Overview
Highfurlong School, part of the Synergy Education Trust, is a Special School located in Blackpool. Sensory Technology first collaborated with the school in 2016, delivering sensory sound and lighting solutions for their Hydrotherapy Pool. In March 2025, the school approached us again to design and install a bespoke Soft Play Room and two Calming Rooms to further enhance their sensory provision.
The Challenge
The school sought to create a multi-functional space that was both accessible and stimulating for a diverse range of pupils. The Soft Play Room needed to support dynamic movement while accommodating a walkway used as a thoroughfare and an overhead hoist system. Additionally, the school required two calming environments to support sensory regulation and emotional wellbeing.
The Solution
Our design team developed a tailored solution that maximised the available space while meeting the school’s functional and therapeutic goals.
Soft Play Room
Core Equipment: Steps, Podium, Slide, Trampette and Roller Tunnel.
Sensory Features: Interactive Mood Lighting, Interactive Ball Pool and Infinity Den.
Safety & Integration: Full Wall and Floor Padding created a cohesive and secure environment.
Control Systems: Interactive equipment controls were recessed into a lockable cupboard, discreetly positioned away from the main activity area.
Calming Rooms
Design Elements: Wall and Floor Padding for comfort and safety.
Sensory Enhancements: Interactive Mood Lighting and Bluetooth Sound Systems to support relaxation and sensory modulation.
The Installation
All equipment and furnishings were custom-manufactured to fit the space precisely. Our in-house product design engineer conducted a detailed site survey, capturing millimeter-accurate measurements to ensure seamless integration. This approach allowed us to pre-produce components at our Derbyshire facility, streamlining the installation process.
The full installation was completed over four days and included a comprehensive training session for school staff, ensuring they could confidently operate and maintain the interactive systems in both the Soft Play Room and Calming Rooms.
Soft Play Room
Calming Rooms
The Outcome
The new sensory environments at Highfurlong School provide safe, engaging, and therapeutic spaces that support pupil development and wellbeing. The project reflects our commitment to delivering tailored sensory solutions that meet the unique needs of each educational setting.
"The soft playroom that we have had from sensory technology is fantastic! The process from start to finish was fantastic, everyone we dealt with was very polite and professional, and clearly experienced in their field. The soft playroom that they have designed and installed is incredible. It has elements for all our learners no matter their physical needs. Most importantly due to the design and the padding pupils have increased independence in this room where usually if they were not in this space, they may need 1:1 support when moving. This room is used daily by many of our learners. The engineers were great. From start to finish they provided DBS, were polite and professional and worked speedily to get our project completed. Due to the nature of our building, at times they needed a slightly larger space to prepare the larger items. They communicated this with our staff and were timely with this work so that they did not interrupt the school day too much. The process exceeded my expectations, especially the designing elements. We contacted several companies, shared the drawings of the space and our desires. So many companies came back with designs that incorporated almost nothing from what we wanted and were very expensive. The designs from Sensory Technology included everything that we wanted and was priced reasonably. We worked with the design team to make some small alterations and move a couple of things around this room. This was no problem for them whatsoever and all amendments to the drawings were completed within a few days."
