering a sense of security through established key-person relationships.

The nursery is open Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 17:00, and on Fridays from 09:00 to 12:45, operating all year round. They implement the EYFS curriculum, focusing on a broad and ambitious approach to help children build on their individual starting points.

Staff are particularly skilled in adapting activities to meet individual needs, including those with SEND, by providing appropriate training and working closely with parents and external professionals. While the outdoor provision is being enhanced to support physical development, leaders are also working to strengthen support for children who speak English as an additional language, focusing on celebrating home languages.

The setting received an 'Inadequate' rating at its most recent inspection on March 3, 2026, and needs to address inconsistencies in teaching quality, support for speech and language, and fostering independent conflict resolution skills in pre-schoolers. However, safeguarding standards have been met, ensuring a safe environment for all children.

What it's like

Children are greeted warmly and welcomed into the setting by leaders and staff, settling in confidently and quickly. Staff create an attractive and stimulating environment that motivates children to explore, investigate and join in. Patient, calm, warm, and caring interactions, along with praise, contribute to a positive experience. Established key-person relationships foster a sense of security for the children.

Warm welcomeIndividualised learningSEND supportEYFS curriculumDedicated staff

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 09:00 - 17:00, Friday: 09:00 - 12:45

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2014

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Mar 2026

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Little Rainbows

Last inspected 3 March 2026

What it's like to attend

Children are greeted warmly and welcomed into the setting by leaders and staff, settling in confidently and quickly. Staff create an attractive and stimulating environment that motivates children to explore, investigate and join in. Patient, calm, warm, and caring interactions, along with praise, contribute to a positive experience. Established key-person relationships foster a sense of security for the children.

Inspector highlights

  • All children typically achieve well from their individual starting points, building on what they already know and can do.
  • Children develop their physical skills, exploring textures and learning to match puzzle pieces.
  • Staff form positive relationships with children, acting as positive role models and encouraging care for one another.
  • Staff adapt activities and routines to reflect children's individual needs, using visual aids and signing when necessary.
  • Leaders have developed a broad and ambitious curriculum, focusing on ensuring children develop key knowledge and skills for future learning.
  • Staff model a broad vocabulary when speaking with children and teach the importance of staying hydrated.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders should strengthen the support for children who speak English as an additional language to celebrate their home languages and what makes them unique.
  • 2Leaders should strengthen staff confidence, skills and consistency in extending children's language and encouraging them to speak.
  • 3Leaders should support staff to develop pre-school children's understanding and skills to manage their feelings and resolve minor conflicts independently.
Inspection #10414853 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff receive appropriate training to follow approaches to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They adapt the support they provide to shape children's experiences, using assessments to identify individual needs and acting quickly when further support is required. They work closely with special educational needs coordinators, parents and carers, and external professionals to set realistic targets and regularly review children's progress.

Outdoor space

Leaders have taken action to begin enhancing the outdoor provision further to extend children's physical development.

EAL / language support

Leaders and staff are in the very early stages of implementing strategies to enhance the understanding and speech of children who speak English as an additional language. Leaders should strengthen the support for children who speak English as an additional language to celebrate their home languages and what makes them unique.

Parent Reviews of Little Rainbows

5.0
(4)
damian metcalfe
5 years ago

My daughter has been going to Little Rainbows for over 12 months now, the staff are friendly, professional and approachable. We will certainly be doing pre-school there also, we'll done and keep up the good work.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Little Rainbows. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: March 2016

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Inadequate). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • October 2025Inadequate
  • December 2021Good
  • November 2017Good
  • July 2017Inadequate
  • March 2016Good

Frequently asked about Little Rainbows

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