How to Build an Immersive Bible Story From a Cardboard Box and Some Herbs You know that cupboard in the church hall? The one that smells vaguely of damp and old coffee? Inside, there’s probably a box. And in that box, there are the “story props.” A laminated picture of a sheep (slightly peeling), a … Read more
Under the Sea Sound Story: A Simple Guide for Sensory Storytelling Discover a magical underwater world with this engaging sound story designed for EYFS and PMLD learners. This simple, rhythmic tale combines poetic couplets with carefully chosen sound effects to bring the ocean to life. Use a soundboard with the effects to enhance your storytelling … Read more
Free Sensory Profile Generator (With Strategy Suggestions) The Sensory Profile Tool is designed to help parents, caregivers, and teaching staff better understand and support children with sensory processing differences. This easy-to-use resource provides tailored strategies based on the child’s sensory preferences and needs, making it accessible even for those without specialist training. After completing the … Read more
Overcoming Sensory Processing Challenges Everyday When Sarah walks into a crowded mall, her heart begins to race. The flickering fluorescent lights overhead, the cacophony of conversations, and the mixture of perfumes from passing shoppers create an overwhelming assault on her senses. This is sensory overload – a phenomenon where the brain struggles to process multiple … Read more
Bringing the Nativity to Life: A Sensory Story Experience for PMLD Children The magic of Christmas and the beauty of the Nativity story can be challenging to convey to children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD). However, with a thoughtful approach and the right resources, we can create a rich, engaging experience that brings … Read more
Transforming Therapy Provision for Autistic Students in Special Schools I have worked in education with a specialism on Autistic students for 17 years, In schools with brilliant resources and those with more limited budgets. Therapy provision goes beyond mere compliance with legislation; it’s about fundamentally transforming lives. The challenges of delivering effective therapy in special … Read more
A Teacher’s Guide to Somatic Competency In today’s dynamic classrooms, teachers face the ongoing challenge of promoting self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and positive behaviour among their students. One approach gaining traction is developing somatic competency. The ability to perceive, interpret, and respond to internal bodily cues and sensations. What is Somatic Competency? Somatic competency, or interoceptive … Read more
Proprioception vs Vestibular What are the Differences? Proprioception and vestibular senses are both crucial components of our body’s sensory system, but they serve distinct functions: Proprioception: Vestibular Sense: Key Differences: Understanding the differences and interplay between these senses is crucial in fields such as physical therapy, sports training, and treatment of balance disorders. Exploring the … Read more
How Many Senses Do We Have and How Do They Enhance Learning? As teachers, we know that our students learn best when they are engaged and motivated. Regular visitors to this site will know my favourite way to achieve this is to create a multisensory learning environment. Learning for children with SEN can be enhanced … Read more
Sensory Processing Disorder Links to Childhood Behaviour As behaviour lead one of the most frequent questions that I often get asked is: “How does sensory input impact behaviour?” To answer this question I need the support of Sensory OTs and assessment tools. To support the child we need to delve into the intricacies of sensory … Read more
The Best Home Made Sensory Toys for Autistic Children For autistic children, finding easy DIY ways to engage their senses and promote self-regulation can be incredibly beneficial. Home made Sensory toys are a great tool for providing stimulating and calming experiences, and homemade sensory toys can be even more valuable because of their personal touch and … Read more
A Spooky Sensory Experience. Are You A Monster? Halloween Sensory Story is similar to Are You An Elf? and Am I a Pirate? These are “Dressing Up” Sensory Stories. The idea is that each element of the story will be revealed from a bag or box and worn by the learner, this means these sensory … Read more
Knights and Castles Sensory Story I wanted to do a more fun sensory story. Heavily inspired by Pete Wells And his very funny sensory stories I wrote “We are Knights” for our History topic. Just a bit of fun but I have included suggested sensory resources, movement opportunities and some follow up activities around positional … Read more
This post on sensory processing was inspired by a talk I attended by Olga Bogdishana. You can find the slides from her presentation on “Making sense of Sensory Needs and Challenging Behaviour” here. She has also written this book which gives a deeper insight into sensory perceptual issues. Sensory processing is a key part of … Read more
Making use of your sensory garden. Outdoor learning is an essential part of all children’s education. Getting out of the classroom provides endless opportunities for academic learning and personal development. This post will outline key possibilities provided by creating a sensory garden or even through utilising an existing outdoor space for learning opportunities. Whether that … Read more
This winter themed Sensory Story has been written for our “Time” topic where we are exploring the seasons. Snow Bear provides plenty of opportunities for exploring the cold of the Arctic. I have included a subtle message about climate change which depending on the age group you use it with may be useful to tie … Read more
An Autumn Sensory Story This is due to be the first in a series of 4 stories (1 for each season). Check out he winter sensory story – Snow Bear. Please take a few minutes to watch the video of my daughter reading it! The idea that each sensory story will have a unique feel … Read more
My second sensory story is about the human body. This was written for the “Body, burps and bile” topic and delivered to a group of 12-14 year old students with a range of needs including Autism and PMLD.
These books are only those I have read and can recommend. They all follow an inclusive and positive support ethos. They all also focus on the only part of behaviour support we can control – ourselves. If your school has a zero tolerance behaviour policy read these and make it your mission to get that rewritten.I will get around to doing a second post but I need to get reading first!
How would hot weather influence behaviour? This seemed apt to post now as the country simmers slowly beneath the summer sun. This post is based on observations and frequency data over a shorter period of hot weather. Whilst analysing the behavioural incident data records a spike in frequency for a specific group of 9 students … Read more
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