This year we were delighted to attend and exhibit at the Childcare and Education Expo 2025, a key event that brings together passionate educators, childcare providers, SENCOs, school leaders and more shaping the future of early years learning.
For the team at Sensory Technology, this was a great opportunity to showcase how sensory experiences can transform early learning spaces and foster children’s growth, wellbeing, and curiosity, whilst also supporting educators in creating more engaging, inclusive environments.
Our Display
Our stand at the Childcare and Education Expo 2025 was designed to be fully interactive, giving visitors a hands-on experience of the power of sensory learning. Our Portable Sensory Trolley took centre stage allowing us to demonstrate first-hand how sensory tools can be effectively integrated into everyday classroom and childcare environments – both for portable use or as a fixed installation.
The trolley was a huge hit, gaining lots of interest and curiosity from visitors with the range of interactive features – in particular the mesmerizing lighting and visual effects, and cause-and-effect interactions. With one-to-one discussions, our expert team were able to learn more about each visitor’s school settings and sensory needs, guide them through our range of innovative controls and features, and advise more on how these can help.
Key Takeaways
The feedback we received was fantastic, helping us understand the challenges faced by schools, nurseries, and early years settings, as well as the innovative solutions they are looking for. Here’s a few insights we gained from our time at the show.
Space Limitations For Sensory Rooms
Predominantly for settings such as Nurseries and Childminders, a key theme was the desire to create a sensory experience for the children, but lack of space to do so, which is exactly why our Portable Sensory Trolley is a fantastic alternative to a fixed installation.
The Portable Sensory Trolley brings all the advantages of a full multisensory environment into a single, mobile, and easy-to-use unit. Its slim, compact design and castor wheels make it ideal for childcare and educational settings with limited space or the need to move equipment between rooms. This versatile solution delivers the benefits of a fixed sensory space—wherever you need it.
For those seeking a fixed space but on a smaller scale, this is where our bespoke designs and made-to-measure solutions shine! As direct manufacturers, designers, and installers of sensory environments, we have complete control over factors such as room size, architectural constraints, and budget. This allows us to create bespoke sensory spaces that fully meet individual needs without compromising on quality or functionality.
Catering To A Range Of Sensory Needs
Another key point raised by visitors was the range of users and needs they wished to cater towards, and being able to create a space that was limited to just one type of user or for one specific purpose.
In addition to the benefit of our bespoke designs enabling the versatility of creating a custom space around your users, we have also recently collaborated with Cabins For Schools to create Modular Sensory Rooms – modular, made-to-measure buildings with fully-integrated sensory equipment. For childcare and education settings looking to create dedicated spaces to support additional needs, this turn-key solution is a fantastic option. For those looking to utilise a shared space for sensory needs, the multi-use flexibility of Modular Sensory Rooms means educators can create a space that combines learning, therapy sessions, sensory integration and more.
Funding & Grants For Sensory Rooms
Despite the demand and necessity for inclusive spaces within childcare and education settings being high, gaining access to funds to fulfill this is another challenge faced.
At Sensory Technology, funding and grants are a common resource used by schools, nurseries and more to help achieve their goals of creating sensory environments. Although funding and grants can differ depending on factors such as region/area, budgets, etc. here’s a few useful links and resources we found that may be beneficial in your search:
GOV UK – School-based Nursery Capital Grant – School-based Nursery (SBN) Capital Grant for 2025 to 2026 available for eligible state-funded primary-phase schools and maintained nursery schools.
Disability Grants – Educational Grants for Schools – A resource, advice and information hub for educational grants for schools across the UK.
Get Grants – Funding Finder – Provides practical support, information and training that fundraisers with all levels of experience can put into practice.
Dreams Come True – Offering Community Dreams that go beyond supporting an individual child and impact a greater number of children including those within school settings.
Education Endowment Foundation – Funding to support the development and evaluation of high-potential teaching and learning approaches.
BlueSpark Foundation – Registered charity which supports the education and development of children and young people.
Derbyshire IASS – Funding For SEN In Mainstream Schools
Grants4Schools – Funding News, Information & Opportunities
Reflections
The atmosphere at the Childcare and Education Expo 2025 was truly inspiring, bringing together a community of passionate professionals across the childcare and education sector—all focused on supporting children’s wellbeing and future.
For us, it was an amazing chance to not only understand more about the sector’s changing needs but also to make some great new connections. We’re excited to keep building on these relationships and to create even more sensory environments for early years settings.
A big thank you goes to the Expo organisers and to everyone who stopped by our stand to chat, share ideas, and explore sensory technology with us. If you’re an educator or childcare provider interested in finding out more, we’d love for you to connect with us and see how our sensory solutions can make a real difference in your setting.
