West Kirby Residential School’s new room to bring learning alive

Sep 29 2009 by Ben Turner, Liverpool Echo

“For example for a project about the jungle we might put green drapes around it along with noises,” paediatric physiotherapist, Jackie Meadows explained.

A host of visual images are beamed into the room to help bring lessons alive.

The room also has a big emphasis on touch with different textures of fleeces, blankets and textured wall panels.

Background music is also piped through to the room as are aromatic smells such as lavender.

This can range from soothing dolphin noises to sounds of woodlands and relaxing story CDs.

Ms Meadows said: “There are two main goals of a multi-sensory room to encourage relaxation in a safe and comforting environment and promote intellectual activity by therapeutic work.”

The children take control of their own environment - deciding how much or how little stimulation they have and which senses to activate.

The room was entirely funded by children’s charities Wooden Spoon and Committed to Helping and Understanding Children (CHUC).

It is likely most pupils will have weekly sessions ion the room.

But it will also be used as stimulating backdrop to other lessons and events such as parents’ evening.

Workshops for parents will also be run so they can replicate ideas from the room at home.