About Rainbow Nursery School
Rainbow Nursery School is a Waldorf nursery school in Mowbray, Cape Town. For over thirty years, we’ve nurtured children aged 2½ to 4 in a calm, natural and homely setting — where rhythm, imagination and play gently shape each day.
Our Story
Rainbow Nursery School was founded in 1993 by Jenny Wyeth, a qualified pre-primary teacher inspired by the Waldorf approach to early childhood education.
What began as a small playgroup behind her family home has grown into a nurturing space for generations of children in Mowbray, Rosebank and further afield. The school was created so that children could spend their mornings in a safe, familiar environment that feels more like a home than a classroom — where they can play, create, and begin to discover the world beyond their family circle.
Today, that same spirit of warmth and individual care continues at the heart of Rainbow.
“Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can learn, it’s a time to see how gently they can grow.”
Our Environment
Our playroom is light, calm, and filled with natural materials that invite imagination. Wood, fabric, and colour are chosen with care to create a soothing space that feels alive, not artificial.
The room opens onto a leafy, tree-filled garden — a place where children can explore, climb, and experience the changing seasons.
Both indoors and out, the rhythm of the day reflects the simple, grounding beauty of home life.
Our Philosophy
Our work at Rainbow is guided by the Waldorf early childhood approach, based on the insights of Rudolf Steiner.
We believe that children learn most deeply through imitation, rhythm, and play. The teacher’s role is to model meaningful activity, cooking, sweeping, gardening, creating — that children naturally join in.
Each morning follows a gentle rhythm that breathes between free play, creative activity, and quiet moments. This balance gives children a deep sense of security and allows their imagination to unfold freely.
“Play is the serious work of childhood.”
— Rudolf Steiner
Meet the Team
Rainbow Nursery School is led by a small, dedicated team who bring warmth, experience, and a deep love of children to every morning’s rhythm.
Jenny Wyeth
Founder & Lead Teacher
Jenny founded Rainbow Nursery School in 1993, inspired by the Waldorf approach and her lifelong love for early childhood education. Her calm presence, depth of understanding, and creative teaching practice have shaped Rainbow into a home-like space of rhythm, care, and belonging.
Jenny was born and educated in Cape Town, growing up between Camps Bay and Rondebosch. After her initial preschool training at Barkly House College, she first encountered the Waldorf early childhood approach at Constantia Waldorf and immediately recognised it as the right environment for young children.
She went on to complete a BA in Social Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Pre-Primary Education through UNISA, alongside further studies in Counselling (SACAP), Waldorf Foundation Studies (Centre for Creative Education), and Emergency Pedagogy. Jenny regularly attends Waldorf teacher conferences and sharing gatherings to deepen and renew her practice.
Outside the classroom, Jenny loves teaching handcrafts such as stitching, felting, knitting, and toy making — creative skills she shares with both children and parents. Her passion for building community also extends to her involvement in the Rosebank Village Green initiative, helping cultivate local green spaces along the Liesbeek River.
Nomakholwa Grace Hlangu
Assistant Teacher
Grace joined Rainbow Nursery School in 2005 and has become an integral part of its heart and rhythm. She brings warmth, patience, and a gentle joy that children respond to instinctively. Her natural ability to connect and her steady, caring presence create a sense of safety and trust within the group.
Born in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, Grace moved to Cape Town in 2004 with her young twin boys. When she heard about an assistant position at Rainbow, she immediately felt drawn to the work — and to the nurturing environment Jenny had created.
Since joining the school, Grace has grown deeply in her understanding of early childhood education and Waldorf principles. She especially enjoys facilitating outdoor play, observing how children’s creativity and social awareness blossom through unstructured exploration and movement in nature.
Get in Touch
We’d love to welcome you to Rainbow Nursery School
If you’d like to learn more or arrange a visit, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
We believe that choosing a nursery is a heartfelt decision — come and experience our gentle rhythm and warm, nurturing space for yourself.