Sensory Hub
The Sensory Hub has the following facilities:-
Water play facilities
Water invites and assists the movements as no other medium can. The indoor water play area provides a selection of water equipment that can be activated by a sensor and the students can exercise their own choice in a warm and safe environment.
Well-being area
This area will be used to promote communication and interaction between students and staff. A range of sensory experiences such as massage, music and aroma will be used to promote students’ wellbeing and social skills. Students will have opportunities to experience a variety of strategies to reduce their levels of anxiety and stress.
Creative studio
The creative multi-media studio at Higford is based on the Pan European research project, MEDIATE. It is an innovative multimedia studio - a multi-sensory environment arousing visual, audio and tactile senses. This unique setting enables students to exercise control over their own world.
MEDIATE was the result of a 1.6 million euro, international university research project. The New Options (Higford) School will be the first school to utilize the results of the prototype and continue to collaborate with the University of Portsmouth to develop and research the principles of a creative responsive environment for children and young people who experience severe autism and additional complex needs.
The aims of the studio are:-
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to engage and hold attention
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for cause and effect to be simple, direct and intuitively understood
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to provide a space that is completely the user's own: one they control, shape, and creatively evolve
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to maximise each individual's potential for creative (novel) movement and vocal expression
Our task at the New Options Higford School is to open minds not close them prematurely! The creative studio might be one of the tools that students might use to communicate their needs and wishes to us.
Sauna/Steamroom facilities
This area highlights our commitment to give our students a wide range of age appropriate experiences.
Occupational therapy
The Occupational therapy area will be used for directed interventions by a therapist and might include some sensory-integration activities.