FUNDRAISING – Hotspot
Alternative ideas
Don’t have space for a sensory room? Try one of these suggestions instead:
within a matter of days
✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓
SENSORY DEN – pop-up tents can be used as dens and are easily moved to different locations
SENSORY SPACE OR ‘QUIET AREA’ – a bookcase or curtain can be used to separate off a small area of a
classroom. Install items such as cushions, blankets, headphones and fidget toys
SENSORY CORRIDOR – pupils can get sensory input by stepping on a pictorial trail on the floor while walking between rooms or taking a ‘movement break’.
SEN GARDEN – ask a local garden centre for advice on plants that create a combination of sight, smell and
touch experiences
MODULAR SENSORY ROOM – companies such as
riseadapt.co.uk can build a small stand-alone unit
In detail: design it
l Seek pupils' views – talk to children about what they want from the room and take into account their needs and interests
l Consider the location – ideally, you want a quiet space away from busy areas. If that's not possible, can soundproofing, music or headphones be used to block out noise?
l Think about lighting – can the level of natural and artificial light be adjusted? You may need blackout curtains or blinds if you want to use light effects
l Think about plug sockets – placing equipment near existing sockets saves on hiring an electrician
l Don't overcrowd the room – too much stuff causes overstimulation and stress. There should be enough space between objects for pupils to move around easily
l Make the space flexible – it should be easy to adapt to individual children’s needs. Have designated storage space to put away items that aren’t being used
l Use a plain carpet – this avoids overstimulation and distraction from other elements of the room
l Keep walls white – projections will show up better. ‘We turned our old storeroom
into a safe space’ Our sensory room is located in what used to be a disused storeroom. It’s a safe space for any child in the school, not just SEN kids. If a child’s struggling in some way, or just having a bad day, they know they can go there. What works for one child doesn’t work for another. You
have to talk to the children and find out what calms them. One child hated the sound of rain, so the school put a tent in the room so he could feel safe. For my son, they put in things that interested him, like an electronics set and some decent colouring pens. He would go in with a TA for ten minutes at the start of the day to calm down and get focused before he went into the classroom. I’d say to any PTA, if you can fundraise for sensory equipment, do it – it’s not just the kids with special needs who benefit from it. In our school no child is singled out for using the sensory room. It’s just part of everyday school life. Laura Rex, PTA chair, The Alderton Junior School, Loughton, Essex
pta.co.uk AUTUMN 2023 33
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