The Rainbow Centre

The first Rainbow Class opened in September 2005 in response to requests from parents and professionals for suitable Early Years or Primary Years provision for children who, due to speech, language and/or communication disorders (SLCD), were unable to benefit from full time placement in mainstream classes. 

Rainbow I (Infant Class)

Rainbow II (Junior Class)

Due to the success of the unit and the need to cater for junior-aged children (Key Stage 2) with SLCD, a second class (Rainbow II) opened in September 2007.

Each Rainbow class is staffed by an experienced teacher (one of whom is the Special Educational Needs Coordinator for the Lower School), and an experienced learning support assistant (LSA). The specialist speech and language therapist who is also a qualified teacher divides her time between the two classes. Rainbow staff can also draw on the expertise of the school’s resident educational psychologist.

Parents are considered valuable partners. Their knowledge and understanding of their child is considered unique and they play an essential role in the consolidation and generalisation of language learning to the home setting.

Regular contact is kept through the home-school book and a Parents’ Evening is held each term. A staff/parent workshop is held each half term where teaching and therapy methods are demonstrated and parents have the opportunity to discuss their experiences and exchange ideas.

A parent representative for each of the Rainbow Classes also acts as liaison person, offering support to new parents and arranging out-of-school activities where children, parents and staff can mix informally.