Autism specialist school in St Helens unveils brand-new sensory room

A Newton-le-Willows school has unveiled its brand-new, state-of-the-art sensory room, labelled the Rainbow Room.

Wargrave House School, which is part of the Remarkable Autism Charity, revealed that the new room will help support its learners to an even greater extent.

The school, an autism and co-existing learning environment for ages 5-16, specialises in education and care for autistic individuals, delivering personalised curriculums to best suit each learner.

Having been completely redecorated and revamped, Wargrave House School’s sensory room now consists of the latest state-of-the-art equipment, all of which help learners relax in an environment that allows them to engage and stimulate a wide range of senses.

A safe space to unwind, the therapeutic area will provide comfort in addition to opportunities for learners to further develop skills such as hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and will help improve their visual, auditory, and tactile processing. 

The new equipment includes a rocking arch, sensory shaker, vibro-acoustic floor mat, steamroller ramp, building blocks, bean bags, and much more.

Headteacher of Wargrave House School, Carl Glennon, said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of our brand-new sensory room, which is designed to support the visual and physical stimulation of our learners in a variety of ways.

“Engaging autistic individuals in sensory activities can be extremely beneficial to their development. Stimulating the brain, creating neutral pathways, and improving sensory processing systems are all important elements of an autistic individual’s life-long development. 

“Some individuals can sometimes become overwhelmed or anxious, so it’s important that we can provide them with a space that is highly comforting. The upgraded equipment in the Rainbow Room enables us to offer a higher degree of support that caters to the individual needs of each of our learners. 

“The flexibility of the room means it can be used for a multitude of purposes, including as a classroom.”