The Dales School creates a space where children can learn through their senses
NorthumberlandThe Dales School in Northumberland has been awarded a £15,000 Wooden Spoon grant towards a new sensory room, creating a specialist space where children with additional needs can explore, develop and learn in an environment designed around their individual needs.
The sensory room will provide opportunities for pupils to engage with different sights, sounds, textures and experiences at their own pace. For children who may find a traditional classroom environment challenging, sensory spaces can offer an important alternative way to engage with learning, develop communication and build confidence.
The Dales is a specialist primary school based across two sites, Blythdale in Blyth and Ashdale in Ashington, providing education for children with a wide range of additional needs that may not otherwise be met in a mainstream setting. The school is committed to making a difference to the learning, wellbeing and future life chances of its pupils, creating a safe and caring environment where every child has the opportunity to reach their potential.
Creating opportunities to learn
For pupils at The Dales, learning can take many different forms. The school’s curriculum is designed around each child’s individual needs, with its pre-formal curriculum supporting pupils who are at the very early and sensory or motor stages of development.
Learning areas include communication, cognition, physical development, care and independence, with activities adapted so that learning is accessible and meaningful for every pupil.
The new sensory room will complement this approach by providing another environment where children can learn and explore through their senses. It will give pupils the opportunity to experience sensory activities in a calm, specialist setting while developing skills that can support them both in school and in everyday life.
The new sensory room will add another valuable space to this specialist environment, helping children to engage with learning in ways that work for them.
Giving children a chance to learn
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 funds projects that create opportunities for children and young people to play, learn, thrive and be safe.
The £15,000 grant to The Dales School will help create an environment where children with additional needs can explore, engage and develop at their own pace, giving them a chance to learn in a way that is meaningful to them.
By supporting specialist facilities like this, Wooden Spoon is helping schools and organisations provide opportunities that can make a lasting difference to children’s everyday experiences and future life chances.
With a strong history of impactful, community-driven initiatives, Wooden Spoon continues to improve lives through physical, educational and social projects across the UK and Ireland.
Through collaborations like this, Wooden Spoon continues its mission to bring about positive, lasting change in communities and give every child a chance to learn.
Get Involved
You can help Wooden Spoon support more projects like this across the UK and Ireland, creating opportunities for children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage.
Donate to Wooden Spoon: https://woodenspoon.givingpage.org/wooden-spoon-donate
Find out where your money goes: https://woodenspoon.org.uk/where-your-money-goes/
