Transformative £34,000 grant funds sensory support for Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill
Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill is celebrating a significant milestone in inclusive education following the successful installation of bespoke sensory rooms, funded by a £34,242 grant from Wakefield Council, through the High Needs Capital Grant Project.
The initiative, led by Laura Winterburn, vice principal at the school, addresses the growing need for specialised environments within mainstream education. The new facilities, which opened at the start of the new term, will benefit approximately 50 pupils with complex Special Educational Needs (SEN), providing them with the tools necessary to self-regulate and engage more effectively with their learning.
For many pupils at the school, the standard classroom environment can present significant sensory challenges. The new sensory rooms feature equipment designed to develop joint attention skills, building the foundational ability to share focus on an object or event with another person. The equipment has lots of interactive elements, including lights, sounds and touch and often uses cause and effect strategies to gain and hold attention for varying levels of time.
There is also equipment to help children self-regulate. Children have timetabled access to the rooms at regular intervals in the day to support them in remaining regulated, rather than accessing the space when they are fully dysregulated.
The impact of these rooms extends beyond the school classroom. Regular access to regulation strategies allows pupils to remain regulated throughout their school day, meaning they can still access their learning, and this also supports the transition to home, leading to improved wellbeing for students when they return to their families.
Laura Winterburn, said:
“The difference is immediate. We’ve seen children who typically struggle with focus in a classroom setting enter these rooms and immediately display calm, regulated breathing. One pupil, who usually finds joint attention difficult, was able to engage in turn-taking activities with independence and genuine joy. This resource is something we simply could not have provided without this funding.”
The success of the sensory rooms serves as a blueprint for other schools looking to enhance their provisions through external funding. Highlighting the importance of administrative diligence, Laura Winterburn offers two key pieces of advice for school leaders embarking on grant applications:
Ensure all stakeholders are aligned and communicating regularly to keep the project moving within the required grant timescales.
Keep a meticulous paper trail of all clearances and conversations, as these are often essential to have on hand
Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill remains committed to providing an inclusive environment where every child, regardless of their complexity of need, has the opportunity to thrive.
