Sensory Circuits at Gosberton House Academy

Sensory circuits take place each morning between 8.45 and 9.30 in the Hall. Sensory Circuits promote sensory integration – many of our pupils have an immature nervous system and require additional stimulus to support their balance, awareness of body space and use of muscles.

There are 3 areas; alerting, calming and organising.

• The big balls, spinners, trampoline and jumping represent the ‘Alerting’ stage – lots of vigorous movement aimed at disturbing the fluid in the inner ears.
• The balancing and co-ordination exercises represent the ‘Organisation’ stage – where the brain is encouraged to organise more than one movement, sometimes working in opposite directions.
• The stepping, combat crawling and rolling with the large balls represent ‘ Deep muscle work’ – the children should be really exerting themselves to work their muscles, it should feel an effort and heavy work. These exercises help children who may need calming and also those who need to be alerted

Sensory Circuits provide a good start to the day for lots of GHA's children, after their taxi journeys and before work time in classrooms. Staff in circuits observe and support the children to use quality movement, remind them to follow their visual and personalised 'jobs list' and model movements and activities as necessary.

Sensory Integration throughout the day

At GHA, sensory needs are met throughout the day on a bespoke level. Each child has a sensory profile which is completed by family and school, and updated at least annually. In our classrooms the children have a range of adapted seating; hokku stools, zuma rockers, captain's chairs - to provide a feeling of security, to allow for constant movement or to support the engagement of core muscles to support focus. Similarly, children have ongoing access to ear defenders, weighted jackets or blankets, sensory spinners and trampettes as well as equipment to give deep pressure, dark dens and big cushions to jump into. Some children also have sensory chews. As part of our curricular approach, we support our children to develop their tolerance to a range of sensory experiences and much of our learning is through a sensory-based, exploratory approach.

As part of our environmental adaptations we have created spaces within some classrooms to provide additional sensory input and new dens have been created in Key Stage 2 - one is a Relax Den and one a Movement Den.