Confident children who perform well share certain characteristics: empowerment, hope, autonomy, resiliency, security, accomplishment, recognition, perseverance and enjoyment.
Kaleidoscope provides the stage, the script, the lights and the music for such a performance!

There can be tremendous pressures on young people today.
This can be the pressure to succeed academically, to be independent of nurturing and care too soon or to have to cope with incredibly stressful home backgrounds.

The experience of failure and the fear of future failure, coupled with a negative mindset, can destroy a person’s confidence and self – esteem, leading to all kinds of destructive behaviour traits, avoidance strategies or nervous dispositions.

We know all too well the debilitating consequences that feelings of not being ‘good enough’ can have on a person’s relationships, achievements, health and actions.
We all suffer from a lack of confidence in certain situations and at some point in our lives. This is normal and natural.
Kaleidoscope Colour Therapy works with young people who very frequently display several traits of low self - esteem.

Some children arrive at school like coiled, tangled springs. How can we just expect them to just sit down take in new knowledge like placing a cassette tape into a machine?

In Year 2000, whilst in post as a Deputy Headteacher of a large combined school in Milton Keynes, Anne embarked on a two year part time training course to become a qualified Colour Therapist.
Part of the requirements of this two year diploma was to carry out a piece of research.

Kaleidoscope was that piece of research!

‘The use of Colour, Light and Sound to raise confidence and self-esteem in young people’.

It must be noted that Kaleidoscope in schools and institutions is
not pure Colour Therapy (i.e. giving specific light treatments to children).
Kaleidoscope is a cocktail of all Anne’s professional experiences including teaching all age groups from Nursery to Year 7, originally being trained in Drama in Education, as a Hospital Teacher, Manager of a Moderate Learning Difficulties Department, working with children with Emotional and Behaviour Difficulties, being a Headteacher, being a qualified Colour Therapist and of course, being a mum!

Through the seven steps of Kaleidoscope children relax, calm emotional arousal, learn to change negative mind sets to positives ones through expression using colours, special Kaleidoscope self-esteem games, exploration with nature and affirmations.

Kaleidoscope uses the principles of the effects of colour, light and sound on our feelings and emotions. This, coupled with the use of colour as a simple yet effective vehicle for expression, reflection and communication, can and has been proved to have a very positive effect on triggering more positive behaviour, aiding memory skills and raising confidence and self-esteem.

In the beginning Kaleidoscope was a radical and pioneering project. It was born at a time when Ofsted was concentrating on only the core academic subjects, when hard working teachers were giving their all and still finding themselves at the bottom of league tables. Many young teachers were leaving college armed with the expectation that teaching was about delivering ‘pre packed’ lessons into tightly scheduled timetables and that awe and wonder was a sentence you tried to slip into your planning for an assembly.
All this seemed to be irrespective of children’s spiritual and emotional needs.
Thankfully we have now moved on!
The results of the research were astounding and the knock - on effect for teachers and those who work with young people was inspiring.

In October 2004 Pepper Hill First and Nursery School (where Anne Lubbock was Headteacher until April 2005) was awarded a ‘Quality Mark’ by the Government Basic Skills Agency.
One of the key components of achieving this award was the work of Kaleidoscope which underpins all polices and practices in school.

Some say Kaleidoscope Colour Therapy is before its time.
Not so, it’s just that some people take a little longer on their own journey to be open to understanding the power of colour, light and sound and the effect it is having on each of us in our daily lives right now!

Within Kaleidoscope we can use colour and light not only to set the scene and alter our feelings and moods but also as a powerful vehicle for expression where words are too confusing and tangled up in our emotions. We also use colour as a theme when playing confidence and trust games.

It is vital that young people feel good about themselves in order to have a chance to become happy, balanced adults who have positive relationships with others and at least are able to benefit from what is on offer in our schools.

We call it:
‘Spiritual and Emotional Fitness for Learning’

THE KALEIDOSCOPE PROJECT IN ACTION
We selected children on criteria which we believe could be linked to under achievement and low self esteem.
This selection was carried out by teachers.

We explained to the parents what the Kaleidoscope project would entail. They completed a multiple-choice questionnaire about their child and gave signed consent for their involvement.

The same questionnaire was completed by each child's class teacher and with assistance, by the child.

As the first project drew to a close, my evaluation suggested that:

67% of the children improved in their relationship with adults at school.
61% of the children were now able to ask for help who couldn’t previously.
56% of the children were now able to speak out in a small or large group appropriately.
50% of the children demonstrated more positive moods and body language.
44% of the children were more willing to share and take turns.
39% of the children were calmer in the classroom, more enthusiastic about their learning, made eye contact with their teacher and were more willing to attempt work.

Kaleidoscope was then awarded a small grant from Milton Keynes LEA to develop a dedicated room and equip it for Kaleidoscope sessions.
With this came an LEA Educational Psychologist who monitored and evaluated the project objectively using the:
“Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire” by Professor Robert Goodman. Professor of Brain and Behavioural Medicine at King's College London, 1999. This consisted of 25 questions on psychological attributes including emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems and pro-social behaviour. It is designed for use by educationalists, clinicians and researchers.
The questionnaires are used at the beginning and end of the project.

Again the results were highly significant:

Out of a cohort of 23 targeted children improvements in confidence and self-esteem were reported in:
83% of children by their teachers
92% of children by themselves
48% of children by their parents
And:
Non- authorised absence of targeted children dropped by 33% during the time of the project.

KALEIDOSCOPE SESSIONS
Kaleidoscope can take place in any space that lends itself to providing the following:
A safe, peaceful and warm environment.
Firm ground rules based on ‘unconditional positive high regard’ for everyone by everyone.
The programme needs structure and a tight routine, which changes focus in a paced yet calm way.

A full kaleidoscope session can last for about two hours. It is possible to hold much shorter sessions picking out key elements of the programme. All of which is explained with a sound scientific background alongside practice during the Certificate training sessions.

Registered Practitioners until October 2007
Tracy Fielding – Deputy Head teacher Christ the Sower TracyRF1@aol.com
Jane Badger – Head teacher, Southbrook infants, Daventry Northants head@southbrook-inf.northants-ecl.gov.uk
Jane Ellison- Teaching Assistant – Moorfield Primary, Stockport janeellison@talktalk.net
Judith Gerrity – Teaching Assistant – Moorfield Primary, Stockport judi.gerrity@virgin.net
Karen Roberts – Deputy Headteacher water Hall MK Karenlesleyroberts@yahoo.co.uk
Liz Whalley – Headteacher, Cherry trees Children’s centre Lizwhalley@rocketmail.com
Chrissie Vernon former Headteacher chrissievernon@hotmail.com
Gill Clarke Associate Advisor MK gillclark1000@hotmail.com
Rachel Gasher Lead Learning Mentor MK Rachel_gasher@yahoo.co.uk
Paula Moore Outreach learning Mentor MK danandpaulamoore@tiscali.co.uk
Mandy Barton Link learning Mentor Lincoln mandybarton@westonhill.linc.sch.uk
Sally Megram – Early Years Consultant MK sally.megram@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Jacqui Wheeler Sp Nds consultant MK mailto:jetwh66@aol.com
Jan Frost Class Teacher MK Janfrost@hotmail.co.uk
Angie Cleary Walnuts Special School for Autistic Children angelacleary54@tiscali.co.uk

More newly qualified Certificate practitioners and Diploma graduates to be registered October 2007

Although it is not essential to have a Kaleidoscope room in order to practice Kaleidoscope we are delighted that there are currently 19 official Kaleidoscope rooms in the country.

The establishments listed below are now required to attend a minimum of 6 hours annual update training in Kaleidoscope in order to remain up to speed with new developments and equipped with skills to practice. This is essential as staff and situations change. You can therefore rest assured that the people mentioned have official rooms and/or are registered and are up to date in their practice. Although they are not qualified to train – you may find a visit to see their work helpful and inspiring.

These are:

•  Ashbrook Sch Milton Keynes (MK) contact Jane Badger 01908 561366
•  Loughton Infants Sch MK contact Lizzie Bancroft 01908 241472
•  Water Hall Primary Sch MK contact Karen Roberts 01908 377833
•  Drayton Park Primary Sch MK contact Chrissie Vernon 01908 375137
•  Walnuts Special Sch MK contact Angie Cleary 01908 670032
•  St James Infants Daventry contact Judith Avery 01327 702783
•  Cherry Trees Nursery Sch and Children's Centre Bedford contact Liz Whalley 01234 354788
•  Moorfield Primary Stockport contact John Collinson 01614 834521
•  Weston Hills Primary school Lincs contact Mandy Barton 01406 380309
•  Shepherdswell Infants Sch MK contact Julie Schram 01908 617110

Other schools are currently developing a space or a room with training. These are:

•  Southwood Junior Sch MK contact Maria Grace 01908 678366
•  Long Meadows Sch MK contact Alison Flint 01908 508678
•  Broughton Fields Primary Sch contact Sue Paynes01908 235994
•  Romansfield Special School Mk Contact Wayne Marshall, Lisa Thompson, Jacqui Zylko 01908 376011
•  Falconer’s Hill Junior School Contact Pam Marston 01327 703132