The sensory room is used on a regular basis by all the children in the centre. The awe and wonder the lights and colours offer can be a magical experience for some children and to capture these moments the staff prepare the environment with thought and detail. It is dressed with seasonal drapes and resources to support our curriculum calendar.

During the autumn season, we use rust red, mustard yellow, olive green, light and dark brown drapes to dress the room, fan leaves, ribbons, streamers, and chiffon scarves. Delicate blue, white and silver/grey is used to reflect the winter season along with frost patterns and icicles on the projector wheel, an igloo and a selection of soft toy animals typically seen in winter. In spring, we use warm bright greens and yellows and provide representations of April showers, rainbows and reflections. Vibrant yellows and blues reflect the season of summer with a seaside stimulus, rock pool creatures and fishing nets. We use colour to evoke particular feelings and resources are also added in line with particular events, for example, deep reds/yellows/oranges as a bonfire night stimuli, and dark greens/reds/white for Christmas. We have more recently used the room as ‘Santa’s Grotto’ which has been magical for the children.

A sound system is available to play a variety music. Familiar songs and nursery rhymes are used to support children to move with confidence and join in with actions. It also provides a quiet environment for children to listen to various music and explore different genres and tempos.

The bubble tube provides many opportunities to extend children’s learning. The variety of colours supports children to begin to recognise and name colours. We use switches and paddles to control the tube, encouraging children to use trial and error techniques and perseverance. The mirrored wall really supports our very youngest children to build on their own sense of identity as they take in their reflection and also the social skills of seeing and recognising others in the mirror.  The UV light provides intrigue as children use fluorescent wands, patterned mats and white gloves.

The room is also the perfect place to share stories. Props and resources are added to support retelling and enrich the environment to capture the children’s interest and make the session exciting and engaging. The safe and enclosed space supports children with SEND, offering a peaceful and familiar area where they can take time away from the busy environment of nursery life. The room and resources can be adapted to meet the needs of individual children, offering the right level of stimulus and sensory experience. Families in our extensive reach area also benefit from this wonderful resource. During the school holidays, our Outreach and Engagement Workers invite parents/carers to designated sessions to enjoy with their babies or very young children.