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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Chill out room?

17 replies

AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 10:42

I am quite possibly overthinking this.

DD1 started at a new school recently. On Wednesday (last day of term) my friend picked her up, but when she came home she told me that she had been in the chill out room. Apparently it isn't a room for if you have been naughty or good, the teacher just gives you a ticket if she thinks it would be a good idea for you to go there for a little while. There are cushions and quiet games to play.

Any ideas what this is?

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Sommink · 31/03/2013 18:47

Exactly what she said. I know a few school around here that have them. My friends school has one and they described it as a place the children can go if they are feeling unhappy/upset or if they have gotten a little over excited overwhelmed etc. It's not that they have been good or bad, just sometimes children need their own space and a little time to chill to enable them to work better.

Periwinkle007 · 31/03/2013 18:50

not come across it but I think it sounds quite a good idea. Some children need sometimes to have a bit of their own space. certainly I have worked out my eldest does and if I feel she is getting a bit too overexcited I will suggest she goes to her room or the other room or something to do something else for a bit.

Chocotrekkie · 31/03/2013 19:21

Our school has just set up one. During lesson time it's for small group work or music lessons but at break its for kids who are struggling to be out on the noisy playground. It's teacher invite - some kids with behaviour issues are in whenever they want to be but for others if they are really tired that day/coming down with a cold/just seem a bit off the teacher asks them if they want to go in at break time that day for a bit of quiet time. Playgrounds and classrooms can be noisy/busy and it's too cold at the mo for them to sit down outside for half an hour so sometimes they just need a bit of a rest at lunchtime.

Original poster

AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 20:56

I'm pleased if it is - DD1 likes peace and quiet, and doesn't like crowds. It is brilliant if they are letting her have that quiet time.

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numbum · 31/03/2013 23:11

Can't be bothered to search but was it you who said your DD1 had autistic traits?

The school I work in has a 'chill out' room and it's an invite only room where teachers can choose to send children if they think they need time away from other pupils. They ask the child if they want to go there rather than demand they go there. It can be anyone from a known SN child who doesn't deal with groups well to a child who they know has had a tough time at home that week with (for example) a relative/pet dying.

It's definitely a good thing in my eyes

numbum · 31/03/2013 23:12

Sorry should have said 'a child with known SN' rather than a 'SN child'

Original poster

AllPurposeNortherner · 31/03/2013 23:14

Yep, I'm concerned that she might have autistic traits, and she is having a hard time at home too.

So what sort of room is it likely to be?

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numbum · 31/03/2013 23:20

The one we have has a comfy sofa, lots of board games, a little bookcase, some 'mood lighting' and some lava lamps at the moment. We're waiting for the next lot of budgeting to get some more things for it.

numbum · 31/03/2013 23:22

It's supervised by TA's (me included) at our school. Those of us who have volunteered take it in turns to give up our break/half a lunch break to spend time with the children who need to use the room.

MrsShrek3 · 31/03/2013 23:23

we have one of these too. an adult is on hand to talk to / play / ignore (supervise from a distance) depending on that the child wants. ours has some play stuff, two sofas, a few bean bags and a tent (yes, two man tent) full of cushions and lots of the children on the spectrum love it, some sensory stuff there too. oh there's a bubble tube in the room and a quiet area with cds. Its is classroom sized so not a small place, and the children love it.

Original poster

AllPurposeNortherner · 01/04/2013 00:55

This sounds fantastic :-). If this is what she meant, it will be amazing for her.

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Fuzzymum1 · 02/04/2013 20:45

DS2's secondary school has a room that certain children are allowed to use. He has Asperger's so often needs time to himself to calm down or be alone for a while - he describes it as 'a small room with sofas and stuff' He doesn't need special permission to be in there at a particular time but only certain kids get to use it.

YoullNeedATray · 03/04/2013 09:42

It's called the Sizzle Room at my DS's school. They use one of the normal classrooms, but there'll be one of the lunchtime supervisors in there and space to draw or play board games quietly.

whiteflame · 03/04/2013 18:38

We had one at my secondary, it was called the bean bag room. Pupils could just sign themselves in if they wanted some alone time, any time of the day.

As far as I could tell it wasn't abused and was a really good idea. I never actually used it but it was comforting to know it was there.

littlemiss06 · 04/04/2013 08:09

Our school have a similar room, my daughter goes in once a week, when I asked about it it was for children struggling with self regulation and things like that, it is much like a sensory room.

manchestermummy · 04/04/2013 10:31

I wonder if they have one of these at DD1's school? She's struggling with the playground at the moment (there's apparently at Year 1 boy harassing her) and sometimes she just wants to draw quietly. It's a really good idea.

boxershorts · 04/04/2013 12:18

good idea

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