Acknowledgements xxiv
Chapter one INTRODUCTION 1
How this book came about 1
About the authors 1
We are all 'sensory' 2
¿ Sensory Inputs and Their Impact 3
Why understanding our senses matters 4
¿ We all deserve to feel... 6
Sensory needs are increasing, but sensory awareness is weak 6
Sensory awareness in Early Years guidance 7
¿ Sensory Aware Early Years: A Whole-Setting Approach 8
Who is this book for? 8
This book is a timely sensory intervention for the Early Years 8
¿ What are sensory aware settings? 9
What is sensory informed practice in the Early Years? 10
How to use this toolkit 13
Chapter two WHAT IS A SENSORY AWARE SETTING? 15
Setting the standards for a sensory aware Early Years provision 15
¿ Tool: Sensory Aware Settings Charter - Early Years Version 16
What is the sensory setting ecosystem? 17
Individual sensory needs 17
How people and spaces can affect the sensory environment 18
Fluctuations in the sensory environment 19
The setting's ethos, policies and approaches 19
The physical features of the setting 19
The Assess Plan Do Review cycle 20
Setting the standards for sensory aware settings 21
¿ Tool: Self-Assessment Tool - Core and Quality Standards 22
Assessing the status of your setting - Core or Quality? 28
What does this look like in practice? 29
¿ Case study: The Lookout Day Nursery, a sensory aware setting 29
Towards sensory wellbeing 31
Chapter three MAKING SENSE OF THE EIGHT SENSES AND SENSORY REGULATION 33
Sensory perception and needs: A foundational building block 33
¿ Hierarchy of Needs 34
¿ Pyramid of Learning 34
Understanding our sensory world 35
How many senses do we actually have? 36
¿ The Eight Sensory Systems 37
The auditory system 38
The visual system 39
The gustatory system 41
The olfactory system 42
The tactile system 44
¿ Case study: The sensory avoider - Jesse and sensory play at his childminder's 46
The proprioceptive system 48
The vestibular system 49
¿ Case study: The little acrobat Isla is always upside down 51
The interoception system 53
¿ A note about neuroception 53
Motor development and co-ordination 55
Sensory thresholds 56
¿ Sensory Sieves 57
¿ Case study: A tale of two siblings - Sienna the seeker and Autumn the avoider 58
Other sensory related terms you may come across 60
¿ Key Sensory Terms: Quick Guide 60
Sensory processing 61
Sensory processing disorder 61
Sensory integration 61
¿ A note on Sensory Integration (SI) therapy 62
Sensory modulation 62
Sensory discrimination 62
Sensory regulation and dysregulation 64
¿ Model: The 'Just Right' Thermometer 65
¿ A note on the term 'arousal' 66
¿ Model: The Arousal Bell Curve 66
¿ Model: Dan Siegel's Hand Model - flipping the lid 67
¿ Model: The Window of Tolerance/Circle of Capacity 69
¿ A note on trauma informed practice and meeting sensory needs 69
Other available models for understanding our sensory states 70
¿ Model: The Alert Program 70
¿ Model: The Zones of Regulation 70
¿ Model: Our Sensory States 72
Chapter four WE ARE ALL SENSORY 75
Sensory regulation start with the adults 75
¿ Tool: A Sensory Snapshot 76
¿ Tool: My Sensory Body 78
Assessing your own sensory identity in more detail 79
¿ Tool: Sensory Me Audit 80
How sensitive am I? 83
¿ Tool: My Sensory Spider Web 84
¿ Tool: Navigating your sensory spectrum 85
¿ Tool: Your Sensory Spectrum 86
Sensory input throughout the day: The bottle of pop analogy 87
¿ Thinking point: The self- and co-regulation double standard 89
¿ Tool: My Sensory Stars 91
¿ Tool: My Sensory Spiders 92
¿ Tool: Thinking About Your Sensory States 93
¿ Tool: My Sensory States 94
¿ Tool: My Sensory Glimmers, Triggers and Strategies 95
¿ Thinking point: Embrace sensory joy! 97
¿ Case study: A swimming trip with added sensory joy 97
Wider sensory questionnaires and checklists available 99
Considering assessment and diagnosis 102
Sensory wellbeing and welldoing 102
¿ Model: WELLDOING - Nine Easy Tips to Build Sensory Joy in Your Life 104
Sensory autonomy in action 105
Chapter five BECOMING A SENSORY INFORMED PRACTITIONER 107
Why should we respond to sensory needs? 108
¿ Tool: Be a Sensory Detective 110
¿ Guiding principle: 'See behaviour - consider sensory' 110
Factors that can affect sensory behaviours 112
Age and stage of development 112
Gender and social expectations 113
Communication, speech and language 113
Developmental differences and neurodivergence 114
Internal state and body signals 114
Relationships and attachment 114
Environment and sensory load 114
Demand, expectations and agency 115
Change, transitions and predictability 115
What you may not see 115
¿ Model: A Sensory Iceberg 116
Masking in the Early Years 116
¿ Case study: Masking - Joshua 117
Decoding sensory behaviour in the moment 118
¿ Table: Sensory behaviour decoder 119
Core concept: Sensory wellbeing and the 'just right' experience 129
Sensory overwhelm/overload and discharge responses 130
Sensory overwhelm or just a 'tantrum'? 133
Recognising sensory patterns of behaviour 133
Recognising the child whose sensory system is over-responsive 134
Recognising the child whose sensory system is under-responsive 134
¿ Case study: The under-responsive child - Ari 135
Recognising the child who is trying to get more input - sensory seeking 136
¿ Case study: The sensory-seeking child - Caleb 136
Recognising the child who is trying to reduce input - sensory avoiding 138
¿ A note about labelling children 139
¿ Thinking point: Reframing the language we use to describe behaviours 140
Not all behaviour requires a response 141
Observing and recording possible sensory behaviours 141
¿ Tool: Behaviour Observation and Reflection Form 142
The practitioner role in sensory informed practice 144
The practitioner's role in being a calm and attuned adult 144
Co-regulation towards self-regulation 145
¿ The vital role of the key person 146
The practitioner's role in recognising and responding to behaviour (using models to identify behaviour states) 147
¿ Model: The Incredible 5-Point Scale 148
¿ Model: H.A.L.T. 150
The practitioner's role in recognising when more help is needed 151
The practitioner's role in creating and maintaining a sensory aware environment 152
The practitioner's role in educating about sensory wellbeing, welldoing and sensory autonomy 152
¿ Model: Developing Sensory Autonomy 152
¿ Case study: A sensory informed practitioner - Daniel from First Steps Nursery 153
The practitioner's role in 'school readiness' 154
Model: Principles for Sensory Informed Practice 156
Chapter six SENSORY STRATEGIES 159
Sensory strategies that make a difference 159
A sensory lens on child development 160
¿ Model: Sensory Strategies Make Things Better 161
¿ Model: The Development Flower 162
¿ Table: Adopting a sensory lens on child development 163
¿ Table: Ideas for supporting different senses 170
¿ Activities for calming and grounding (sometimes called 'down-regulating') 175
¿ Activities for alerting and activating (sometimes called 'up-regulating') 175
¿ Why fidgeting and small movements can help regulation 178
Other strategies you may hear about 178
Sensory circuits 178
Sensory diets 179
Sensory profiles or passports 180
Emotion Coaching as a key sensory strategy for supporting interoception and regulation 181
¿ Case study: The practitioner using emotion coaching with one of her key children - Sophie 183
Educating children about their senses 185
Sensation Stations 185
Sensory Continuums/Spectrums 186
Focusing on the glimmers - The Glad Game 187
Sensory Word Detectives 188
Mirror, Mirror - What Is My Body Saying? 188
Pour You 189
Waking Up Your Mini Muscles 189
My Own Sensory Model 189
Strategies for developing sensory autonomy 190
The 'Can I?' Pause 191
Modelling touch and recognising response 191
Giving children limited choices 191
Sensory menu or help menu 192
Emerging sensory autonomy 192
Ask First Game 192
Once Upon a Touch...Story Massage for Children 192
Teddy Says No 193
Stop and Go 193
My Body Belongs to Me 193
Strategies for advancing sensory autonomy 194
Body Boundary Map 194
'Is It Okay If...?' Circle Game 195
Helping Hand 195
¿ Case study: Developing sensory autonomy through oral regulation - Amara 195
¿ Points to consider when using dummies or oral chews 196
Sensory strategies to support daily routines 197
Sensory aware transitions 197
Eating, drinking and mealtimes 197
¿ Case Study: The highly selective eater - Mack 200
The interoception of toileting 202
¿ Tool: My Poo Chart 205
¿ Tool: My Wee Chart 206
Sensory strategies for sleep and rest 207
Universal, targeted and specialist strategies 208
¿ Reasonable adjustments in the Early Years 210
Chapter seven SENSORY ENVIRONMENT AND EQUIPMENT 213
Revisiting the sensory ecosystem 213
The sensory experience and design of the setting 214
Regulatory context 214
¿ Case study: Inclusive early years design for Solihull Nursery, Lucy Bayliss, Interior Design Manager, Solihull Council 215
Your setting's unique sensory environment 218
¿ Audit Tools: Carrying Out a Whole-Setting Sensory Audit 218
¿ Making it easy: The bare minimum sensory audit 220
¿ Ideas for involving children in sensory audits 220
¿ Tool: Rapid Review of Space Audit 223
¿ Tool: In-Depth Room Sensory Audit 224
Wider audit tools for environmental audits 229
Reflecting on your findings 229
Identifying the issues and sensory solutions for different spaces 229
Entrance and cloakrooms 230
Class- or playrooms 231
Sleep room 232
Toilets and nappy changing areas 232
Outdoor environment 233
Staff rooms and staff-only spaces 234
¿ Considerations for offering sensory spaces/rooms in your setting 235
¿ Tool: Small Changes and Bigger Plans to Support Sensory Wellbeing 238
¿ Case study: Developing the sensory landscape at Maes Ebbw School 241
Sensory equipment and resources 244
Sensory resources for Early Years 245
¿ Legitimate fiddling and fidget tools as 'concentrators' 247
¿ A note on noise sensitivity 248
Noise reduction devices for adults 253
Chapter eight WHOLE-SETTING APPROACH 255
The importance of a whole-setting approach 255
Revisiting the Self-Assessment Tool 256
Setting values and ethos 257
Leadership and management for sensory aware settings 257
Policy development 258
¿ Tool: Policy Guidance 258
Physical resources, equipment and budgeting 261
¿ Case Study: Sensory wellbeing on a tight budget in a not-for-profit community preschool 261
Supporting children's sensory needs and voice 263
Supporting sensory needs across the day 263
Clothing 264
Staff role and responsibilities 265
Staff training and development 266
Supporting staff sensory needs and sensory wellbeing 267
¿ Top tips for sensory-friendly clothing for staff 268
¿ Top tips for your sensory-friendly work environment 268
Parents and carers 269
¿ Tool: A Sensory Iceberg 270
Wider partnerships 271
Occupational Therapists 271
Speech and Language Therapists (SaLTs) 272
Educational Psychologists 272
Health Visitors 272
Paediatricians 273
Local Authority: Local Offer 273
Local Autism Support Services 273
National support 274
Chapter nine CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS 275
Live a life of sensory welldoing 275
¿ Tool: The 6 Pillars of Sensory Inclusive Settings 276
¿ Model: Sensory Informed People and Practice 277
¿ Model: Roadmap for Becoming a Sensory Aware Setting 280
¿ Model: The 12 Principles of Sensory Aware Settings 281
¿ Tool: Action planning for Sensory Aware settings 282
Final words 282
Further Reading And Resources 285
