Case Study: St. Columban’s Primary School

Introduction

St. Columban’s Primary School in Kilkeel has been a pioneer in creating inclusive learning environments. Over the past two years, they have collaborated with Creative Activity to develop state-of-the-art sensory facilities to support children with diverse learning needs. This case study explores the journey, challenges, solutions, and outcomes of this transformative project.

Background

St. Columban’s Primary School, recognising the need for specialised support for children with severe learning difficulties, opened a specialist learning division. To enhance this new initiative, the school partnered with Creative Activity. The project aimed to create an inclusive, calming, and educational space for all students.

Challenges

1. Meeting Diverse Needs: The primary challenge was ensuring the sensory room and corridors catered effectively to children with severe learning difficulties while also benefiting students from the mainstream part of the school.
2. Design and Equipment Selection: Identifying and integrating the most suitable sensory equipment required careful planning and expertise.
3. Implementation within Curriculum: Integrating the new sensory spaces into the school's existing curriculum and ensuring they were used effectively by all classes.

Solution

Creative Activity, led by Dean and Kieran, worked closely with St. Columban’s Primary School from the outset. They assisted in the planning, design, and equipment selection for the sensory room and corridors. The comprehensive solution included:

1. Sensory Room: A state-of-the-art sensory room was installed, equipped with tools and resources designed to support children with severe learning difficulties.
2. Sensory Corridors: Two sensory corridors were created to serve as de-escalation spaces and educational resources for all students.
3. Specialist Guidance: Continuous support and consultation were provided to ensure the chosen solutions were effective and adaptable to the school’s needs.

Results

The implementation of the sensory room and corridors has significantly impacted St. Columban’s Primary School:

• Enhanced Learning Environment: The sensory spaces have become integral to the school’s learning environment, benefiting both the specialist and mainstream students.
• Positive Student Engagement: Children with severe learning difficulties have shown increased engagement and enjoyment in the sensory room. Mainstream students use the spaces for calming and de-escalation.
• Curriculum Integration: The sensory corridors are now a regular part of occupational therapy sessions, with every class utilising these spaces as part of their curriculum.

Feedback

The feedback from St. Columban’s Primary School has been overwhelmingly positive:

"Dean and Kieran were very easy to work with right from the very start of the project.  The children absolutely love going into the sensory room. Some of them come in just to play and have a bit of fun too. Children from the mainstream part of the school use it for de-escalation and to help them calm down. Every class has been using the sensory corridors now as part of their OT sessions. Children are learning whilst they play."

Conclusion
The collaboration has resulted in a more inclusive, engaging, and supportive educational environment. The sensory room and corridors have become invaluable resources, promoting both learning and well-being among students. If your organisation is considering introducing or enhancing sensory spaces, Creative Activity offers the expertise and dedication to help you achieve similar success.