Sensory Integration in Schools: Policy and Practice Across the UK & Ireland
                     SENSORY PROJECT
Sensory Integration
in Schools
Policy and Practice Across the UK & Ireland
A practical workshop for connecting sensory integration-informed 
practice with real school systems, policy, participation and provision.
Workshop 9
28 July 2026 • 19:30–21:00 BST
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 1
Why school-based sensory practice needs context
Moving beyond isolated strategies toward participation-focused thinking
1 Participation 2 Real school environments
Connect sensory understanding to learning, Work with ordinary classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, 
relationships, play, routines and belonging. assemblies and transitions.
3 Shared language 4 Systems & provision
Explain sensory integration-informed practice in ways Translate assessment and clinical reasoning into 
teachers, leaders and families can use. workable support within education systems.
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 2
A participation-first lens
Consider the fit between the person, environment, activity and relational response
1 2 3 4
PERSON ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP
Strengths, interests, Sound, light, movement, Sensory, motor, language, How adult responses, 
communication, sensory crowding, layout, social, emotional and expectations and 
patterns, effort and predictability and recovery organisational demands interactions shape 
priorities participation
The aim is not to give every learner the same strategy. It is to notice what makes participation 
more possible in context.
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 3
Where sensory awareness shows up across the school day
1 Arrival 2 Classroom 3 Corridors
4 Assembly 5 Lunchtime 6 Playground
7 PE 8 Transitions 9 Home time
Sensory load is present wherever children and young people are trying to take part — not only in specialist rooms 
or intervention slots.
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 4
From assessment to practical provision
A clear chain helps keep recommendations connected to everyday school life
1 Notice 2 Understand 3 Formulate
Identify concerns, strengths and Use observation, sensory history, Connect findings with the learner, 
participation priorities. questionnaires and formal tools context, task and meaningful goals.
thoughtfully.
4 Plan 5 Implement 6 Review
Choose proportionate universal, Make recommendations workable Consider meaningful outcomes and 
targeted or specialist support. within real school systems. adjust support over time.
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 5
Working with the wider school community
Teachers & senior leaders Translate AHP roles and sensory integration-informed ideas into language that supports school 
1 priorities.
Families Keep goals meaningful and connected to the learner’s everyday life, identity and 
2 participation.
AHP colleagues Build shared reasoning across OT, PT, SLT and wider allied health 
3 roles.
Services & systems Consider policy, delivery models, provision, advocacy and 
4 implementation realities.
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 6
What this workshop supports
Key learning outcomes from the Sensory Project workshop
Understand how policy and school systems shape sensory integration-informed practice.
✓
Connect sensory integration-informed thinking with participation, learning and school life.
✓
Communicate more clearly with teachers, leaders, families and wider professionals.
✓
Think about provision and service models in a realistic school context.
✓
Strengthen advocacy for appropriate sensory integration-informed AHP practice.
✓
Take learning back into practice through reflection and application.
✓
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 7
Learn it. Discuss it. Apply it. Reflect on it.
Take it back into practice.
1 2 3 4
→ → →
LEARN DISCUSS APPLY REFLECT
Sensory Integration in Schools: Policy and Practice Across the UK & Ireland
Online live workshop • 28 July 2026 • 19:30–21:00 BST
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project
Sensory Project • ASI Wise & Sensory Project 8