September Teaching Calendar
- Rhyming Multisensory Stories
- 6 days ago
- 19 min read
Sensory rich ideas and activities for PMLD and SEND learners linking to the month of September.
Monthly Overview
🔍September Focus – Supporting Transitions
Printable infographic to help create calm, predictable, and emotionally supportive transitions for learners.
🏫 Back to School
Peer Matching Photo Card Activity – One Card, One Connection
Communication Passport/All About Me Sensory Boxes
🌾 Organic September
Farm Sensory Wall Display
Explore smells and textures as you create your first wall display of the new term!
📜 This Month in History
2 September — The Great Fire of London Flames in Motion Sensory Art
Explore movement, light and colour through a calm, tactile art invitation.
✝️ Saints & Sacred Days
8 September — Nativity of the Virgin Mary
Explore the story through gentle sensory cues that support reflection, comfort and connection.
🧸 9 September — National Teddy Bear Day
A warm, tactile exploration using familiar comfort objects to support emotional safety.
🐾🌿⛰️ 11 September – The Anniversary of the Birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi
Discover animal, plant, and mineral materials through tactile sorting and categorisation.
🍎11-13 Sep - Rosh Hashanah
A two-day festival celebrating Jewish New Year which begins in the Autumn.
🔵 15 September — International Dot Day
Celebrate creativity through tactile mark making and simple sensory art prompts.
🐘 22 September — Elephant Appreciation Day
A day celebrating the gentle strength and importance of elephants.
22 September — Autumn Equinox
Create seasonal sensory boxes using natural textures and calming autumn colours.
All Month — Organic September Sensory farmyard wall display exploring shape, texture and gentle movement.
🔍September Focus – Supporting Transitions
“Transition is the planned process of helping learners move from one familiar space, routine or group into another.” (Transitions)
September brings new spaces, new adults, and new routines. Transition provides a predictable, emotionally safe pathway that helps learners understand what is happening, who is involved, and how the new environment works. It supports emotional safety, predictability, orientation, relationship building, and confidence.
Transitions feel safer when learners have:
emotional safety
predictability
sensory continuity
gentle introductions
clear information
small choices
time to notice
These elements create a calm emotional landscape where learners can explore new spaces, routines, and relationships with confidence.
This Supporting Learners Through Transitions infographic visually summarises the key elements described above — helping practitioners create calm, predictable, and emotionally safe transitions for learners.
Please feel free to print and share to support September’s focus across your setting.
Suggested Resource
Transitions reshape a learner’s sensory, social, and emotional landscape. This practitioner-ready guide offers emotional insights, sensory strategies and predictable routines to support PMLD & SEND learners in feeling safe, regulated through change.
🎒 Back to School - Peer Matching Photo Card Activity – One Card, One Connection
Perfect for circle time, this simple matching activity supports recognition of peers, social awareness, identity recognition, and meaningful engagement. Learners explore facial features, make connections, and share simple social gestures.
💡 Why It Matters
This activity fosters recognition, interaction, and gentle communication. It supports social confidence, builds familiarity with peers, and encourages positive relational moments at the start of the school year.
📝 You Will Need
Laminated headshots of students and staff
🎨 Activity Steps
1️⃣ Present a single photo card in the learner’s hand.
2️⃣ Invite the learnero look closely at the face and explore features.
3️⃣ Prompt softly: “Find this friend?” or “Who is this?”
4️⃣ Support the learner in approaching the peer shown and offering a wave, smile, or handing the card.
5️⃣ Celebrate the connection with a gentle sensory cue, a soft clap or warm verbal praise.
🎯 Learning Areas & Objectives
🌀 Sensory Exploration
Explore facial features, textures of laminated cards, and gentle sensory cues linked to social interaction.
💬 Communication & Interaction
Respond to prompts; recognise peers; share simple social gestures such as high five, smiling, or handing over the card.
💛 Emotional Regulation & Social Development
Experience calm, supported interactions; build trust and confidence in peer relationships; engage in positive social moments.
🧠 Cognition, Cause‑and‑Effect & Learning Match photos to real peers; experience identity and representation; recognise cause‑and‑effect through social responses.
✋ Motor Skills & Physical Exploration
Hold, explore, and pass photo cards; practise fine‑motor control; navigate short distances to approach peers.
🌍 Environmental & Community Awareness
Develop awareness of classroom community; recognise familiar faces; understand belonging within the school environment. Engage in expressive gestures; participate in shared social rituals; contribute to a welcoming classroom atmosphere.
Communication Passport/All About Me Sensory Boxes
These are Communication Passports/All About Me profiles in the form of a box filled with sensory items that tell another person about an individual. They help people involved in the person's life to learn and understand more about the person, their likes, and sensory preferences, build bonds and aid communication.
The boxes are perfect to set up in the Autumn term to welcome new students to your setting, and for students changing classrooms as it helps you all get to know one another.
🛒 Suggested Resources
This resource is your go‑to for easing into the new term, packed with sensory‑rich ideas and activities that support familiar daily transitions while building sensory awareness, fine‑motor skills, expressive communication, and emotional connection. Shared sensory moments promote self‑regulation and social confidence, creating a welcoming space for new routines and friendships. to help learners feel safe, seen, and settled.
Includes learning objectives to help you plan and assess.
Unlock the superhero within every learner with this sensory story and sensory rich activity ideas celebrating a day in a special school…with a twist. Spark imagination, confidence, and inclusion. Learners meet real‑life heroes and discover that the most powerful role belongs to them. With its joyful final reveal...the story places every learner at the heart of the adventure.
Includes learning objectives to help you plan and assess.
This resource turns circle time into a calm, sensory‑rich space of connections and belonging. With an A–Z of simple routines and guidance for Morning, Afternoon, and End‑of‑Day sessions, it offers sensory invitations shaped for learners who rely on cues and repetition. Clear outcomes and practical adaptations build predictability, emotional safety, regulation, communication, and belonging, helping practitioners create circle times where every learner is seen and included.
Includes learning objectives to help you plan and assess.
🍂 Seasonal Nature
These September themes invite gentle exploration of seasonal nature, wildlife, food, and garden life through rich sensory experiences.
🐾 Wildlife Exploration & Textures
Invite gentle exploration of September wildlife through movement, sound, habitats, and safe sensory textures.
🧸 Textures
Soft — faux fur, wool, fleece, moss
Smooth — feathers, apple skin,
Bumpy — pinecones, bark strips, acorn caps, sycamore seeds
Crunchy — dried grasses, hay, leaves, seed heads, wheat stalks
Grainy — sand, soil, wheat grains, oat kernels
🎧 Sounds
Bird calls
Buzzing
Rustling
Tapping
Gentle wing beats
🥕 Tastes
Apples
Blackberries
Plums
Sweetcorn
Pumpkin
🌿 Habitats
Woodland floor
Hedgerow
Meadow
Pond
Shoreline
🔍 Clues
Footprints
Feathers
Nibble marks
Shells
🐦 Bird of the Month: Robin
A small, round bird with a bright red breast and a sweet, piping song.
Listen to its call and record onto a sound button.
Re‑create the song with whistles or soft bells.
Explore feathers: red breast, brown wings, soft grey belly.
Make a robin nest corner with moss, twigs and wool scraps.
🥕 The September Kitchen
Blackberries, apples, plums, runner beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, leeks and early pumpkins.
Taste and compare textures: crisp apple, soft plum, crunchy corn.
Make a simple crumble or soup with seasonal ingredients.
Explore scents: earthy beetroot, sweet plum, sharp leek.
🌱 The September Sensory Garden
Plant overwintering crops: garlic, onions and broad beans.
Collect fallen leaves, bark, dried grasses, seed heads and acorns for sorting and crafts.
Join in with Organic September: explore compost, soil textures and worm habitats.
Tidy the garden and prepare for autumn rest.
🌾 Organic Farm Sensory Wall Display
📅 All Month
🌱 About Organic September
Organic September is an annual celebration that promotes organic farming, food, and lifestyle choices — encouraging people to support biodiversity, reduce pesticide use, and choose eco‑friendly products for a healthier planet. It’s a gentle invitation to explore natural materials, seasonal produce, and sustainable practices throughout the month.
🌾 Sensory‑Rich Activity - Organic Farm Sensory Wall Display
Creating an Organic Farm Sensory Wall Display is a gradual, collaborative journey. Invite learners to craft farm‑themed pieces during art or fine‑motor sessions, exploring textures such as straw, feathers, felt, pulses, and natural colours. As each new element is added, the wall becomes a living landscape of shared creativity, sensory discovery, and growing anticipation — a calm, evolving celebration of Organic September.
❓ Why it matters A sensory wall becomes a living, collaborative landscape where learners explore textures, colours, sounds and scents. As the wall grows piece by piece, it fosters shared creativity, anticipation, and gentle multisensory discovery.
🎯 Learning Areas & Objectives
🌀 Sensory Exploration
Explore textures such as straw, feathers, felt, and pulses; respond to tactile elements; engage with natural colours, sounds (rustles, buttons), and gentle scents from herbs or crops.
💬 Communication & Interaction
Make choices between sensory items; use sound buttons or cards to express preferences; participate in shared storytelling or role‑play using farm animal prompts.
💛 Emotional Regulation & Social Development
Experience calm through rhythmic, multisensory exploration; build trust and anticipation through repeated gentle interactions; take part in collaborative tasks like “watering crops” or tidying animals.
🧠 Cognition, Cause‑and‑Effect & Learning
Notice changes over time (new items added, plant growth); recognise cause‑and‑effect through pressing sound buttons or planting seeds; match sensory props to symbolic representations (feather → duck, straw → hay bale).
✋ Motor Skills & Physical Exploration
Reach, grasp, press, glue, decorate, and explore materials with hands or assistive tools; practise fine‑motor control during crafting; navigate the wall space using visual and tactile cues.
🌍 Environmental Awareness
Engage with natural materials, farm‑themed colours, and seasonal cues that reflect Organic September.
🎨 Creative Expression
Contribute individual pieces to a shared display; explore artistic textures; participate in collaborative decoration as the wall grows over time.
🛒 Further Linked Resources
💡Suggested Resources
A practical, fully planned sensory‑story assembly with prop cues, rhyming verse, and inclusive strategies shaped by SEND practice. Ideal for creating calm, accessible, whole‑school harvest celebrations.
A fully resourced sensory story exploring farm life through tactile props, rhythmic verse, global farming culture, and inclusive activities across art, food tech, movement, literacy, science, and role‑play.
Includes 130 sensory‑rich farm activities designed to support engagement, choice‑making, and multisensory exploration.
📜 This Month in History
🔥 2 September — The Great Fire of London
🎨 Sensory‑Rich Activity – Flames in Motion Art
Creating Flames in Motion Art offers a calm, tactile way to explore the movement and colour of fire safely through sensory play.
💡 Why It Matters
This sensory‑rich flame‑movement art offers predictable rhythm, gentle visual contrast, and safe tactile exploration that supports regulation, communication, and meaningful connection to a historical event through experience rather than language.
🎯 Learning Areas & Objectives
🌀 Sensory Exploration
Explore tactile sensations and visual contrasts through warm colours and smooth motion; respond to the changing shapes and textures of paint.
💬 Communication & Interaction
Make choices about movement and colour; use expressive language or sound cues to describe flame patterns; engage in shared storytelling about the event.
💛 Emotional Regulation & Social Development
Learners experience steady regulation through rhythmic, predictable motion and strengthen social connection by sharing gentle, co‑created sensory moments.
🧠 Cognition, Cause‑and‑Effect & Learning
Recognise cause‑and‑effect as movement changes colour patterns.
✋ Motor Skills & Physical Exploration
Develop fine‑motor control through gentle finger motions; explore pressure and movement.
🎨 Creative Expression
Create flame‑like designs through movement and colour blending; explore artistic representation of historical events in a sensory‑safe way.
🛒 Further Linked Resources
Bring history to life with this interactive sensory story and inclusive activity pack designed for sensory learners of all ages. Relive the fire through a step‑by‑step sensory story, explore tactile and visual changes through heat and light, and engage with creative tasks inspired by Samuel Pepys’ Diary. Includes clear learning objectives and ready‑to‑use sensory activities for art, science, and storytelling.
Includes learning objectives to help plan, differentiate and assess
✝️ Saints & Sacred Days in September
Throughout September, seven saints’ and sacred days are marked in the Christian calendar. These moments invite quiet reflection, symbolic engagement, and gentle multisensory exploration.
🎨 Sensory‑Rich Activity Idea -Birth of the Virgin Mary – Sensory Story
Explore the story of the Virgin Mary’s birth through a calm sensory story using soft gestures, scents, textures, sounds, and gentle visual cues. Each verse offers a moment of stillness, connection, and spiritual literacy through multisensory engagement.
💡 Why It Matters
Sensory storytelling offers an inclusive pathway into sacred narratives, supporting emotional ease, symbolic understanding, and reflective engagement. Learners connect with themes of hope, beginnings, and gentle celebration through accessible sensory cues.
🎯 Learning Areas & Objectives
🌀 Sensory Exploration Engage with gentle scents, soft textures, quiet sounds, and symbolic props to explore sacred themes.
💬 Communication & Interaction Make choices between sensory items; respond to story cues; share reactions through gesture, vocalisation, or AAC.
💛 Emotional Regulation & Social Development Experience calm through rhythmic storytelling; build trust through shared reflective moments; participate in gentle group rituals.
🧠 Cognition, Cause‑and‑Effect & Learning Connect sensory cues to symbolic meaning; recognise narrative sequence; explore themes of birth, hope, and celebration.
✋ Motor Skills & Physical Exploration Reach, touch, hold, and explore props; engage in soft, guided movements linked to the story.
🌍 Environmental & Cultural Awareness Develop awareness of Christian traditions and sacred days; explore cultural practices through multisensory cues.
🎨 Creative Expression Create symbolic art pieces; explore colour, light, and texture inspired by sacred themes.
🛒 Suggested Resource
A poetic sensory story exploring seven sacred days through textures, scents, sounds, tastes, and symbolic props. Designed to support spiritual literacy, emotional calm, and inclusive multisensory engagement.
Includes learning objectives to help plan, differentiate and assess
🧸9 Sept - National Teddy Bear Day
National Teddy Bear Day is celebrated to honour the timeless comfort and companionship these cuddly friends bring to children and adults alike!
Below are suggested activities for holding a sensory Teddy Beard Picnic
🛒 Suggested Resource
Join Goldilocks on her adventures with the bears in this fully resourced, step‑by‑step sensory story with sensory-rich activities.
Includes learning objectives to help plan, differentiate and assess
🐾🌿⛰️ 11 September – The Anniversary of the Birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi
Modern natural history founder Ulisse Aldrovandi is remembered for his detailed studies of animals, plants, and minerals, inspiring rich opportunities for multisensory exploration.
Learners are invited to explore a curated range of textures, scents, and materials linked to Aldrovandi’s work, noticing differences between animal‑derived, plant‑based, and mineral items.
🐾 Animals
(Fake) fur, suede, chamois leather/leather, wool, feather,
🌿 Herbs
Basil, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme
⛰️ Minerals
Calcite, crystals, rocks, stones, or gold/silver/copper‑coloured items (coins, dress jewellery, foil, stainless steel objects)
🎯 Learning Focus: Sorting & Categorisation
Can the sensory explorer group items according to whether they are animal‑derived, plant, or mineral? This supports early scientific thinking, pattern recognition, and meaningful sensory engagement.
🍎11-13 Sep - Rosh Hashanah
A two-day festival celebrating Jewish New Year which begins in the Autumn.
Apples and honey symbolise 'Sweet New Year'
These simple activities invite learners to explore Rosh Hashanah traditions through shared sensory experiences.
✨ Learning Objectives
Sensory Exploration — Engage with textures, tastes, and sounds linked to Rosh Hashanah traditions
Cultural Awareness — Experience Jewish New Year customs through multisensory experiences.
Communication and Interaction — Express preferences and responses using gesture, vocalisation, eye‑gaze, or AAC.
Emotional Regulation — Experience calm and positive anticipation through predictable sensory routines.
Cause‑and‑Effect Understanding — Notice outcomes of actions such as printing, pouring, or throwing bread on water.
Creative Expression — Create visual art using apple prints and sensory materials to celebrate renewal and kindness.
Social Connection — Participate in shared rituals and greetings, reinforcing belonging and community.
Sept 13 - Roald Dahl Day
Explore the Main Characters in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl through the Senses
🍫 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Character Prop Matching Activity
A sensory‑rich matching activity where each learner explores a single prop linked to a character from the story. This supports symbolic understanding, recognition, anticipation, and meaningful engagement. Learners connect textures, scents, weights, and objects to familiar characters.
💡 Why It Matters
This activity strengthens early symbolic thinking, supports communication, and builds confidence through predictable sensory exploration. Props offer concrete anchors to help learners recognise characters, anticipate story moments, and enjoy shared social interaction. It encourages curiosity, gentle participation, and positive relational experiences.
🧰 You Will Need
Augustus Gloop – gloop (cornflour + water, 2:1 ratio; optional colouring or essences) or use assorted sweet wrappers
Charlie Bucket – bucket
Grandpa Joe – slippers
Mike Teavee – square glasses, cardboard TV, or remote (batteries removed)
Mr Bucket – toothpaste or fresh mint
Oompa‑Loompas – satsuma or orange face paint
Veruca Salt – salt dough (1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, ½ cup water; optional colouring or essences)
Violet Beauregarde – Parma violets, violet oil, violet flowers (fresh, washed, pest‑free, untreated)
Willy Wonka – walking stick
🎨 Activity Steps
Place the character props into a bucket so learners can explore them as a single, simple choice‑making activity.
Invite each learner to reach in and take one item, supporting hand‑over‑hand if needed or offering two choices for eye‑gaze selection.
Hold the chosen prop up clearly and name it warmly: “orange…which character does that belong to?”
Explore the prop together — touch, smell, hold, squeeze, or simply observe.
Introduce the linked character using simple, predictable language.
Celebrate any reaction — a look, a sound, a movement, a smile, reinforcing connection and engagement.
Continue until each learner has explored a prop and met their character. Create simple sensory art using dough, violets, or colour cues. Explore shape, scent, and texture inspired by each character’s prop.
🎯 Learning Areas & Objectives
🌀 Sensory Exploration Engage with textures, scents, weights, and symbolic props linked to each character independently or through gentle, supported interaction.
💬 Communication & Interaction Make choices between props; respond to character cues; share reactions through gesture, vocalisation, eye‑gaze, or AAC. Encourage turn‑taking and shared attention.
💛 Emotional Regulation & Social Development Experience calm through predictable sensory storytelling; build trust through shared exploration; enjoy group participation with familiar characters and props.
🧠 Cognition, Cause‑and‑Effect & Learning Link each prop to a character; recognise simple narrative patterns; explore symbolic meaning (e.g., mint for Mr Bucket, salt dough for Veruca). Develop early associative thinking.
✋ Motor Skills & Physical Exploration Reach, touch, squeeze, hold, and explore props. Engage in guided movements such as dipping hands into gloop, smelling violets, or handling a walking stick.
🌍 Environmental & Cultural Awareness Develop awareness of story worlds, character roles, and cultural references within Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Explore themes of family, work, fairness, and imagination.
15 Sep - International Dot Day
International Dot Day is inspired by the book The Dot by Peter H Reynolds. It is a charming story of courage and creativity as a little girl makes her mark with a single dot inspiring others to do the same.
Join me as I share my sensory-rich ideas and activities to invite Neurodiverse, Sensory, PMLD and SEND learners to celebrate the day. From dotting dressing up, a dotty sensory umbrella, dotty sensory bottle to ideas to engage the five senses.
🛒 Suggested Resource
Explore the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of shapes with this fully resourced, step-by-step, sensory story with facilitation guidance.
Includes 130 sensory-rich shape themed classroom based activities
20-25 Sep - Fire Door Safety Week
Fire Door Safety Week reminds us that fire doors must stay closed, unobstructed, and well‑maintained so they can slow the spread of fire and smoke and protect safe escape routes for everyone.
🎯 Learning Outcomes
Understanding fire doors — Build recognition that fire doors help keep people safe by slowing fire and smoke.
Safe behaviour — Build awareness that fire doors should never be propped open or blocked.
Environmental awareness — Learners notice fire door signs and understand they mark important safety points.
Routine safety practice — To engage in simple, supported actions such as checking a door is closed.
Communication and response — Learners respond to fire safety cues
🐘 22 September — Elephant Appreciation Day
Elephant Appreciation Day celebrates elephants as intelligent, social animals known for their memory, family bonds, and gentle strength. The day raises awareness about conservation, habitat protection, and the threats elephants face such as poaching and habitat loss.
🌿 Why it matters
Elephants are keystone species, shaping their environment.
They communicate through low rumbles and vibrations.
They show strong social and emotional behaviours.
Conservation efforts help protect both elephants and the ecosystems they support.
Elephant Strength Exploration
🖐️ Elephant Hands
Invite the learner to press their palms gently into a soft surface (towel, sponge, therapy mat). Physio cue: “Slow and steady… like an elephant placing its foot.”
Aim: Calm pressure, hand strength, proprioception.
🚶 Elephant Steps
Support slow, heavy steps — standing, supported standing, or seated steps. Physio cue: “Heavy, slow steps… feel the ground.”
Aim: Controlled movement, balance, rhythm.
🧣 Elephant Trunk Reach
Use a scarf or ribbon as the “trunk” for a gentle forward or overhead reach. Physio cue: “Stretch your trunk to reach the leaves.”
Aim: Shoulder activation, range of motion, visual tracking.
🟠 Elephant Push
Offer a therapy ball, cushion, or your hands for a slow, steady push. Physio cue: “Strong and slow… like an elephant.”
Aim: Deep pressure, core engagement, self‑regulation.
🪶 Elephant Ear Flap
Use a soft cloth to create gentle “ear flaps” near shoulders or arms. Physio cue: “Soft and slow… elephant ears in the breeze.”
Aim: Tactile input, calming sensory awareness.
🛒 Suggested Resource
Explore the wonderful world of Elephants through the senses with this comprehensive teaching pack which includes 'Elephants', a fully resourced, step by step multisensory story, a case study, plus differentiated, themed, sensory ideas, and activities.
22 Sep - Autumn Equinox
'At the bottom of my garden underneath the apple trees,
I heard a little rustle, amongst the autumn leaves
A sudden gust of wind, blew the leaves apart
And what I saw inside those leaves, lightened up my heart'
Make an Autumn Sensory Box
Autumn Sensory Box
This seasonal sensory box invites exploration through scent, texture, light, and sound. It includes an assortment of leaves—dried bay, curry, lime, and fresh sprigs of rosemary and thyme—to enrich the olfactory experience. A colour-changing light cube adds visual intrigue, while straw evokes the autumn harvest.
To represent hedgehogs, a nail brush and koosh ball offer contrasting textures, alongside a Talking Tile with a recorded hedgehog sound. A piece of bark and scattered pinecones add woodland authenticity.
The hedgehogs are crafted from Play-Doh, with dried spaghetti spikes—an engaging fine motor activity.
Pop in a magnifying glass and torch to encourage scientific investigation and close-up discovery.
You can simplify the activity by adding less items.
🛒 Suggested Resource
Autumn Sensory Story with Sensory-Rich Thematic Activities for Neurodiverse, Sensory, PMLD and SEND Learners
Step into the golden hush of autumn.
Inside you’ll find:
A fully resourced sensory story with full facilitation guidance that brings autumn to life through evocative language and multisensory cues.
Over 50 Autumn-themed activities
Full learning objectives to help you plan, differentiate and assess
Full List of Titles
Seasons
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
A Winter Walk
January Through the Senses
The Weather
Culture & Celebrations
A Train Ride Through India
Book Day
Bonfire Night
Burns Night
Chinese New Year
Diwali
Easter
Halloween
Harvest Festival
Holi
Harvest Festival
Ramadan
The Witch
The World Cup
Vesak
Life Skills, Self Care, Routines and Transitions
Antibullying
Back to School
Cause and Effect Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning
Circle Time Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning
Jobs and Work Experience
People Who Help Us – The Special School Superheroes
Pupil Voice
Student Enterprise
Transitions Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning
RE
Sensory Saints
St Patrick’s Day
Maths
Shapes – A Multisensory Exploration
Topics and Themes
Airports and Airplanes
Elephants
Journey into Space
Minibeasts
The Beach
The Farm
The Rainforest
History
Benjamin Franklin
The King’s Coronation
The Queens Jubilee
The Great Fire of London
The Romans
VE Day
Reference
Sensory Bottles Practical Ideas for Multisensory Learning
Sensory Resources for Sensory Learners (800+ Ideas)
Christmas
Dear Santa (Includes How to Adapt into a Play)
Rudolph’s Carrots
Traditional Tales
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Jack and the Beanstalk
Little Red Riding Hood
The Gingerbread Man
The Three Little Pigs
Training and Workshops
1-1
Groups
Whole Setting
INSET
Find out more!
Imagine stepping into a sensory space where you can feel the sand between your toes, smell the sea, listen to the sound of seagulls calling; touch feathers, shells and driftwood…
Sensory spaces invite learners to be curious and try new ideas and skills, inspiring imaginative play, creativity and storytelling. This comprehensive A-Z shows readers how to create easily customisable spaces for learning, sensory engagement and relaxation, using a host of everyday items.
It is packed full of:
• tools and strategies to provide positive experiences and the best outcomes for an inclusive education;
• ideas for connecting learners to different areas of the curriculum;
• sensory-rich activities to support the mental health and wellbeing of people with complex and additional needs; and
• case studies and examples from guest contributors to showcase a wide range of sensory spaces in practice.
With a rich selection of colour photographs, this essential guide will inspire you to create spaces for learners to take ownership of their sensory explorations in creative, immersive and stimulating environments. It is a valuable resource for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and mainstream teachers, SEND coordinators, teaching assistants, early years practitioners, play therapists, parents and carers, and anyone with an interest in engaging learners through the senses.
Critics Reviews
"An essential companion for all educators, this easy-to-use A-Z has inspiring ideas popping from every page. Sensory Spaces is an invaluable guide bursting with dynamic, innovative solutions. Notebook and pen ready, delve in, be excited, be enthused; create amazing sensory spaces for all your learners from the wonderful ideas. A must-have for both first-time educators entering the world of sensory learners and experienced educators seeking new inspiring ideas. The depth and breadth of this guide are phenomenal!"
Gwyn McCormack, director, Positive Eye Ltd
"This thoughtfully designed and accessible book would have been invaluable when I began working with children and young adults. Victoria offers a wealth of knowledge alongside innovative, sensory-rich provocations and experiences for the early years, SEND, young people and adults. A truly multi-generational resource, it empowers educators, carers and parents to foster meaningful learning through imagination, creativity and storytelling. This book is an inspiring and practical guide for anyone committed to enriching developmental experiences across all ages."
Gina Bale, creator, Littlemagictrain
"Victoria stands with teachers, teaching assistants, care workers, family members and anyone who wishes to share fun and engaging times with and support someone with complex disabilities and neurodivergent conditions. This joyful book offers a helping hand, a pick-me-up, a message to say that you are not alone. Thumbing through the pages, you will find ideas from a whole team of contributors ready to take tired hands and say, ‘Let’s have some fun; let’s go on a sensory adventure.’ I invite you to adventure within these pages and within the spaces you may create inspired by them."
Dr Joanna Grace, sensory engagement and inclusion specialist
"This is a practical and empowering guide filled with easy-to-adapt ideas for creating inclusive sensory environments on any budget. Victoria brings together deep knowledge, creativity and compassion to support learners of all ages and needs. A brilliant go-to resource for educators, families and anyone looking to make a sensory difference."
Dr Sarah Moseley, author, consultant and trainer in SEND and inclusive practice
Find out more!
The Health & Safety Bit!
Please Read Before Engaging in any of the Activities
Health & Safety Advice & Disclaimer
Please Read Before Engaging in Any Activities
The author has taken care in preparing the information provided on this website. However, no representation or warranty is made regarding the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the content.
All information is intended for pleasure and educational purposes only.
If you choose to apply any ideas or activities described in this blog, on the website, or within any multisensory stories or resources, you do so entirely at your own discretion and assume full responsibility for your actions.
Supervision
All activities must be led and supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
The sensory explorer should be invited to participate freely, without expectation.
Never force engagement. Stop immediately if the person shows signs of discomfort or lack of enjoyment.
Allergies & Intolerances
If you have any doubts about an activity or prop, seek professional advice before starting.
Always check ingredients and materials for potential food, skin, or respiratory allergies.
Watch carefully for any signs of reaction (e.g., redness, swelling, breathing difficulties). If symptoms occur, seek immediate medical advice.
Safety Considerations
Be aware of potential choking hazards with small items or props.
Ensure all materials are safe, age-appropriate, and suitable for the individual’s needs.
Activities should be adapted thoughtfully to respect the person's comfort, dignity, and wellbeing.
Your questions, queries, comments and feedback are always welcome!
Get in Touch!
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'Have a great month...see you in October'
Victoria:)
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