Exploring the Impact of the Senses on Behaviour


The 2019 tour has ended, watch this space for details of the 2020 tour. 

Feedback from 2019

I thought I knew about which sensory activities to offer when children displayed certain behaviours. This course enabled me to take a step back and consider what was causing that sensory need in the first place. To think about ‘ flight ‘ and the prevention of ‘ fight ‘ so you don’t have to deescalate. It sewed seeds subtlety that will change my practice for good now.
Most useful of everything is Jo’s perspective on emotion. I never ever thought of it like this before and have been indoctrinating children into labeling certain actions and facial expressions in the same way we once taught rote maths with no application or true understanding. It kind of made me really question my understanding of autism . I really admire Jo’s honesty and unique insight . By talking about her own life it makes it easier to understand.
...
Easily the best course I’ve been on this decade.
Today I dipped my toe in the water and changed just a few things in my setting ....the response I got was overwhelming. I’ve never felt so loved and appreciated. It was like my pupils were saying ( in their non verbal way ) ‘finally you get it ...we are on the same page.‘ I’m ready to change what I do in September, change my keystage and school. 



Download the full Agenda for this day from the bottom of this page to see just how crammed full of information it will be.


Behaviour is the result of two interconnected factors: the person and the environment.
The sensory world impacts upon both of these factors. By understanding its impact we can learn to make adjustments at an individual and environmental level to better help those whose struggles with the sensory world can be expressed through behaviours that others may find challenging.

On this day you will learn:
  • The underpinning roots to behaviour triggered by sensory experience.
  • Strategies you can use at an environmental level and at an individual level to help someone who is struggling and expressing that struggle through their behaviour.
  • How to create simple sensory resources to support a person.
  • How to create sensory environments to support a person.
  • How to create a sensory flight path and support its use.
  • How to communicate with someone whose behaviour has been triggered by a sensory experience. 
We will also be joined by exciting guest speaker Katie Rose White who will show us that teaching emotional regulation need not always be a chore, it can be fun!

Unlike the other days on the 2019 tour this day will not focus on the needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. This day will be suitable for:

  • Parents or carers seeking to understand their children's responses to particular situations or environments better.
  • Mainstream and special school teachers, teaching assistants, and SENCOs who support children with behaviour that may be triggered by sensory difficulties.
  • Adult care workers who support people who find environments or particular situations challenging and express this through their behaviour.
  • Therapists, playworkers, sessional workers, portage workers or any other professional who wants to better understand the children/young people/adults they support.
  • Team members from settings that welcome diverse populations and are looking to better understand their visitors and how to support them in accessing their environment e.g. heritage setting workers, activity center workers, leisure center activity co-ordinators. 


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