In School Sensory Training and Self Regulation:
Seeing STaRS
So much of our daily lives depends on how we experience and process the world around us. And for neurodiverse children with sensory processing differences, certain environments can be overwhelming or under-stimulating, both of which can lead to behavioural difficulties.
But understanding our own sensory processing can be empowering. In our Sensory Training and Self Regulation (Seeing STaRs) course, pupils learn about their own processing styles, and we share practical strategies to help children manage their energy levels in the classroom, at home and in the community. Genius, simple strategies for the playground can help children return to class ready to learn. When shared with families the strategies can be used on the way home in a local playground to help a child ‘decompress’ after a stressful school day.
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Seeing STaRs: 12 week programme
About Seeing Stars
In our whole-school training programme, pupils learn about their sensory processing, and how to change their energy levels in class, with support from school staff and parents. The course is made up of eight 1 hour sessions delivered to a small neurodiverse pupil group. These are children on the Special Educational Needs Register who are recognised to be at risk at Secondary school transition.
Seeing STaRs is run by a paediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) who specialises in sensory integration, working with an OT Assistant. These sessions can include children’s learning support staff or other key teachers to support transfer of learning to class and the wider school community.
Seeing STaRS includes two additional sessions of whole school INSET, at the beginning and end of the training to introduce then share findings. The OT provides consultancy on Sensory Strategies to school staff.
Act-attain keeps parents involved in shared learning with a parallel training programme delivered by the OT and OT Assistant, backed up by one of our community workers.
Aims and Goal Attainment
We aim to help all the participants understand sensory strategies, and use them at school, home and in all areas of life. Understanding sensory strategies can help teaching staff support neurodiverse children to regulate their attention and behaviour in the classroom, and support their inclusion.
At Act-attain we know that navigating education and the work place depends on having parents who can advocate effectively until the child becomes empowered to do this themselves. Many work places are now keen to be supportive of neurodiversity, but research shows huge difficulty in knowing what to ask for and in a timely way.
Children involved in Seeing STaRS work with the OT to design their own pupil passport and strategy keyring for use in school at home and in the community. Families are encouraged to join Act-attain sports activities and workshops to benefit from support after the programme finishes.
If a child understands and can learn to ask for inclusion strategies they are empowered with skills for life.
Getting Support for your School
Seeing STaRs is a paid-for programme, provided by our team. We can help schools with guidance around how they can fundraise to pay for this training, often with the help of local partners such as Richmond Parish Lands, Barnes Fund and Harlequins Rugby Club.