The Black Country Rainbow Hour seeks to prioritise the well-being of all young people across the Black Country by dedicating one hour a day to help address this current national crisis. Schools and organisations are encouraged to pledge their support to ensure all pupils and young people experience a Rainbow Hour each day by signing up at www.blackcountryrainbowhour.co.uk

The Rainbow Hour can be flexible in format so schools can tailor it to their school day. Schools can split the hour into various intervals throughout the day, staggering activities to suit timetables and to help with maintaining social distancing and adhering to the latest government and DFE guidance. Schools can also opt to deliver activity in a one-hour block.

The campaign also encourages any pupils at home to complete a daily rainbow hour so ensures nobody misses out regardless of where their learning is currently taking place.

The half termly Rainbow Booklet is available in print or to download electronically and provides a range of inclusive wellbeing and physical activities and ideas to support delivery of the Rainbow Hour both in schools and at home.

From September schools can track their pupil’s participation, with children able to earn badges – bronze, silver, gold, when they complete their daily rainbow hours, with three to collect. Later in the academic year a Rainbow Bus which will be going out on tour across the Black Country to deliver activities at schools.

Ian Carey, Active Black Country Director said: “The Rainbow Hour campaign has gone from strength to strength throughout the summer benefiting thousands of children and young people during this incredibly uncertain time. Working with our partners across the Black Country Local Authorities we want to encourage all schools to sign up, the Rainbow Hour is flexible in approach so it can fit both within school and with pupils still learning from home, supporting through positive physical, mental, social and emotional companionship, challenge and fun, crucial support now more than ever.”

Craig Ellicott, KS2, English and PE Coordinator at St John Bosco Catholic Primary School said: “I believe that providing our children with the opportunities suggested within the Rainbow Hour initiative is crucial to their wellbeing, as well as their continued development and progress. They have loved our outdoor learning, adapted sporting activities, creative projects and the opportunity to discuss and reflect more – understanding and exploring their feelings.

“This initiative has helped staff think differently as well, to enable us to continue with exciting aspects of learning, within the boundaries we’ve been set. We are all proud of our garden area in particular and intend to continue with the Rainbow Hour long after things get back to ‘normal’.”

Pupils from St John Bosco Catholic Primary school were equally impressed. Adrianne, one of our key worker children, loved Rainbow Hour throughout the summer: “I really enjoyed painting logs in the garden to attract butterflies and making the scarecrow to protect our vegetables.”

Simon, another key worker child and currently in class 6, said, “It’s been lots of fun being outside as much as we have been and having the chance to interact with our friends, because we can’t do these things at home.”

And Charlie, from year 6 said: “I was worried coming back to school but doing activities like this has been fun. It’s really helped me relax.”