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Sensory & Physical Needs
Key Points
Some children may have additional needs relating to their physical development or sensory processing, including:
- Hearing or vision impairments
- Fine and gross motor difficulties (e.g., challenges with handwriting, coordination, or movement)
- Sensory processing differences, where a child may be over- or under-sensitive to sights, sounds, touch, taste, or movement
How We Support This at The Flourish Federation:
- Adaptations in the classroom environment to reduce sensory overload
- Access to sensory breaks and movement breaks
- Use of specialist equipment such as writing slopes, wobble cushions, and weighted blankets
- Support from Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Sensory Support Teams
Children with Sensory & Physical Needs may experience challenges related to movement, coordination, hearing, vision, or sensory processing. These needs can impact a child’s ability to access learning, navigate their environment, and regulate their responses to sensory input.
Some children may have physical disabilities that affect their mobility or fine motor skills, while others may experience sensory processing difficulties, where they may be over- or under-sensitive to stimuli such as sound, touch, light, or movement.
Common sensory and physical needs include:
- Hearing Impairment (HI) – Partial or total hearing loss, requiring adaptations such as hearing aids, assistive technology, and visual cues
- Visual Impairment (VI) – Difficulty processing visual information, needing enlarged text, tactile resources, or Braille support
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) – Difficulty processing sensory input, which can lead to overwhelm, avoidance, or sensory-seeking behaviours
- Fine and Gross Motor Difficulties – Challenges with coordination, balance, handwriting, and everyday tasks due to conditions such as Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder - DCD)
- Physical Disabilities – Conditions affecting mobility, strength, or stamina that may require adaptive equipment or additional support
At The Flourish Federation, we are committed to ensuring that children with sensory and physical needs have equal access to the curriculum and feel comfortable and confident in their environment.
Some of the ways in which we support This at The Flourish Federation:
- Adaptations to the Environment – We ensure that our classrooms and school spaces are accessible, with low-stimulus areas, alternative lighting options, and clear visual supports.
- Sensory-Friendly Strategies – We provide resources and provisions such as ear defenders, weighted cushions, sensory circuits, and fidget tools to help children regulate their responses to sensory input.
- Movement & Motor Support – Some children benefit from gross and fine motor interventions, including:
- Handwriting programmes to improve pencil grip and control
- Sensory circuits to help children prepare for learning
- Specialist Equipment & Accessibility Support – We use specialist resources and assistive technology, where appropriate, to ensure that children with physical or sensory needs can fully participate in learning.
- Safe Spaces & Regulation Areas – Some children benefit from quiet, low-stimulation spaces where they can regulate emotions and sensory input. The Hub and Nurture Lunch offer calm, structured environments where children can access this if needed.
- Collaboration with Specialist Services – We work closely with Occupational Therapists (OTs), Physiotherapists, Sensory Support Teams, and Educational Psychologists to provide tailored support and recommendations.
- Inclusive & Adapted Play Opportunities – Our zoned playground system ensures that all children can access different types of play, including quiet, creative, and movement-based activities.
Click to access The Pod - Children's Therapies Service Website
