Welcome to

Rainbow Preschool is a registered charity dedicated to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare. We provide a welcoming, enriching environment where every child has equal opportunities to grow as an individual. Our child-centered curriculum embraces curiosity and exploration, with a free-flow indoor / outdoor space that encourages independent learning. Children engage with nature, take managed risks, and develop a love for the outdoors through visits to the park and our allotment. Our experienced practitioners support and extend learning, offering meaningful experiences while tuning in to each child's needs and interests. Contact us to arrange a visit & see for yourself.

We operate from the Methodist Church Hall on Spring Lane, Colden Common. We care for each and every child as if they were our own, and have done since 1989. In fact, many of our own children have been through Rainbows themselves.

We are members of the government's free hours scheme and we welcome children from 2 years old.

We offer flexible start and finish times, and monthly open mornings so that they can experience Rainbows before starting.

Transparent Pricing - No Hidden Fees or Additional Charges!

Registered Charity No 1133135

Ofsted URN 110010

Early Years Alliance No 9777

Meet The Team

Igniting curiosity & passion for learning

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted have rated us

OUTSTANDING

in ALL areas

(2015 & 2020)

Highlights from our Ofsted Report

"The members of the established pre-school team work seamlessly together to provide an outstanding learning environment for children".

"Children are extremely happy and safe in the pre-school."

"The well-qualified and experienced practitioners are always thinking ahead and ensuring they are constantly moving forward and developing their own practice to improve outcomes for children. The passionate manager has highly effective systems in place to support and mentor all practitioners and students."

"Practitioners ooze confidence in their teaching abilities and provide high-level interactions which capture children's interest with ease."

Read our latest Ofsted Report

Unique Rainbow Experiences

All experiences are available to all our children, regardless of age or ability.

Allotment

We are very fortunate to have our allotment so near, just a short walking distance away, as the children have really enjoyed exploring all that there is on offer there. We have a large area for the children to move around and create with tyres, planks of wood etc. We have also have a small world area with fairies, dinosaurs and diggers and trucks have fun in the wood chip. There is a lovely area for the children to sit, chat and read books. We have two houses, one for the mud kitchen area with a cooker inside and a second house for quiet/cosy play. We also have a water pump giving the children access to water to aide their play. We also have a large sand pit big enough for them to get into and create some wonderful creations. They also enjoy the planting area of the plot, they carefully tend to the plants, giving them lots of water and watching as they change and grow. This is a wonderful learning experience and a fantastic opportunity for the children to go offsite and explore the local environment.

Life Cycles

We offer children enriching life cycle experiences, sparking curiosity and a deeper connection to nature. They observe ducklings hatching, growing, and taking their first swim before being rehomed in the community. They witness the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies and tadpoles into froglets before releasing them into our local environment. These hands-on activities foster responsibility and an appreciation for the natural world, supporting the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) by enhancing understanding of life cycles, encouraging communication, and nurturing empathy and care for living things. Through these experiences, children gain valuable insights into growth and change in a real-world setting.

Park

We regularly visit our local 'Rainbow Park,' bringing along extra equipment to enhance play and exploration. These trips provide children with the chance to run freely, enjoy the fresh air, and engage in active outdoor learning. Through these experiences, they develop physical skills, social connections, and an appreciation for nature in a fun, open environment.

Baking

We regularly use our kitchen for interactive cooking activities, giving children hands-on experience with baking and food preparation. These sessions support key learning areas, including maths skills through measuring ingredients, fine motor development through mixing and pouring, and scientific exploration as they observe how ingredients change with heat. Cooking also encourages teamwork, communication, and following instructions, while fostering an understanding of nutrition and healthy choices. As a special treat, children can celebrate their birthday by creating their own unique cake, making the experience even more personal and memorable. This sensory-rich activity nurtures creativity, patience, and independence, turning learning into a joyful and meaningful experience.

School

We regularly visit the local primary school to use the main hall for PE sessions, giving children a chance to engage in physical activities in a larger space. During the summer term, we also visit the reception classrooms, helping to support a smooth and familiar transition as children prepare for their next stage of learning.

Enriching Activities

At Rainbows, we welcome a variety of engaging visitors, including Diddi Dance, Debutots, Zoolab, Hampshire Health Heroes workshops, emergency services, and Mini Professors. These enriching experiences inspire curiosity, creativity, and learning in a fun, interactive environment. Children benefit in numerous ways: Diddi Dance & Debutots encourage movement, self-expression, and communication skills. Zoolab introduces them to fascinating animals, fostering respect for living creatures and sparking scientific curiosity. Hampshire Health Heroes workshops promote well-being and healthy habits. Emergency services visits help children understand safety, community roles, and the importance of helping others. Mini Professors nurture early STEM learning, encouraging problem-solving and a love for discovery. By engaging with these visitors, children develop confidence, social skills, and a broader understanding of the world around them, making learning both immersive and meaningful.

Open Mornings

Welcome to Rainbows. Join us for a free 'stay and play' session on our open mornings, where you can relax and chat while your child explores the exciting adventures we have on offer. We can't wait to share this wonderful experience with you and your little one. Snacks provided. Younger siblings welcome.

Places fill up fast, so please book your place now.

Open mornings are held monthly during term time from 9:30 am - 10:30 am.

please see our events calendar for dates

If you can't make an opening morning, we would still love to meet you - just contact us and arrange a date/time that is more convenient for you.

Session Times

Drop off times

8:30am, 9am, 12noon

Pick up times

12noon, 1pm or 3pm

Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 3pm during term time.

Spaces for children are allocated on a termly basis as requested by their parent/primary carer. Just select the drop off and pick up times that best suit you and your child and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We pride ourselves on being flexible with session spaces (as long as that session isn't at capacity), so please just ask if you need additional hours on an ad-hoc basis. Being parents ourselves, we know how useful that can be!

Session Prices

We charge a standard rate of £6 for all non government funded hours

No top-up fees
No conditions or restrictions on using free hours
No additional charges.
No consumables charges.
No voluntary charges

To apply or find out more about the free entitlements and Tax Free Childcare visit www.BestStartInLife.gov.uk

Government Funding Schemes

2 year olds in families receiving additional support can get 15 hours per week free early years funding. (Max 570 hours per year).

9+months children eligible for working families funding can get 30 hours per week free early years funding. (Max 1140 hours per year).

ALL 3 and 4 year olds will get the universal 15 hours per week free early years funding. (Max 570 hours per year).

Tax Free Childcare - you could get up to £2,000 a year to help pay for parent paid fees. (Do not use if you claim Universal Credit. You do not need to be on benefits. You do not need to be eligible for the above free funding. You can be working / self-employed and earn up to £100k per year. It will not affect your tax).

* Invoices covering fees for the term will be issued in the first few weeks of each term. * Fees must be paid in full or a payment plan set up by each half term. * Fees can be paid using free early years funding, Tax Free Childcare, BACs, cash or cheque. * Fees will not be refunded where you choose not to send your child in (ie. holidays, illness etc.)

Free Government Funded Hours:

If required, you will be asked to provide the following for the sole use of your child

* sun cream

* nappies, nappy bags, wipes

* packed lunch (if attending 12-1pm)

If you are able to, we ask that you provide a piece of fruit each week to be shared between all children at snack time.

Very occasionally we ask that parents/carers give a donation towards additional experiences (such as tennis lessons). These payments are voluntary and no child is excluded from the experience if a donation is not made.

Please Note: The free hours are only provided for 38 weeks but Rainbows is open for 39+ weeks. The 39th week is always at the end of the summer term. Any hours attended once your free hours have been used will be charged at our standard hourly rate. If you do not wish to send your child for the 39th week, we can waive the costs for these hours, if you let us know at the start of the summer term.

What our parents think of us!

I can’t recommend highly enough this preschool. Lovely team, knowledgeable and experienced. Above and beyond. Thank you all x

A R

2025

I thoroughly recommend Rainbow pre-school. Both my sons have attended and have really enjoyed their time there. The staff are very kind and caring and take a great interest in each child to make sure they are happy and developing well. The staff organise brilliant activities and experiences for the children, including regular visits to the local park and allotments. Rainbows organise school settling activities including visits to the primary school which is great to ease the school transition process.

Kerri Crutchfield

2024

Lovely village preschool. Lots of outdoor play and visits to the park and allotment. They even had tennis lessons this summer. My daughter was always bringing artwork home and we have a fabulous learning journal from her time there. My little girl adored Rainbows and all the staff there, we are sad to be moving up to school.

Sara Shipway

2022

We feel so lucky having found Rainbow Preschool . We could not wish for a better nursery experience for our daughter. There hasn’t been a day when we felt she was not happy here or wasn’t in great hands. The care and support provided by the team is amazing. They make children feel loved, happy, confident and they make us feel relaxed knowing that our daughter receives the best care. Thank you!

Marianna Nyalka

2024

Rainbows is such a fantastic preschool. We are so happy that our little boy goes there. He’s made so much progress, lovely friendships and above all is so happy and ‘full of beans’ talking about the fun things he gets up to (baking, park trips, singing, painting - just to name a few!). The staff are exceptionally caring, take so much interest in your child and have great contact with parents too. I would highly recommend this preschool.

Ellie Ashton

2024