Introduction
St. Columban’s Primary School in Kilkeel has been a pioneer in creating inclusive learning environments. Over the past two years, they have collaborated with Causeway Sensory to develop state-of-the-art sensory facilities to support children with diverse learning needs. This case study explores the journey, challenges, solutions, and outcomes of this transformative project.
Background
St. Columban’s Primary School, recognising the need for specialised support for children with severe learning difficulties, opened a specialist learning division. To enhance this new initiative, the school partnered with Causeway Sensory. The project aimed to create an inclusive, calming, and educational space for all students.
Challenges
Designing and implementing sensory spaces within a school environment requires a deep understanding of the unique needs of its students. These spaces must be thoughtfully developed to provide an inclusive environment that supports both learning and sensory development, while also fitting seamlessly into the existing school structure. In this particular case, we faced challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure the sensory room and adjoining areas would serve as valuable resources for all students.
The primary challenges included:
- Meeting Diverse Needs: The primary challenge was ensuring the sensory room and corridors catered effectively to children with severe learning difficulties while also benefiting students from the mainstream part of the school.
- Design and Equipment Selection: Identifying and integrating the most suitable sensory equipment required careful planning and expertise.
- Implementation within Curriculum: Integrating the new sensory spaces into the school’s existing curriculum and ensuring they were used effectively by all classes.
Process
Site Assessment
Careful evaluation of potential locations to find an optimal space that would cause minimal disruption during installation.
Collaborative Planning
Continuous communication with staff to coordinate the installation process.
Custom Design
Crafting a sensory room tailored to the specific needs of the students, incorporating calming and stimulating sensory equipment.
Solution
Causeway Sensory worked closely with St. Columban’s Primary School from the outset. They assisted in the planning, design, and equipment selection for the sensory room and corridors. The comprehensive solution included:
Specialist Guidance: Continuous support and consultation were provided to ensure the chosen solutions were effective and adaptable to the school’s needs.
Sensory Room: A state-of-the-art sensory room was installed, equipped with tools and resources designed to support children with severe learning difficulties.
Sensory Corridors: Two sensory corridors were created to serve as de-escalation spaces and educational resources for all students
Results
The implementation of the sensory room and corridors has significantly impacted St. Columban’s Primary School:
- Enhanced Learning Environment: The sensory spaces have become integral to the school’s learning environment, benefiting both the specialist and mainstream students.
- Positive Student Engagement: Children with severe learning difficulties have shown increased engagement and enjoyment in the sensory room. Mainstream students use the spaces for calming and de-escalation.
- Curriculum Integration: The sensory corridors are now a regular part of occupational therapy sessions, with every class utilising these spaces as part of their curriculum.
Feedback
The feedback from St. Columban’s Primary School has been overwhelmingly positive:
“The children absolutely love going into the sensory room. Some of them come in just to play and have a bit of fun too. Children from the mainstream part of the school use it for de-escalation and to help them calm down. Every class has been using the sensory corridors now as part of their OT sessions. Children are learning whilst they play.”
Conclusion
The collaboration has resulted in a more inclusive, engaging, and supportive educational environment. The sensory room and corridors have become invaluable resources, promoting both learning and well-being among students. If your organisation is considering introducing or enhancing sensory spaces, Causeway Sensory offers the expertise and dedication to help you achieve similar success.
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