Inclusive Education - Our New Learning Hub
If you have driven past or visited Galilee or Jerusalem lately you may have observed a new addition to our learning space at St Thomas. We have been working hard to develop a sensory based learning hub in the former propagation room between Foundation and Year One.
The Learning Hub is a designated area within our school which can support students to access sensory learning needs in a ‘structured/modified’ space. Like a sensory space, the Learning Hub can support a student’s sensory preferences and needs. It can provide students with sensory input they need to self-regulate.
Children who have difficulty processing sensory information effectively often have trouble completing school and tasks requiring them to sit still, attend to instruction, be able to engage socially with peers and play/work cooperatively with others. (Brunkner et. al 2018)
Benefits of the Learning Hub:
- can reduce sensory overload for students who may find the school day overwhelming and enable them to achieve a calmer state for learning
- can also provide increased sensory input for students who require more stimulation to enable them to regulate their sensory and emotional needs
- can incorporate activities to support interoceptive awareness to facilitate self-regulation and support social and emotional learning
- can promote self-care, self-nurturance, empowerment, skill development, resilience & recovery
- can also be used as a part of our school’s trauma informed approach
Our initial plan is to trial the new space with our Foundation to Year 2 communities. We will then invite our students from Years 3-6 to use the space as required.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jen Gulavin, Sarah Chappell or Ben Dixon.
