Sensory Topic Planning: Science
22 May 2025: 9 am – 12 noon
‘Sensory Topic Planning: Science’ is a deep dive into integrating sensory topic planning into science.
This approach will help you create sensory-driven lesson plans that make science more accessible to learners with severe, complex or neurodiverse learning needs.
We introduce a structured, sensory-driven approach to topic planning based on a theme that prioritises sensory experiences for these learners, resulting in deeper engagement, better understanding, and improved retention of information.
(NB We reference The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) science curriculum, which is part of the Understanding the World (UTW) section of the curriculum. It encourages children to explore the world around them through hands-on activities, observation, and experimentation.)
Session 1: Getting started with sensory science
What does science look like for students with severe, complex or neurodiverse learning needs? How can we use our sensory activities to engage and connect in classroom activities?
This session will cover how the three-step model of the Primary Science Teaching Trust has a clear purpose in using sensory activities for:
play
observations
questioning
Session 2: Communication and Language
A clear, underlying thread runs through all aspects of the EYFS curriculum to support the development of effective communication and language.
This session will cover:
acquiring new vocabulary, e.g. naming animals, colours, shapes, textures
using ‘talk’ to explain thoughts and observations
asking and answering questions
using technology to support pupils’ access to learning, including AAC and symbols
audiobooks/picture books/personalised books to support understanding
Session 3: Engagement and Experimentation
The EYFS Science curriculum aims to support our students in engaging, exploring, and trying things out for themselves. This session will consider the balance between providing opportunities and support and closely managed direct teaching sessions.
This session will cover:
what does engagement look like?
how to accommodate sensory-seeking and sensory-avoidance behaviours
using active learning to enhance our objectives
making links to develop skills and understanding
simple sensory resources to aid engagement and understanding
Session 4: Recording achievement
When we record activities and events in ‘books,’ we limit access to revisiting and retrieving information through reading and writing. Speaking and listening are often more accessible communication routes, so this session will consider a broader view of recording, examining, and sharing achievements, skills, and understanding.
This session will cover:
the power of recording voice
encouraging the role of the student as an ‘expert’
mark-making in recording
using technology to support Universal Design for Learning principles (UDL)
applying skills and knowledge in various learning environments for consolidation and generalisation
Session 5: Sensory Spaces for Science
This session will cover some quick and easy ideas for taking your science session into your sensory room, outside areas, and your learners’ homes.
This session will cover:
using your sensory room with a strong sensory focus during science activities
investigating the natural world outside your classroom
extending the application of skills and knowledge for consolidation and generalisation, such as working with food at home and school.
9 am Admission and virtual tea/coffee to start the session!
9.05 am Welcome, introductions and a warm-up!
9.10 am Session 1: Getting started with sensory science
9.40 am Session 2: Communication and Language
10.05 am Breakout Room Task
10.20 am Coffee
10.50 am Session 3: Engagement and Experimentation
11.00 am Session 4: Recording achievement
11.20 am Session 5: Sensory Spaces for Science
11.55 am Q & A
12.00 noon Plenary, thank you and good-bye!
This will be appropriate for classroom practitioners from special schools and colleges, mainstream settings with specialist SEN provision and early years settings, who are working with pupils with Autism.
Richard Hirstwood is passionate about enabling educators/practitioners to maximise the impact of delivering sensory learning opportunities, in a sensory room or other learning environments, with the available resources. His extensive experience is based on practical knowledge, giving him insight into what works and what doesn’t in multi sensory practice. Regular sessions with children and adults with autism and all additional needs in a variety of multi sensory and classroom settings enable him to maintain this excellent practice.
Carol Allen is an education advisor for ICT and Inclusion, currently offering specialised support to Local Authorities, schools, parents and carers and a wide range of educators worldwide. She has taught since 1980 in both mainstream schools – primary and high, and schools for students with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. As an English specialist, she recognises that communication lies at the heart of all effective teaching. Accordingly, most of her work has centred on technology’s creative and engaging use to support communication in its broadest sense.
Each place costs £135 plus VAT
You can pay by credit card for this booking or request an invoice on the booking form.
The recording of this event will be in your account at online.hirstwood.com. You will access this using the email address on the booking form and your password (instructions for creating your password are in the joining information).
Here you will find:
a digital recording of the event
a transcript of the Zoom chat
These will be available for 10 days after the event.
NEW for 2025!
We will suggest practical reflective practice for this event to support you in implementing your key takeaways from this session in the classroom.
We’ll also offer a toolkit of additional resources to help, which may include further documentation, videos or links to valuable resources/websites.
Please join our Facebook Group, Sensory Support Spaghetti, to connect with us and other like-minded professionals – for everything sensory!
NEW FOR 2025!
