Discover what teachers and practitioners really think about the Sensory Curriculum, and how they are using it to support communication, engagement, regulation and meaningful learning.
At Sensory Classroom Ltd, we believe that learning should be realistic, joyful, meaningful and accessible to every learner.
The Sensory Curriculum was created to help teachers and practitioners, in a variety of settings, provide meaningful, child-led learning experiences for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
From special schools and autism resource bases, mainstream SEND provision and alternative education settings to home school and EOTAS tutors, the curriculum provides structured planning, adaptable activities, assessment opportunities and practical resources that can be personalised to meet the needs of individual learners.
Rather than just telling you what the Sensory Curriculum offers, we wanted to share what the people using it every day have to say.
Below are testimonials from educators and practitioners who have been using the Sensory Curriculum in their own settings.
Every testimonial is reproduced verbatim, in the contributor’s own words. We have not rewritten, corrected or embellished their feedback. Anonymous descriptions have been added to provide context about the educational settings in which they work.
1. Transforming Teaching Practice Through Regulation and Connection
I have been using the Sensory Curriculum since September and honestly, it has changed everything about the way I teach, support and connect with my pupils, for the better.
I teach two alternative provision classes with mixed ages and a wide range of developmental abilities, so finding an approach that truly meets each child where they are has been invaluable. The Sensory Curriculum has transformed my practice by reminding me that regulation and connection must come before anything else. When children feel safe, understood and regulated, they are in a much better place to learn, communicate and thrive.
Alongside the curriculum, I use the Core Word approach and together with the RISE therapy sessions, I am seeing my children make amazing progress. Watching them develop, communicate, connect and achieve in their own individual ways is incredibly rewarding and reinforces just how important this approach is.
I cannot thank you enough for everything you do. Your curriculum, advice and training have not only made a huge difference to my pupils but have also made me a better teacher and a more confident, knowledgeable mentor to my team. It has changed the way we think about our children, how we respond to their needs and how we create opportunities for them to succeed.
Ultimately, this is about giving every child the best possible start in life, regardless of their age, developmental level or starting point. The Sensory Curriculum has helped us do exactly that and I am so grateful to be part of this journey.
Thank you for the incredible work you do, for sharing your knowledge so generously and for making such a meaningful difference to the lives of children and the people who support them every day.
— Teacher working across two mixed-age alternative provision classes
2. Less Planning, More Purposeful Learning
Sensory curriculum to the rescue ♥️! We were completely lost in folders, ideas and planning templates for our alternative provision. Then we found the sensory curriculum and it is everything our little Acorns need and more. From core word to RISE sessions the opportunities are endless. The planning and resources are all there. Our days are full, our lessons purposeful, our weekends are our own and our learners are making progress, having fun and are included in learning.
— Practitioner working in alternative provision
3. Inclusive Learning for Children with Autism and Additional Needs
Long post incoming but it is needed….
The sensory curriculum has been an incredible addition to our resource base, supporting children with autism with a wide range of developmental levels and individual needs.
What has been particularly valuable is how adaptable and inclusive the curriculum is. Our children have very different strengths, abilities, sensory profiles and communication needs, yet the sensory curriculum has enabled us to provide meaningful experiences that can be tailored to each individual child.
The activities provide opportunities for children to explore, engage and learn through their senses in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. For some children, the curriculum has supported sensory regulation and helped them to feel calm and ready to engage. For others, it has encouraged curiosity, communication, interaction, attention and exploration. It has also provided valuable opportunities for children who may find more traditional learning experiences challenging.
Working with children across such a broad range of ages and abilities, it is important that our curriculum is flexible enough to meet children where they are. The sensory curriculum has allowed us to adapt activities, resources and levels of support so that every child can participate at their own developmental level. This has helped us to create an environment where every child can experience success.
We have also seen how sensory experiences can support children’s wider development, including their communication, social interaction, physical development, independence and emotional wellbeing. The curriculum has given practitioners a valuable framework for understanding and responding to children’s individual sensory needs while creating opportunities for purposeful learning.
Most importantly, the sensory curriculum has helped us to ensure that every child has a voice, every child can participate and every child can achieve. It has been wonderful to see children who may initially be hesitant or overwhelmed gradually become more confident, engaged and willing to explore.
For our resource base, the sensory curriculum has become an important part of creating an inclusive, nurturing and child centred learning environment. It has supported us in celebrating each child’s individuality while providing meaningful opportunities for development, learning and enjoyment.
We have found the sensory curriculum to be incredibly beneficial in meeting the diverse needs of our children, and we would highly recommend it to other settings supporting children with autism and additional needs. A big thank you to you!
— Practitioner working in an autism resource base
4. Building Teacher Confidence, Communication and Community
The sensory curriculum has given me the confidence to focus on what my learners need - fun, regulation, connection, communication and sensory experiences. Everything I need as a teacher is there - planning, resources, assessment and training and it’s easy to adapt to my learners needs. The core word programme and RISE have seen an amazing increase in communication and group work within my class. The sense of community helps me feel supported as, like so many others I am the one and only SEN teacher in my school.
— SEN teacher working as the sole specialist SEN teacher in their school
5. Two Years of Personalised and Accessible Learning
We have been using the sensory curriculum for 2 years now. I was at a loss of what to do for my mixed age provision class in a mainstream primary, had been following Jordan for a while on social media then came across Sensory Curriculum and wow what a game changer! I now have a clear curriculum, long term plan and personalised learning linked to our assessment system. So many great ideas making learning accessible for all my learners. Thank you for such an amazing resource!
— Teacher in a mixed-age SEND provision within a mainstream primary school
6. A Time Saver and very useful!
The sensory curriculum has been transformative as an Enhanced Provision Lead in a mainstream primary. So many wonderful useful resources alongside practical ideas. Not only is it incredibly useful and inspiring it has also saved me so much time!
— Lead Teacher in Mainstream Primary Enhanced Provision
What Do These Experiences Tell Us?
Although these testimonials come from different educational settings, several themes appear consistently throughout the feedback.
Regulation and connection come first. Practitioners describe how prioritising relationships, emotional wellbeing and sensory regulation has influenced their teaching and the way they support learners.
Planning becomes more manageable. Teachers value having long-term planning, resources, activity ideas and assessment opportunities available within a structured curriculum, helping them spend less time preparing and more time supporting learners.
Learning is accessible and adaptable. Contributors describe adapting activities to suit a wide range of developmental levels, sensory profiles, communication needs and individual interests.
Communication and engagement are celebrated. Several practitioners report positive developments in communication, interaction and participation, particularly when using the Core Word Programme and RISE alongside the Sensory Curriculum.
Teachers feel more confident and supported. Beyond the resources themselves, practitioners highlight the importance of training, guidance and being part of a wider community of educators.
These are the experiences of the individual contributors, rather than guaranteed outcomes for every setting. What they demonstrate is how the curriculum can be used in different ways to support diverse learners and teaching environments.
A Thank You to Our Sensory Curriculum Community
Reading these testimonials means an enormous amount to us at Sensory Classroom Ltd.
The Sensory Curriculum was developed from a belief that every learner deserves meaningful opportunities to explore, communicate, connect and experience success, regardless of their developmental level or starting point.
We also believe that the adults supporting those learners deserve access to practical, adaptable resources that make their work more manageable and enjoyable.
To everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences, thank you. Your feedback helps us continue developing resources that reflect the realities of SEND education.
And to every teacher, teaching assistant and practitioner using the Sensory Curriculum, thank you for everything you do to make learning accessible, inclusive and joyful.
Explore the Sensory Curriculum
Are you looking for a curriculum that combines structured planning with flexible, child-led sensory learning?
Whether you’re working in a special school, mainstream SEND provision, autism resource base or alternative provision, explore how the Sensory Curriculum could support you and your learners.
Explore the Sensory Curriculum here
All five testimonials are published in full and verbatim, including original spelling, grammar and punctuation. Headings and anonymous contributor descriptions have been added by Sensory Classroom Ltd for clarity. The experiences and outcomes described are those reported by the individual contributors.
