Spring Common Academy Sensory Room Gives Children a Chance to Thrive
Eastern CountiesSpring Common Academy in Huntingdon, a Sensory Room focused on creating a safe, inspiring and fit-for-purpose sensory environment in the Eastern Counties region, has been awarded a grant from Wooden Spoon Charity. This initiative, which meets the sensory needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, will make a meaningful impact on the school community by giving children a chance to thrive.
Spring Common Academy is a specialist community school in Huntingdon that supports children and young people aged 3 to 19 with a wide range of special educational needs. The school is dedicated to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment where every pupil can develop the skills, confidence and independence needed to achieve their potential.
Recognising the importance of sensory support in helping students engage with learning, the school identified a need to refresh and revitalise its Lower School Sensory Room. The existing space had become tired and no longer fully met the needs of the children who rely on it as part of their daily school experience.
Thanks to funding from Wooden Spoon Charity, the sensory room has been transformed into a safe, welcoming and inspiring environment where pupils can regulate their emotions, explore sensory experiences and prepare themselves for learning. The refurbished space is designed to help children feel calm, secure and ready to engage in the classroom, ensuring they are best placed to learn and develop.
The impact of the project is already being felt throughout the school community. During a recent visit to the academy, members of the Wooden Spoon Eastern Counties Committee saw first-hand how the space is helping pupils.
Committee member Andy Daly reflected on the visit, saying:
“It was so nice to see the students using the space and particularly children who were non-verbal using the space to engage and communicate with the adults. It is clearly making a positive difference to the school community.”
The visit also provided a chance to meet Sensory Support Lead Mihaela and several pupils who regularly use the room. Seeing children interact confidently within the space highlighted the vital role that sensory environments can play in supporting communication, emotional regulation and overall wellbeing.
Fellow committee member Greg Hind spoke about the pride felt by the volunteers who work tirelessly to raise funds across the region:
“I am so proud to see the impact all of our fundraising can have for children with additional needs and the adults that work so hard to support them. It is great to see that every penny we raise through the work of the Eastern Counties Committee goes to such impactful projects in our region.”
For many children at Spring Common Academy, the sensory room is far more than a dedicated space within the school. It is a place where they can feel safe, understood and supported. It provides opportunities to develop communication skills, manage anxiety and build the confidence needed to participate fully in school life.
Funded by a generous Wooden Spoon Charity grant, this sensory room project aligns with Wooden Spoon’s commitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments that foster wellbeing, confidence and growth. By helping children overcome barriers to learning and development, the project is delivering lasting benefits that will be felt for years to come.
Wooden Spoon is a charitable organisation dedicated to transforming lives through the power of the rugby community. Committed to supporting children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland, the charity has funded numerous projects that create opportunities for these individuals.
With a strong history of impactful, community-driven initiatives, Wooden Spoon strives to improve lives through physical, educational and social projects.
Through collaborations like this, Wooden Spoon continues its mission to bring about positive, lasting change in communities.
Support sensory room projects like this across the UK and Ireland by donating to Wooden Spoon.
