The Rainbow Centre for Conductive Education Ltd

About

This is an independent service, which is not run by the NHS or WSCC.

This service is not checked by WSCC and including it on the Local Offer website does not mean that it is a recommended service.

Before using this service, we recommend you make your own checks. Your checks should include being happy that: the service will meet your needs; staff are properly qualified; policies are in place to keep everyone safe and you know how much the service will cost.

Use this guidance for advice about what to ask to help you make sure that children and young people are happy and protected in clubs, groups and activities. Find out more on our terms and disclaimer.

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The Rainbow Centre provides Conductive Education (CE) to children and young people with Cerebral Palsy (CP), and other neurological conditions. The Centre works in partnership with the whole family and is open to every individual who may benefit from Conductive Education. CE is an educational approach that encourages emotional, social and cognitive development alongside physical development enabling children and young people with damage to their nervous system to overcome the challenges they face. Sessions are led by Conductors who specialise in motor disorders; they have a BA Hons in Conductive Education and some have Qualified Teacher’s Status.

Our services: Early Intervention - parent and child group sessions (6 months to 3 years), School Booster Groups (age and stage appropriate (6+)), Saturday Club (8+), Holiday Club. Please see our website for information about our Special Needs Nursery (3 - 5 years).

After your initial enquiry a Conductor will contact you to gather more information and invite you to the Centre for a visit. If you decide that you would like to take up our services, we ask you to complete a pre-assessment questionnaire and you are then invited for a more formal assessment. This assessment or initial consultation is necessary to establish the support your child/young person will require and you will have the opportunity to raise any questions or concerns. A report is written up after the assessment has taken place in which recommendations will be made to provide the most beneficial service and support for your child/young person and your whole family. Frequency of attendance at the Centre will be suggested based on the needs of the child/young person.

The ethos of Conductive Education is that children with Cerebral Palsy and other neurological conditions are able to learn and work most efficiently when in a group situation. Programmes for each group are planned by the whole team. The Complex Programme takes into account each child’s individual needs and the aims of the group. Each child’s progress is closely monitored. All achievements are recognised in an age and stage appropriate manner.

Means of praise include:
• continuous verbal encouragement (praise and applause)
• daily (recognising daily achievements)
• parents will be able to see their child’s achievements on Famly, our online learning platform.

Due to the nature of the children’s conditions and their varied needs, the ratio between staff and child differs within the group and is based on individual needs and also on the activity or task they are taking part in. Children work towards their individual aims through the Complex Programme. The Complex Group Programmes are carefully created based on the children’s short, medium and long term goals, in relation to the EYFS (0-5 years). In the Early Intervention Group and in the Special Needs Nursery, the children take part in a set daily routine designed for each group. This gives the children stability as well as underpinning their development. Your child will have the opportunity to make choices all through the day as well as time given for free play where they visit the continuous provision areas.

In our School Booster groups all children have the opportunity to focus on developing their movement and self-care skills as well as their general education. We help them to gain a greater understanding of their condition and abilities, to increase their confidence and learn how to apply these skills in their everyday life. This service is designed to meet the needs of school aged children. They may have access to dual placement, attending their local mainstream or special needs school as well as The Rainbow Centre.

Many children/young people may be attending their local schools and spending much of their time focusing on gaining academic skills. Alongside this, however, it is very important that your child continues to learn how to increase the level of both physical and social skills as well as independence, in order to gain better access to their academic learning. The Saturday Club helps your child to achieve this. You, as a parent, will be encouraged to accompany your child, so that you are actively involved in your child’s learning and physical education.

What we do

• The Rainbow Centre is a special educational setting and delivers Conductive Education combined with the EYFS when appropriate. CE is an integrated programme of learning enabling children and young people with damage to the nervous system to overcome the challenges they face; encouraging emotional, social and cognitive development alongside physical development. The conductors who lead the sessions have knowledge and experience in neurology, disability, physiology, psychology, education, teaching, rehabilitation and motor learning. Conductive Education enables people with damage to the nervous system to learn to overcome the challenges they face. It is primarily suitable for individuals with neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, dyspraxia and acquired head injury. The Centre also supports adults with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Stroke.
• The Service team is made up of qualified Conductor-Teachers, Conductors, Early Years Practitioners and Conductor’s Assistants; and is regularly supported by volunteers and students. Our Inclusion Co-ordinator and Behavioural Management Co-Ordinator attend regular support groups and are responsible for training other members of staff.
• The National Portage Association Stamp of Approval Scheme is an award given to early years settings who have demonstrated they deliver inclusive early years education based upon Portage Principles. The Rainbow Centre is one of these settings. This formal recognition and acknowledgement of inclusive settings ensures high quality provision for children with additional needs.
• Our professionals will advise you of the most beneficial group and programme plan. As part of the Conductive Education programme each individual is encouraged to work as independently as possible to help them to reach their full potential. Part of the ethos of Conductive Education is that all children enjoy and have a positive attitude to their learning. In our planning and practice we ensure that all activities are appropriate to age and stage of development. Children are encouraged to actively participate in all programmes, tasks, activities with enjoyment.
• The Rainbow Centre is a registered charity. Although there is a fee for each session this only amounts to a small proportion of the real cost of a session. The remaining has to be raised by our charity’s fundraising activities, such as community, grant applications, events, corporate. Our Board of Trustees has the responsibility to ensure and oversee the budget and the annual accounts. The Rainbow Centre is situated not far from Fareham Town Centre, with good access to nearby main roads, bus and rail links. The building is situated beyond the playing fields of the rugby, football and bowling clubs, with a very large car park directly outside. The Centre operates from its own purpose-built, single storey building which is easily accessible for wheelchairs. There is a coded entry system at the front entrance and a further coded safety door protecting the service zone. The Centre has wide opening doors to all rooms which are easily accessible for wheelchairs with a fully enclosed outdoor play area. There is a large child-friendly bathroom. The workrooms have direct access to a garden, an outdoor playing area and also to a sensory garden. Our specially designed playground provides opportunities to improve children’s physical, social and communication skills in a playful manner. It also gives opportunities for adolescents to work on their walking skills on a wide range of surfaces, recreating real life scenarios.

Age range

0-25

Wheelchair accessible

Yes

Free to use

No

Requires application

Yes

Our users say

The sessions and the improvement in my child’s skills has given us hope she may achieve independence in the future. This is the only service that has shown an understanding for her capacity for improvement, and we see the difference.

They have given us a sense of belonging. We don’t know where we would be without them. They have supported us in so many ways and helped F to achieve his true potential. We couldn’t thank them enough.