New Sensory Circuit Sessions
Compass primary Academy has started to offer students the opportunity to take part in sensory circuit sessions as part of the Brooke Weston Trust Ambition for All campaign.
As torchbearers of the campaign this month, the school has a single focus on improving the academic outcomes and opportunities for character developments.
The aim of the short sensory motor circuit is to both energise and settle children into the school day by focusing their concentration and developing the child’s sensory processing skills.
The 20-minute sessions are divided into three sections:
Alerting – The aim of this section is to prepare the brain for learning and allow the child to become focused. The activities are a bit like a PE warm-up.
Organising – The aim of this section is to help the child to organised their body by getting them to do more than one thing at a time. There are a variety of activities such as throwing and catching, balancing on an exercise ball or matching up sensory circles.
Calming – The aim of this section is to calm the child ready for learning by using pressure of the muscles. Activities include rolling up tightly in a blanket, using rollers or weighted beanbags.
Mrs Ann Hall said ‘ The circuits can help a whole range of students such as those who find it difficult to get up in the morning and come to school, those that find it hard to organise themselves, those that have poor co-ordination and balance and many more.
‘We have selected children to take part in the circuits that we feel will really benefit and get something out of the sessions.
We have only just had our first session and noticed added benefits such as motivation and teamwork. Even the students that were dubious about getting involved saw the others enjoy themselves and wanted to join in. All the students found it great fun and had a very positive attitude by the end of the session.