Tackling lunchtime dysregulation and classroom focus - Castle Hill Primary School

What did we do?

I looked at what the main two struggles were within the school, lunchtime dysregulation and staying focused within the classroom. During learning time, a small number of children in the majority of classes would become fidgety, more so during times of input. We have created areas within the classrooms for children to use for sensory breaks with the impression that they will be more engaged with their learning once they go back to it. I have created many bespoke visual timetables for individual children which shows when sensory breaks are approaching. I have changed choosing time to sensory breaks so children know it is not a playtime. For the children that struggle with playtime dysregulation, there is now an area on the playground (quiet area) for those children who struggle with having many children around them or the loudness that a playground brings. Nurture lunchtime has also been offered to these children to either eat and stay or eat or just during the play part.

Summary of impact

I think the sensory breaks have worked well, it has allowed children to have time away from their learning but then get back to it. These sensory break are not long, 5 minutes or less and it does not disrupt lesson time. Without these breaks, the children who struggle would have been exiting the classroom.

Steps taken

I spoke with the SLT within the school and spoke about the area that needed more attention. I did not know some of the children so during the first couple of months, i spent time with the individuals observing them and spending time with them. I also spoke with the children about what would help them within the classroom and used their ideas to help implement.

What would we do differently

Just realising that not everything will work for all children and knowing that sometimes you might get it wrong but it does not mean you failed, it just means you haven’ t found what works yet.

Resources required

Resources and staff time. Needing more EAA. Time spending with each individual child to build a positive relationship and build trust.

See how others have implemented this Big Idea

Sensory Circuits - St Marys Catholic Primary Ipswich