Sensory Inclusive Schools

Every week, I try to share a little summary of a key topic from our Sensory Inclusive Schools Network drop-in session. Today, we spoke about so many important things that I honestly couldn't pick just one.

But what really stayed with me after we finished was this… people are using the course content to reflect on their practice, and they are making real changes because of it.

I’m seeing a real shift in how behaviour is understood and how participation is supported. Dysregulation or barriers to participation are increasingly being recognised as signals that the environment, expectations, or task demands are not aligned with what a student can manage in that moment.

And this shift matters. So much. Because once you stop looking at the child as the problem, you start widening the lens. People are noticing the sensory load of a space, the pace of the day, the transitions, the noise, the uncertainty, the pressure, and the hidden demands that we often do not even realise we are placing on students. They are asking better questions, not “What is wrong with them?” but “What is this situation demanding of them right now?”

Watching people apply the learning like this is powerful. Because it is not easy. It takes honesty, it takes confidence, and it takes a willingness to do things differently, even when school life is busy and messy, and there are a hundred other pressures.

Most importantly, I think it takes being part of a network, people who will really listen, coach you through the tricky bits, support you, and champion you when it feels hard.

It is a privilege to support and coach you all as you reflect and become more sensory-informed, and grow more confident to make the changes that help students feel safe enough to participate. It remains the highlight of my week.

All the best

Beth

Reflections from the SIS Network is a series sharing insights and learning from the weekly term-time drop-in sessions for Sensory Inclusive Schools Network members, capturing the questions, reflections, and practice shifts that promote sensory inclusion in schools.

Beth Smithson is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration. She leads the Sensory Inclusive Schools service and hosts the SIS Network drop-in sessions during term-time. Join us!