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Sensory rooms - best products

5 replies

proudmum74 · 20/06/2013 17:56

Hi - DD nursery is looking into building a sensory room as they now have a few DC with SN & I've been asked for my input.

My DD has Down's and her friend has Autism. We've never seen a proper sensory room, but the hospital does have a cool bubble tube.

Does anyone have any experience with a 'proper' sensory room & the type of things it should include? And where to get these from?

Many thanks

OP posts:
PolterGoose · 20/06/2013 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

moondog · 20/06/2013 19:36

A total and expensive waste of time, and more often than not, little more than a luxurious cell. Why a child would prefer to watch a light tube rather than be with a human is beyond me.

bochead · 20/06/2013 20:36

The issue is that those children who would most benefit from sensory products all have different needs!

This is an area that if money is going to be spent, then you really need a sensory trained OT to come in and advise the nursery.

It's really important that nursery staff understand that the term SN isn't code for "low expectations", as one size doesn't fit all by a long shot.

It might of more use to have a quite space for those children that get upset (a comfy soft cushion in the book corner?) & some caring cutlery for those who find difficulty eating, a joystick as well as a standard mouse at the PC, a movement cushion for use at the art table, large print books etc, etc. An OT would advise.

I'd suggest instead small range of specialist equipment that will facilitate the INCLUSION of various SN's within the main nursery peer group & reject the sensory room suggestion outright.

I worry that some SN kids will wind up spending all day, every day alone in the sensory room instead of LEARNING and engaging with their peers. The staff will then pat themselves on the back and tell themselves that they are doing a great job, having barely said 2 words to the poor kid concerned all day. This is a real risk Sad

(btw- My own child benefits hugely from a personalised sensory diet at school, that many other children would find torturous.)

proudmum74 · 21/06/2013 08:35

OK, thanks for all your advice.

I understand your concerns, but I genuinely don't think the nursery are doing this just to tick a SN box. My DD has been there for over 2 years and the staff have genuinely been amazing with making sure DD is included in all activities, and have even learned sign (at their own expense as LEA were too slow to agree) so they could communicate with DD and also teach the other children to sign too.

The challenge we have is that we don't have good OT support in this area, despite DD having severe GDD & complex SN, she has only ever seen an OT once and that was when she was 3 months old.

I'll feed back to the nursery that perhaps there are better ways to spend the money they've saved up for this.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
bochead · 21/06/2013 14:11

A private OT to come in as often as can be afforded on a regular basis would be a better use of funds than a room then surely?

Sounds like the sensory room is a sticking plaster for a lack of much needed GENUINE intervention. (My own DS's nursery had a sensory room - it's NOT a replacement for therapy trust me!)

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