Gillian , opened Birdham CE Primary School’s new Rainbow Room, which provides a safe space, and quiet area for pupils.
Interim Deputy Headteacher and SENCO, Emily Ellis, invited Gillian to visit and officially open the new room on Friday 6 May. The Rainbow Room offers a place where small group learning can take place, but crucially it acts space where teachers can work on supporting the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities. The school council and other pupils named it ‘The Rainbow Room’ and head boy and girl, Fynn and Polly, were at the official opening alongside their Member of Parliament.
Gillian has visited the school on several previous occasions and said she was “impressed” to see how much work was going into SEND provision at the school.
The use of the Rainbow Room is overseen by Mrs Ellis, and her team of Learning Support Assistants, an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, and one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads. One child recently commented, “can I stay in here all day? – it really helps me with my thinking”.
After her visit, Gillian said, “It was lovely to be back at Birdham Primary to open their Rainbow Room. I am hugely impressed by the programme of support put in place to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. This is an area close to my heart and I very much look forward to visiting again soon to see how their work continues to develop. I am grateful to Mr McCadden and Mrs Ellis for championing this brilliant initiative.”
Mrs Ellis from the school commented saying. “It was lovely to meet Gillian and to have our Rainbow Room opened officially. At Birdham CE Primary School we recognise the many and varied needs of their pupils and aim to create an inclusive environment that ensures all children feel confident and supported. The Rainbow Room provides a safe space that allows children to self-regulate, express themselves and be ready for learning. The room is set up to allow for small group work and interventions such as Lego therapy and also for 1:1 support. Outside agencies such as play therapists or the speech and language team also use this space for targeted interventions.”
