Lesley Mead began her career in the Civil Service where she worked for several years before developing an interest in children’s education. She had already been a member of staff at Egerton-Rothesay School for 12 years before she joined the Rainbow Centre in September 2007 when the 2nd Rainbow unit was opened .

Lesley’s interest in typical and atypical language development grew as she became aware increasingly of the impact language difficulties can have on a child’s self-esteem, their ability to socialise successfully with their peers, and, above all on their ability to access the curriculum. Lesley was delighted, therefore, when the need for a speech and language unit for junior-aged children was recognised, and she was chosen to become the class teacher.

Over the years, Lesley has attended a series of short courses on topics such as the Listening Programme, behaviour management, Makaton signing, and specific learning difficulties including dyscalculia, dyspraxia and dyslexia run by the school’s educational psychologist. In 2007 she was funded by ERS to study language and communication impairment on a post graduate distance learning course at the University of Sheffield which she completed successfully in July 2008.

Lesley moved to Rainbow I as class teacher with the reorganisation of the Rainbow Centre in September 2010.