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INFORMATION AND RESOURCES www.addvancedsolutions.co.uk Telephone: 0151 486 1788 Email: [email protected] Registered office: 54 St James Street, Liverpool, L1 0AB Community Network Office: Business First Centre, 23 Goodlass Road, Speke, L24 9HJ. ADDvanced Solutions Supporting you to find the answers © ADDvanced Solutions 2015 Strategies for managing Sensory Processing Difficulties at school An occupational therapist trained in Sensory Integration therapy will be able to advise on strategies to support individual pupils with sensory processing difficulties. Making sure your classroom or school is sensory friendly is really the key to helping pupils with sensory difficulties feel safe and able to access learning. A Sensory Smart Classroom A sensory smart classroom provides children with an environment that can be adapted to meet their needs. This may require an opportunity for regular movement breaks, heavy muscle work, finger fiddles, wobble cushions, weighted lap pads, and other calming or alerting sensory activities. These are carefully selected to help the children to regulate their arousal levels to the ‘just right’ state. This should then assist with their ability to attend and focus during school- related tasks. Basic sensory tools required to support children with sensory processing difficulties within the school environment: l Individual work stations (blocks out visual distractions) l Wobble cushion (provides vestibular and proprioceptive input) l Weighted lap pad (increases body awareness and provides deep pressure input) l Rocker stool (provides vestibular input) l Therapy Ball (provides vestibular and proprioceptive input) l Finger fiddles e.g. Blue Tac (provides tactile and proprioceptive input) l Oral motor chews e.g. chewellery, plastic straws, bubbles (provides oral proprioceptive input) l Dark / black out space e.g. tent (reduces multiple sensory input to assist regulation of behaviour) l Ear defenders (reduces auditory input) l Peak cap (reduces visual input ) l Work station screen (reduces visual input / distractions thus enabling focus and concentration) l Reduce wall art (reduces visual input) l Egg type timers (visual support) l Communication Aids (visual support) It is also important to be aware of how to use a sensory room to support the needs of children and young people with sensory processing difficulties, ensuring it is used appropriately is fundamental to supporting the challenges they face daily. Multi-sensory environments are, by nature about creating a relaxing space that can help to reduce agitation and anxiety, but it is important to remember that they can also be used to engage and delight the child or young person who is sensory seeking, stimulate reactions and can help in engaging and encouraging communication.
