This year, our Inclusion and Early Years teams are delighted to share the development of two dedicated Sensory Spaces in school – The Den in Primary and The Calm Cove in Early Years. These calm, supportive environments provide children with safe places to regulate their emotions, build confidence, and prepare themselves for successful learning.
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Why Sensory Spaces Matter
Research shows that sensory-friendly environments have a profound impact on children’s development. When children are provided with calm, structured opportunities to regulate their nervous systems, they are better able to:
Manage emotions - lowering stress and anxiety and reducing the likelihood of emotional overwhelm.
Improve cognitive function - regulation activates the “thinking brain,” making it easier to concentrate, solve problems, and retain information.
Build self-esteem - being given a safe, welcoming space communicates that children’s feelings are valid and manageable, which boosts confidence and resilience.
Develop social skills - calm spaces provide the foundation for positive interactions with peers, as children are more able to listen, share, and communicate when regulated.
Neuroscience research (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University) shows that children learn best when their brains are calm and organised. A regulated child can engage their prefrontal cortex (responsible for reasoning, memory, and focus) rather than being stuck in a stress-response state. This means that the benefits of sensory spaces extend far beyond wellbeing - they directly support academic learning and long-term development.
How We Use These Spaces
The Den and The Calm Cove are already being used as hubs for learning and support, used in many different ways:
Academic Support Groups - small group interventions, memory and recall practice, and targeted learning.
Motor Skills Development - activities to strengthen both gross and fine motor skills, supporting handwriting, coordination, and independence.
Social Groups - guided opportunities for children to practise turn-taking, teamwork, and building friendships through Lego and other activities.
Reflection and Emotional Regulation - a safe, welcoming place for children to take time out, manage big feelings, and return to class ready to learn.
Supporting the Whole Child
Our goal as the Inclusion team, and indeed as a whole school, is to nurture every child emotionally, socially, and academically. The sensory spaces allow us to meet children where they are, offering both proactive support (through groups and targeted teaching) and responsive support (through safe reflection time when emotions run high).
Our hope is that these spaces give children the message that they are valued, capable, and supported - an ethos that is one of the foundations our school community is built on. By helping them feel calm, confident, and connected, we are unlocking their ability to succeed - not only in their learning today, but in building the self-esteem and resilience they will carry into the future.
If you have any questions or require any further information or advice regarding sensory support for your child, please contact your child’s class teacher as well as Miss Mitchell and the Inclusion Team.
By Rhianna Mitchell
Year 4 Kangaroos Class Teacher
