Sensory Workshops for Schools
3 July 2025
Plan Your Staff CPD
“I know something’s getting in the way for him, but I just can’t see what it is yet. Every strategy I try feels like a guess, and I want to support him, but I’m missing a piece of the puzzle. It’s not that he won’t engage, it’s that something is stopping him. I know he’s not doing this on purpose, but I feel stuck on how to reach him.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many of us have worked with pupils who seem overwhelmed, out of sync, or shut down, and we’re left wondering what’s going on beneath the surface.
This is where our Sensory Inclusive Schools Workshop Series can help.
Designed specifically for school staff, these live online workshops take place once per term and are packed with practical strategies you can apply straight away to support students with sensory differences, trauma histories, or regulation challenges.
But these are workshops with a difference.
We know real change doesn’t happen in a single session. That’s why we’ve built in time and support to help you embed what you learn. After each workshop, you’ll have access to weekly virtual drop-in sessions with a Sensory Integration Practitioner. These informal sessions are a space to reflect, ask questions, share what’s working (or not), and receive guidance tailored to your setting.
Whether you’re a teacher, TA, SENCO, or part of the pastoral team, the Sensory Inclusive Schools Workshop Series will help you move from feeling stuck to feeling equipped—and ready to see behaviour through a sensory lens.
Can’t attend live? No problem.
All workshops will be recorded and available to access for the duration of the term. So whether you need to catch up, revisit key points, or share with colleagues, you’ll be able to watch at a time that works for you.
Join us for a year of insight, action and support, one term at a time.
Live Sensory Workshops for 2025/26
Autumn Term: Introduction to Sensory Processing and Trauma
9–11 am, 18 September 2025
£69 per person - workshop and drop-in sessions
Understand the complex relationship between trauma and sensory processing—and how this can show up in behaviour, learning, and relationships at school.
✔ The relationship between sensory processing and the nervous system
✔ How trauma can alter sensory perception and reactivity
✔ How unmet sensory needs can contribute to trauma in school environments
✔ Signs that a student may be experiencing sensory-based distress or trauma
✔ Strategies for recognising and supporting sensory and trauma-informed needs
Spring Term: Introduction to Supporting Sensory Motor and Praxis Differences
9–11 am, 13 January 2026
£69 per person- workshop and drop-in sessions
Praxis and sensory motor skills underpin everything from handwriting to emotional regulation. In this session, we’ll explore how motor planning difficulties can affect school participation and what you can do to help.
✔ Understanding sensory motor skills: what they are and why they matter
✔ What is praxis, and how does it relate to school performance?
✔ The link between sensory integration and motor planning
✔ How sensory motor and praxis difficulties can present in school
✔ Simple strategies and environmental adaptations that make a difference
✔ Building a sensory motor-friendly classroom culture
Summer Term: Introduction to Interoception
9–11 am, 22 April 2026
£69 per person -workshop and drop-in sessions
Interoception, the sense of our internal body cues, is vital for self-regulation, behaviour and wellbeing. Many children with sensory processing differences struggle to notice and interpret internal cues like hunger, needing the toilet, or anxiety. You’ll learn how to spot the signs of interoceptive difficulties, how to support students in reconnecting with their body signals, and how to create a learning environment that supports regulation from the inside out.
✔ What is interoception? Understanding the internal sensory system
✔ The role of interoception in self-awareness and regulation
✔ How interoceptive difficulties may present in the classroom
✔ Examples of how unmet interoceptive needs are misunderstood as behaviour
✔ Strategies to help students develop interoceptive awareness
✔ Creating classroom environments that support interoceptive regulation
Ongoing Support When You Need It
Your learning doesn’t stop at the end of the workshop. When you attend, you’ll also get access to weekly drop-in sessions on Zoom with a Sensory Inclusive Schools Therapist for the rest of that school term. These informal sessions are a chance to ask questions, share what’s working, and get support as you put strategies into practice. There’s no pressure to attend every week—just a consistent space to get guidance when you need it most.
Meet Your Trainer: Beth Smithson
All workshops are led by Beth Smithson, Lead for Sensory Inclusive Schools.
Beth is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner. She has worked across the NHS, special and mainstream schools, and international NGOs. Beth brings a deep understanding of how to apply sensory integration in real-world school settings and is passionate about empowering educators to create inclusive, sensory-aware environments.
What’s Included with Each Workshop?
-
A 2-hour live online workshop, led by Beth Smithson
-
Access to session recording and course content for the remainder of that term
-
Weekly live drop-in Zoom sessions for Q&A and ongoing support
- A downloadable certificate of completion
Each session is delivered in clear, accessible language—no prior knowledge required.
Book Now, Plan Ahead
Whether you choose one workshop or all three, these sessions are a great opportunity to build your confidence in supporting neurodivergent pupils, learners with trauma backgrounds, and others who struggle with regulation.
You’ll come away with practical strategies you can use straight away to create more inclusive, calm and responsive learning environments.
We recommend booking early as places are limited.
Bookings are open now!