Sensory rooms create a safe and calming space for children with complex needs, helping them relax, manage anxiety, and build focus through supportive sensory experiences. To meet the needs of pupils, and to enhance the curriculum, the sensory room at Maple View School has been transformed.
Certain well-loved elements have been reintroduced, with enhanced interactivity to better engage the pupils. For example, the original large ball pool that the children love is replaced with an interactive ball pool with LED lights, which children can alter the colour with using switches on the back wall. To achieve a calming feel, there is pastel interactive lighting in the pool.
To enhance the experience, there are interactive sounds that children can activate as they move into the ball pool. Three sounds can be activated by pressing down – aiding in cause-and-effect learning and adding to the relaxing atmosphere. These can be changed to keep things interesting.
Other equipment includes:
An LED Infinity Panel with sound-to-light interaction through dancing light sequences that move in reaction to sound; perfect for their speech and language therapy sessions.
A Fibre Optic Corner gives the children a cosy hideaway where they can feel secure, while still being immersed in the full sensory experience. The fibre optics has engaging textures, complemented by sequin panels
A Circular UV Tactile Activity Panel, which has a variety of textures and finger mazes for pupils to explore, is enhanced by captivating lighting effects. UV lighting amplifies the visual impact, making both the panel and any UV-reactive elements, like the tactile kit used throughout the room, even more sensory stimulating.
Projectors & Visual Effects including a Mirror Ball, LED Pinspot, Kaleido Effect and Water Project. Each has an interactive switch to enhance the visual experience.
Bespoke iPad App with custom features. The children have full interactivity via the app. They can turn everything on/off or have the additional learning features of momentary, latched and timed learning. From the push of one ‘switch’, they can make such a huge change in the room!
