SENSORY EDUCATION

A SENSORY room aimed to help children relax during the school day is making great waves.

Cranbourne Primary School in Winkfield, Bracknell Forest, kindly received a generous £10,000 donation from a mental health charity to support the build.

Whilst students have been at home during coronavirus lockdown, one parent decided to come up with the idea of a sensory room to make it easier for children when they return to school in September.

Sarah Stone, project organiser and parent, said: “It really does feel like a crucial time to be doing this, with the transition of children back to school after a long period in lockdown and a very different set up at school for them.

“All children deserve the very best start in life and by adding this sensory, relaxation area to our primary school, we feel it will support them and help with their general physical and mental well-being. It also provides parents the peace of mind to know that their children are receiving the best care whilst they are away from home.”

On Friday, June 26, Ruth Morrissy, chair of the MSKS Charitable Foundation UK, visited the school to hand over a cheque.

Paula Jenkins, headteacher at Cranbourne Primary School said: “We are thrilled and grateful at Cranbourne School, to accept a £10,000 grant from the MCKS Charitable Foundation, to be used in the development of a nurture / sensory room.

“The timing of this project is ideal for our children, following the last few difficult months of lockdown. Children’s lives can be extremely busy and we need to ensure that they know it is just as important to take some time to relax and be calm in a safe welcoming space.”

Ruth Morrissy, chair of the MCKS Charitable Foundation UK, added: “When we were approached by Cranbourne Primary School PTA for a donation to fund a sensory, nurture designated room it resonated with our Charity’s aims as the issues with mental wellbeing are well documented and can and do affect children.

“We were delighted to fund a room that combines a range of stimuli to help individuals develop and engage their senses is a safe environment to build up their confidence and their ability to interact with the world around them and will go a long way to help them become well balanced adults.”

Ms Stone added that once she is back to work in September, she will focus on putting the sensory room together.

Source: Bracknell News