Founded by Laura Causley and her family, Over The Rainbow Day Nursery is more than a childcare setting; it is a community which plays an important role in the lives of the children and families it serves. We find out more from Laura as she talks about her ethos, commitment to exceptional childcare, and exactly what winning a UK Enterprise Award means to the team. Nursery of the Year 2026 – Essex Over The Rainbow Day Nursery (Over the Rainbow) in Romford, Essex, provides highquality childcare and early years education for children from three months through to school age, caring for up to 65 children each day, and supporting families throughout the local community. While Over the Rainbow follows the EYFS framework, its philosophy is simple: every child is unique. The entire team takes the time to truly get to know each child as an individual, understanding their interests, strengths, and developmental needs so that the organisation can tailor learning experiences that inspire and engage them. Alongside its core childcare and educational provision, Over the Rainbow offers a wide range of enrichment opportunities including SEND support, phonics sessions, music, sports, French, yoga and Relax Kids sessions, cookery activities, and much more. “Our aim is to provide children with a rich and varied experience that supports their development while fostering confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning,” explains Laura Causley. “Every day, we strive to create a nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, like they really belong and are motivated and excited to learn.” Laura’s passion for childcare began long before she entered the profession. From around the age of 12, she was always the person caring for younger children at family gatherings, and quickly realised that supporting children's growth and development was something she genuinely loved. She has now worked in childcare for 33 years, starting her career as an apprentice and progressing through a wide range of qualifications, including a Montessori Diploma, childcare qualifications, SENCo qualification, ELSA qualification, and numerous specialist training programmes. Following having children of her own, Laura became a childminder which allowed her to combine raising her family with her passion for early years education. “The nursery has truly been a labour of love,” she enthuses. “When we opened our doors in March 2015, we had just two children and a team of two – myself and one other member of staff. Today, we support more than 100 children and employ a dedicated team of 35 staff members.” Alongside running Over The Rainbow Day Nursery, Laura is passionate about supporting the wider early years sector. As a member of the Early Years Providers Reference Group (EYPRG), she represents and supports a cluster of approximately 30 local early years providers. In this role, Laura acts as a link between providers and the local authority, ensuring that practitioners have a voice and that their experiences help inform decision-making. One of the nursery’s unique selling points is the genuinely nurturing culture it has created, and Laura is incredibly proud of the home-fromhome environment, where children, families, and staff feel welcomed, supported, and valued. “We firmly believe that children thrive when they feel understood and celebrated for who they are,” she elaborates. “By following children's interests and supporting their individual journeys, we help them develop confidence, resilience, and a positive attitude towards learning that will benefit them throughout their lives.” A majority of Over The Rainbow’s families approach the nursery through word-of-mouth recommendations, something which Laura sees as a great achievement. Another great achievement is its recent recognition in the UK Enterprise Awards, where Laura and the team triumphed by receiving the Nursery of the Year 2026 – Essex. “This award is not only recognition of the work taking place within our nursery, but also recognition of our commitment to supporting children, families, staff, and the wider early years sector,” she tells us. “This award recognises that vision and motivates us to continue striving for excellence for every child and family who walks through our doors, and this award reflects the dedication of our entire team and the wonderful community we have built together. We would like to thank our families for their trust and support.” Over the next 12 to 24 months, Over the Rainbow plans to further strengthen its provision, expand learning opportunities for children, continue investing in staff development, and enhance its nursery environment, whilst continuing to always look for innovative ways to enrich children's experiences and maintain the warm, nurturing atmosphere that families value so highly. Contact: Laura Causley Company: Over the Rainbow Day Nursery Web Address: https:// overtherainbowdaynursery.co.uk/
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