Overview
Woodhall Primary School is dedicated to fostering ambition and creating a supportive environment where children can thrive. The school houses a specialist complex needs unit, providing tailored support for up to 18 pupils aged 4–11 with an EHCP.
Client Brief
As we were working within a very busy school environment, we held a brief phone consultation with the school’s lead for behaviour support, who shared an overall outline tailored to their pupils’ needs. They were seeking a calming sensory space with soft walls and flooring, complemented by a few sensory features and a hideaway hut to provide comfort and safety for children who like to retreat, supporting their self-regulation. The school then supplied photos and measurements, enabling us to move forward quickly with a design and quotation to present to the Trust.
Calming Sensory Room Design Process
Sensory Room Design vs Before Installation
For this calming sensory space, we incorporated wavy-top padding, as requested, to soften the overall look and create a more relaxed atmosphere. Floor padding was installed to provide a comfortable area where children can lie back and feel grounded. The Infinity Den added a cosy retreat, enhanced with calming twinkling lights on the ceiling and acrylic mirrors along the walls to amplify the effect. In the opposite corner, we installed a bubble tube, offering a soothing visual feature that children can interact with using the six-way switch.
Calming Sensory Room Installation
Thanks to our highly efficient engineers, the installation was completed in just two days. To begin, they fitted the electrics and padding, followed by the installation and connection of all the sensory equipment. All Sensory Technology engineers are directly employed by us, ensuring consistent quality control throughout the installation process – something we consider the most important part of the project, as it directly impacts the children who will be using the systems.
Completed Sensory Room Installation
Sensory Training
The user-friendly control system meant the school was able to begin using the new calming sensory room immediately upon their return from the Easter break. During the holidays, our engineers also provided the caretaker with full guidance on changing the tube and operating the system, ensuring they could support teaching staff whenever required.
Conclusion
While the room’s design was relatively simple, it proved to be highly effective and looked excellent in the colour scheme chosen by the school. Feedback from staff and pupils was overwhelmingly positive, with both expressing how much they enjoy the finished space. Following this success, the school recommended us to their sister school, Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, who went on to adopt the same set-up after seeing how well it worked at Woodhall. It was a pleasure to collaborate with both schools, and we are delighted to know the children are benefiting from these spaces
