Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Rainbow Friends Childcare

Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.3(28 parent reviews) ·5, Drydock Square, Barking, IG11 7SQ · Barking and Dagenham
Number of places
30 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2025
Local authority
Barking and Dagenham

About this day nursery

Rainbow Friends Childcare, located in Barking, operates as a childcare setting on non-domestic premises, catering to children aged 0-4 years. Established in 2023, it has been serving the community with its year-round opening hours from 8:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday.

The nursery places a strong emphasis on meeting individual needs, particularly for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those with English as an additional language (EAL). Leaders ensure that all children's individual needs are consistently met from the start, with staff regularly encouraging parents to bring their children in at the beginning of the day to ensure they receive additional support.

The setting uses the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum approach, providing a well-designed learning environment both indoors and outdoors. This allows for activities such as younger children learning about quantity and weight by pouring water into trays, and developing sequencing skills by putting on wellington boots independently before playing in water and leaves.

The latest Ofsted inspection, on December 2, 2025, rated the nursery as "Inadequate" overall, noting that while safeguarding standards are met, there is a "Needs attention" area in Leadership and governance due to not implementing effective induction procedures for all staff.

What it's like

Children are happy, secure and safe at Rainbow Friends Childcare. They generally achieve well according to their age and stage of development and are suitably prepared for their next stage of learning. Staff provide well-planned and age-appropriate learning experiences, helping to build children's confidence and independence.

Supportive relationshipsIndividual needs metStrong communicationOutdoor learningEYFS curriculumSEND provision

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 08:00 - 18:00

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Dec 2025

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
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Rainbow Friends Childcare

Last inspected 2 December 2025 · Caroline Preston

Actions the provider must take

  • support agency staff to understand policies and procedures so leaders receive information in a timely manner, so they can act more promptly.

What it's like to attend

Children are happy, secure and safe at Rainbow Friends Childcare. They generally achieve well according to their age and stage of development and are suitably prepared for their next stage of learning. Staff provide well-planned and age-appropriate learning experiences, helping to build children's confidence and independence.

Inspector highlights

  • The safeguarding standards are met, indicating an open culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed.
  • Leaders ensure that all children's individual needs are consistently met by monitoring what children can do and assessing what support they may require.
  • Staff very successfully implement targeted activities, such as curiosity buckets and visual items, to help children to skilfully communicate and express their needs.
  • Children develop well in their communication and language and are suitably prepared for their next stage of learning, with staff introducing vocabulary during mealtimes and repeating words.
  • Staff establish caring and trusting relationships with children and are effective role models, helping children to understand expected behaviour and attitudes to learning.
  • Leaders have an accurate understanding of the curriculum and provide a well-designed learning environment indoors and outdoors.
  • Leaders work well with external agencies to ensure that parents access the support they are entitled to.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders need to implement effective induction procedures for all staff to ensure a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities.
  • 2Agency staff need to understand policies and procedures, and leaders need to receive information in a timely manner to act more promptly.
Inspection #10397384 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders ensure that all children's individual needs are consistently met. Staff consistently embed ways to identify children's needs from the start, and regularly encourage parents to bring their children in at the start of the day to ensure they receive all the additional support they need, helping them to make steady progress. Older children and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from small-group sessions where staff read stories and sing nursery rhymes. Leaders undertake additional training to support children who need extra help and use additional funding effectively to purchase resources.

Outdoor space

Leaders provide a well-designed learning environment indoors and outdoors. Younger children learn about quantity and weight by pouring water into large floor trays. They develop sequencing skills by learning to put on wellington boots independently before stamping and splashing in trays filled with water and leaves.

EAL / language support

Staff very successfully implement targeted activities, such as curiosity buckets and visual items, to help children to skilfully communicate and express their needs. Staff skilfully communicate with children at their level, maintaining strong eye contact to support their understanding. Younger babies' language development benefits from staff introducing vocabulary and naming foods. Older children and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from small-group sessions where staff read stories and sing nursery rhymes, helping their language development.

Parent Reviews of Rainbow Friends Childcare

4.3
(28)
victoria ukonu
a year ago

Rainbow friends Childcare Nursery focuses more on pedagogy learning approaches for young children. Which I think is good because they create a personalise child-centred learning to meet the each individual needs of children and you young people. They have enabled a safe environment that allows children learning through play and foster a platform that encourages parents involvement. ( working togetherness with parents /carers to enable effective learning and development of young children). Excellent Team working together for the best interests of children’ learning and development. Non-judgemental setting, everyone is welcome, inclusion practice, opportunities and freedom to choose and make choices are given to all. Above all, the children physiological needs are been made, ( My child is been fed well and gets free milk to take home everyday)

Read on Google
Ogunlana Silvia
10 months ago

Rainbow Friends Childcare Care has been a wonderful place for my daughter to grow and learn! The teachers are warm, patient, and truly care about each child. The environment is safe, clean, and filled with fun learning materials. My child comes home happy and always excited to return the next day. I highly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a nurturing and educational space.

Read on Google
Marusia Madalina Dinica
a year ago

I am so impressed with Rainbow Friends Nursery! From the moment we walked in, it was clear that the staff genuinely cares about the children and their development. The environment is warm, welcoming, and safe, with bright, engaging spaces for play and learning. The teachers are attentive, friendly, and truly passionate about their work. My child has blossomed under their care—learning new skills, making friends, and coming home with a big smile every day. Communication is excellent, with regular updates and photos, which reassures me that my child is in great hands. I couldn’t be happier with our experience and would highly recommend Rainbow Friends to any parent looking for a nurturing and enriching environment for their little one!"

Read on Google
Juwairiyyah Ringim
a year ago

Teni and her staff are patient and accommodating. They provide advice on child behaviour, which is really important to me. The care the children get is incredible with so many activities and healthy meals. Most days he comes back home with some of the activities done such as painting or a book. Our boy is happy here and would highly recommend it to any parent.

Read on Google
Abid Ali
a year ago

Professional & caring staff. Friendly approach, clean nursery. No hygiene issues. We had great experienced, daughter Love it. I would recommend this Nursery 100%

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Rainbow Friends Childcare. See all on Google Maps

Frequently asked about Rainbow Friends Childcare

Nearby day nurseries in Barking

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Rainbow Friends Childcare.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more