E/SE2/2/2

File regarding Rainbow Special School, Chestnut Avenue, Bromham, including information as follows:

1976 - 1987

From: 1976 To: 1987

- requirement for new Bromham Hospital school being for 40 places only, due to reduction in numbers of Hospital inmates [1976]; - Local Education Authority (LEA) officer’s subterfuge to keep details of the new school secret from governors of the old school [1976]; - report on the current position regarding language development [1976]; - unsatisfactory cleaning facilities at school being highlighted following LEA officer’s briefcase being put into a dustbin [1976]; - brief notes by LEA staff and advisers visiting the school [1976-1981]; - request for LEA to overlook its regulations forbidding animals on school premises due to educational usefulness of introducing pupils to animals, with LEA response [1976]; - correspondence regarding introduction of extended year arrangements [see E/SE2/2/3] including attitudes amongst staff members [1977]; - summary of duties of Nursery Assistants [1977]; - request for return to previous year’s, higher, establishment figure [1977]; - notes of a meeting to discuss development of school [1977]; - examples of extra responsibilities sometimes required of senior teachers [1978]; - agendas and minutes of Governors’ Meetings, including headteacher’s report and other matters [1979-1987]; - conclusions of inter-disciplinary committee, established following the visitation by Department of Health & Social Security Development Team, to discuss transfers in and out and other matters, conclusions including that there may not be a need for a school at Bromham Hospital in the future [1978]; - provision for 16-19 year olds at school [1979]; - debate regarding new name for school, including input by County Archivist and information that school buildings occupied, inter alia, the former Salem (or Salome) Thrift, Sands Piece and Grange Field [1979]; - notes of meeting to discuss the way ahead for the new school [1980]; - report to Education Management Team on new school and its function [1980]; - notes on paper for Special Adult Learning Programme Liaison Committee Meeting discussing work with the mentally handicapped [1980]; - LEA view that Area Health Authority (AHA) should supply nursing needs of school [1981]; - draft programme, guest list etc. regarding official opening of the school by Bridget, Lady Plowden [1981]; - need for an additional teacher [1981]; - replacement of the two AHA governors by one from North Bedfordshire District Health Authority and by one North Bedfordshire Borough Council governor [1981-1982]; - notes of a meeting to discuss the fit between children and facilities at the school [1982]; - request by headteacher for LEA to allow two non-teaching and one teaching vacancy to be filled instead of one of each, failure to comply meaning that the Summer playscheme would probably be cancelled [1982]; - completion of Adventure Playground at school, paid for by Bedford Round Table and to be opened by Lord Luke [1982]; - correspondence, notes of meetings etc. regarding differences of opinion between LEA and Parents & Friends of Bromham Hospital Association regarding provision for adults at school [1982-1984]; - damage to staff members’ spectacles and watch by pupils [1983-1986]; - information for broadcasts regarding jumble sale in aid of school funds and St.Valentine’s Day disco [1984]; - notes on pupil:teacher ratio 1984/85; - request for increased staff to cope with two new psychotic pupils [1984]; - disagreement between LEA and AHA over responsibility for transporting two school leavers to Bedford Adult Training Centre [1984]; - parents’ and headteacher’s concern over rumours of school closure [1986].

Access to material may be permitted under supervision

item

Plowden, Bridget Horatia,
North Bedfordshire Health Authority,
North Bedfordshire Borough Council,
Lord Luke,
Parents & Friends of Bromham Hospital Association

EDUCATION, special education, health administration, education buildings, schools, severe learning difficulties, education, Rainbow Special School, BROMHAM, Bromham Hospital School, buildings and land use, hospitals, Local Education Authority, Education Officer, school governors, LANGUAGE, cleaners, animals, playscheme, education staff, employment, nursery schools, teachers, business correspondence, agenda, headteacher, Department of Health & Social Security, further education, County Archivist, buildings and land use, Bromham fields, Special Adult Learning Programme, social & welfare provision mental handicap, Area Health Authorities, nursing, programme, events, Governor, health authorities, North Bedfordshire, North Bedfordshire Borough Council, non teaching school employees, play grounds, funding, Bedford Round Table, adult education, malicious damage, jumble sales, disco, Valentines Day, mental health, TRANSPORT, Bedford Adult Training Centre, school closure