Southern Enterprise Awards 2021

125 | Southern Enterprise Awards 2021 Rainbow Pre-School Southampton Limited is a family-run pre-school that has been caring for and educating children in Shirley, Southampton since 1988. The company boasts a dedicated team of 14 led by Director, Corinne Finlay, and Manager, Claire Stemp. The team at Rainbow wants to ensure that every child in their care has the best opportunity to learn, develop and thrive. Most parents have a vivid memory of leaving their child at pre-school for the first time. The tears, the anxiety, the worry. In most cases, these things last longer for the parents than they do for the children. And, after a couple of fretful hours, you return to be told that your little one stopped crying the moment you left. The onward journey gets easier. The child becomes absorbed in their new surroundings, the activities on offer and the antics of their peers. They learn to integrate into wider society and expand their knowledge by observing those around them. This smooth transition into the wider world is only possible thanks to the passion and professionalism of the pre-school staff, as Corinne Finlay of Rainbow Pre-School Southampton Limited tells us: “At Rainbow, we employ practitioners with Early Years degrees as well as those with Cache level 2 and 3 qualifications. We support our staff by offering ongoing training opportunities and have teamed up with training providers who deliver this support. But qualifications aren’t everything. All our staff have a passion for working with young children. This is as important as a qualification and it must already be there. You can’t train someone to have passion.” Based at the site of Wordsworth Primary School, Rainbow can currently welcome up to 44 children between the ages of 2 and 5. The team offer children interactive learning through play encompassing both indoor and outdoor activities. From singing and getting messy with craft activities to spending time in nature, there’s something fun and interesting to do, whatever the weather. Each child at Rainbow is considered a positive contributor. They are encouraged to make choices, ask questions and evaluate risk. The children’s views are valued, and the atmosphere Best Early Years Education Centre - Southampton Aug21308 is one of inclusivity and mutual respect. Everyone is supported on their journey to develop confidence and a positive sense of self. Despite receiving awards and accolades for its work, Rainbow has had its share of struggles over the past 18 months. Chronic underfunding combined with the trials of the COVID pandemic saw the pre-school considering closure on more than one occasion. Despite the easing of government restrictions after Christmas, Rainbow found the number of children attending dramatically reduced. At one point the register was down by 60%. The pre-school was inundated with emails from parents who had decided to keep their children at home as a precaution. Rainbow did however manage to navigate the turbulent time with the help of a bounce-back loan. Happily, the last four months have seen a lot more interest from families wishing to return their children to pre-school. The future of Rainbow is looking rosier. The impact on the children themselves has not gone unnoticed though. Rainbow staff have noted the effect of the pandemic on children’s emotional development, speech and language. The team know there is a challenging time ahead. Over the next year, they will focus on identifying these development needs, and providing more support and delivering targeted interventions will ensure that every child gets to where they need to be. Contact: Corinne Finlay Company: Rainbow Pre-School Southampton Limited Web Address: www.rainbowpreschoolshirley.co.uk