Oak Wood Secondary School: Developing a multi-sensory outdoor school environment
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Date:2010 - 2011
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Categories:EnvironmentOutdoor SpaceSpace regeneration
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Introduction:
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Article:
Our Achievement
- The young people have found a real benefit in the opportunity to work across classes with other peers - (sometimes with others who have more profound learning difficulties.) New sustained friendships have developed across the classes with positive changes on social dynamic.
- Students with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)have enjoyed the practical approach to working, particularly with the musical stimulus.
- Students with Moderate Learning Difficulties have been actively willing to support less able SLD students; they have enjoyed being part of the planning process, offering ideas and co-constructing with staff and the practitioner. Pride in their achievement has noticeably raised self-esteem.
- The young people have the confidence to use their problem-solving skills, gained during this project, into new areas of the curriculum.
The Feedback
G, a student with ADHD said, “...I enjoyed working outdoors and would do it again. I like sunbathing under the structure.”
K, a student with moderate learning difficulties said, “I helped Spencer [the practitioner] make the willow… it got bigger and bigger. In 2012 it will have grown! It was good to work outside!”
Staff have also commented on the difference the space has made to other young people at the school; “H is a student who uses symbols to communicate...he had consistently indicated a desire to go outside and use the space as a preferred activity… and R, who is an autistic student, can often be seen in the space at lunchtime quietly sitting. Staff have been able to allow him more freedom in the safe environment we have built together.”
The Cre8us effect...at Oak Wood Secondary School:
'Multi-Sensory'
Staff at Oak Wood Secondary wanted to deliver a creative, stimulating and multi-sensory learning experience. The school worked with practitioner Spencer Jenkins, making better use of their environment in order to deepen the learning of the young people.
All of the young people at the school have Special Educational Needs ranging from moderate to severe and profound learning difficulties. This project sought to provide the young people with an opportunity to work within new peer groups and a mix of learning difficulties.
Spencer came into the school for one day a week over a ten-week period. At first, the young people were given the chance to explore natural and man-made materials, developing ideas about the varieties of herbs, fruits and flowers that they would like to incorporate in an outside sensory trail. This was furthered by an exploration of the features they would like in their sensory trail, including insect homes, musical instruments, sculptures and willow structures. These ideas were then incorporated into the young people’s own sensory trail, encouraged by the change in space and growing structure.
Pupils from across the whole school are now able to use the area for curriculum work and free time; and the young people have been eager to go outside and explore their new multi-sensory environment even now the project has finished. Students have felt a real ownership in developing ‘their’ space. The sensory trail has quickly become an integral part of the school environment.
Creative Agent: Annie Laughrin
Creative Practitioner: Spencer Jenkins
School: Oak Wood Secondary School, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
If you are interested in this project and would like to find out more, please visit the Creative Partnerships' Project Database where you will be able to view Oak Wood's Project Planning Form and Project End Form for their 2010-11 programme.