Our sensory processing coordinator supports children to manage their sensory needs through a range of approaches which are embedded within children’s daily routines.

Sensory circuits 

Sensory circuits can take place in our designated rooms, within classrooms and outside. Sensory circuits are designed to support children with alerting, organising and calming and form part of children’s daily routines. This supports our children to feel ready to learn as well as develop their knowledge and understanding of themselves and their environment.  

The Alert programme 

The alert programme supports children to recognise, understand and change their own level of alertness so it is appropriate for a situation or task. Children do this through the analogy of ‘their engine’ and it’s running speed, using the language ‘too low’, ‘too high’ and ‘just right’.  

Fun food group 

Fun food groups are set up for children who avoid foods because of touch, texture, smell, colour or taste. During food groups, the children engage in fun, active and messy activities exploring foods. While the child is participating in the activity they will be experiencing touch, texture, smell, colour, and taste. 

Sensory diets 

Sensory diets are based on the Childs individual sensory needs and how the child responds and reacts to sensory input. 

Children who seek or avoid sensory input and find it very difficult to process sensory information, will be provide with a planned and scheduled activity programme to help the child become more regulated.  
All sensory activities are encouraging, motivating and fun. 

Sensory diets provide opportunities for the child to experience a variety of controlled sensory input, which will help and support a Childs response to different challenges in their environment. 
Resources and equipment that children may use as part of their sensory diet are: 

• Weighted jacket, vest, bear hug, cap, blanket, snake and ankle weights. 

• Trampoline, swing, spinner, rocker, ball chair, sit and move cushion, wedge cushion and therapy ball. 

• Chewy tubes, deep pressure and massage, fidget toys, therapeutic listening, therapeutic brushing, ear defenders, crunchy and chewy snacks. 

Sensory diets will support and encourage body awareness position and balance, making transitions from one situation to another less difficult, also supporting the ability to regulate and organise reactions to sensory input. 

Music and Movement 

During Music and Movement children are able to explore and develop their Sensory System, by experiencing movement with music and focusing on the tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive senses. Through this, children will develop a much greater awareness of their body position, balance, strength, control, sense of movement and touch. 

Music and Movement provides the children with lots of multi-sensory learning helping them to make sense of their environment. 

Fitness  

Fitness is an important element of our curriculum, and we recognise the enormous benefit exercise provides for our children. In addition to PE sessions, children have the opportunity to receive support from our Fitness Offer, who works alongside class teams to create and complete specialist fitness plans. These include working towards identified fitness goals, post-surgery rehabilitation and supporting with MOVE.  

At our Oakmere Road site we have a specially designated Gym, within this room we have a range of fitness equipment including rowing machine, cross trainer and treadmill. Children can use this room to develop general fitness skills or learn new skills appropriate to their individual fitness plans.