Rainbow Rooms

Rainbow rooms is the title given to the initiative to support better behaviour, better learning developed across the six primary schools in the Duncanrig Secondary School cluster, complimenting the assertive discipline strategies being implemented in South Lanarkshire schools.

The schools work together supporting vulnerable children who would benefit from additional personal and social skills development, the focus being on providing positive experiences.
Two rooms were established, one in Canberra and one in South Park and named ‘Rainbow Rooms’.
Finance for the establishment of the rooms was received from the allocation of ‘Better Behaviour, Better Learning’ funding.
Thanks to the allocation of a fully funded probationer to the cluster, a teacher is released to work in the rainbow rooms three and a half days a week.
The cost of taxis to ferry children to the rainbow Rooms is met from the locality challenge budget through Integrated Children’s Services.

Early identification is a high priority to meet the needs of the children quickly and effectively. The intention is to support the children and prevent further escalation of the challenging behaviours.
Accessing support from outside agencies can sometimes mean a lengthy waiting period for some children, and being able to help the children through the Rainbow Room is a positive response.
Within the timetable a dedicated slot is kept for ‘children in crisis’. This gives the Rainbow Room Teacher the opportunity to offer immediate support to a child as needs arise.


A room that smiles
Props which unite
And a space that allows
Each room is bright, airy and colourful with subdued lighting. Affirming messages aimed at promoting positive behaviours and attitudes surround the children’s work on the walls.
The rooms have four main areas, art/craft, soft play, a story/library area and working tables for games. The equipment in the room is not found in other areas of the school and was chosen carefully to encourage interactive play and cooperation with others.
Music is used to enhance the learning environment, to energise, to motivate or as a calming device.
Puppets play a very large role in supporting the Rainbow Room teacher’s work.




Children are referred for support to the Rainbow Rooms through termly meetings with the primary head teachers and the Rainbow Room teacher..
Following the referral, as much evidence and information is gathered. The Rainbow Room teacher releases the child’s class teacher enabling the completion of behaviour assessments and is able to observe the child’s interaction with his/her peers in the class situation.
The child completes a self- assessment form and parents are encouraged to share relevant information.
Groups are established following consideration of reason for referral, age, maturity and gender. Some children will be seen on an individual basis, groups are usually four to six children.

The support
is centred on the following key areas, self esteem, classroom and/or playground behaviours, managing relationships, emotional literacy and anger management.
Children achieve success by setting personal targets that are achievable, specific and measurable.

Accurate record keeping
a vital aspect of the Rainbow Teacher’s remit.
Following each session an update is added to the child’s running record detailing the issues that were addressed, the materials used, progress through the target system, interaction with others and any challenges encountered.
These records are shared with the cluster head teachers and the class teachers.

Success is best judged by those involved in the initiative.
Parents, teachers and children have had very positive things to say about the effectiveness of the scheme, class teachers have noticed that the children develop a more positive attitude to themselves and others.
Parents feel that their children cope better with problems showing less aggression and anger.
Children commented on feeling better at sharing and being able to use calming strategies when angry.


For the future

The library of support materials is being made available to all staff across the cluster
A parent’s programme will be developed


Mrs Valerie Kennedy
Canberra Primary School
East Kilbride
Tel 01355 224362
e-mail headteacher@canberra-pri.s-lanark.sch.uk