The idea of the sensory room is that it is a safe space. This means the actual physical design of the sensory room must be inherently safe for children to use.
While this might seem like stating the obvious, it is important for any school to follow risk management when fitting then using a sensory room.
Here we look at what school sensory room safety should involve, along with the benefits of having a sensory room.
A sensory room can benefit pupils with specific conditions or difficulties, such as autism, behavioural issues or anxiety.
It can work as an educational space, or simply a safe space for those who would finding attending a mainstream school challenging. Depending on its setting, the sensory room, may have a number of labels, such as a quiet zone or calming room.
Regardless of how it is labelled in a particular context, the school sensory room should employ sensory-controlled techniques and the right environment to help those individuals who otherwise experience a kind of sensory overload.
It is a quiet space that stimulates, develops and relaxes. As such, it should allow the children using it a large degree of autonomy, where they can explore the environment for themselves.
Because the sensory room may need to provide different environments, such as soothing or stimulating, it is important that their design and installation meets a school’s specific requirements.
A school sensory room’s décor can include low lighting, adjustable light projections, mirrors and bubble tubes. It may have a soundtrack of various sounds or soft music.
It should have comfortable seating areas and various soft play shapes that pupils can pick up and examine. Protective floor mats and wall padding help reinforce this safe environment.
Some of these features are optional or changeable, but there are certain fundamentals when it comes to school sensory room safety.
The first important consideration for a school sensory room is location.
It makes sense that it should be away from busy areas and external noise sources. Sound insulation is essential, whether by using lining materials or through the thickness of the walls.
Size and shape are next. Sensory rooms can be smaller, or, if the individual is going to interact with multiple objects, larger spaces.
Because the room will be closed in to maximise the user’s experience, ventilation is highly important. For the comfort and health of the room’s users, there should also be sufficient air conditioning and heat, depending on the time of year and conditions inside the sensory room.
Lighting should be soft, such as spotlights. Avoid fluorescent lighting as the noise this often generates has the potential to disrupt the sensory experience.
Colour is critical. If the sensory room will be using a projector to shine different colours on the walls then a white or other plain pale colour scheme will be best. Some sensory rooms are painted to follow a particular theme, and some use dark greens or blues as the best setting for ultraviolet lighting.
Floor coverings should be laid in such a way as to avoid trip hazards.
All electrical outlets and wiring should be concealed and protected.
While the design and installation of the sensory room must allow for maximum user safety, the other vital element to ensuring safety is through best practice.
There should be no unsupervised access, and when the sensory room is in use, this should be restricted to individual or small groups of children.
Doors should not be lockable during the periods when the room is in use.
The room should be wheelchair accessible.
As part of risk management, the school must check all electrical equipment used in the sensory room regularly. This should include regular cleaning of all equipment and checks to see if it is faulty or damaged.
The school should have a clear policy about using the sensory room, and all staff should be aware of this. The school should also maintain appropriate records regarding the use of the sensory room.
The school sensory room should provide a sensory-managed environment, which stimulates the senses, heightens awareness and provides relaxation.
It should be an environment that encourages children to explore it and provide them with an unrestrained atmosphere so that they can enjoy themselves.
The challenge for schools is in finding the right kind of solution which will allow for best practice, benefit the pupils using the room, and will be cost-effective.
iHUS provides specialist sensory room solutions for schools, offering a choice of modular design options. The sensory room is constructed off-site, then transported to the school and expertly installed with all the specified equipment.
This means that once installed, the pupils can use the sensory room straight away.
It is a streamlined, cost-effective solution to providing the ultimate safe space in your school.
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