Sensory Case Study: Cherry Orchard Primary School

An Inclusive School Environment

Cherry Orchard Primary School in Charlton strive to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners through outstanding teaching, varied types of learning including a forest school, and a policy of inclusion that has seen the school create a dyslexia-friendly environment.

The single form entry Primary school, which serves the local Greenwich community, has strong commitments to inclusive practice. This is driven by a senior leadership team that includes an executive principal, head of school and assistant head who are all trained SENCOs.

Modular Sensory Room Pod

The RISE team worked at Cherry Orchard during lockdown number one, installing a modular sensory room to further enhance provisions for pupils with different abilities, including neuro diversity, such as autism. Cherry Orchard chose one of our standard modular pods that are supplied fully kitted out with a range of sensory equipment designed to create a relaxing environment, where pupils can regulate their emotions before returning to class.

The Cherry Orchard team opted for a modular solution, due to the lack of existing space. Having a stand-alone solution also brought about another clear benefit, as head of school Buffy Lloyd explains:

“Pupils can come out of the school building and transition into a separate space, where they can explore without the limitations of worrying if someone can hear or see them. It’s a private space, and they can just do what they need to do until they’re ready to return to the classroom.”

Buffy was also impressed with the speed at which the pod was installed, once groundworks were completed, RISE delivered the sensory room on a lorry, before craning it into position next to the school.

“Everything ran really quickly,” says Buffy, “there was hardly any disruption and the pod being craned into the space was a bit of a spectacular event! As soon as it was here it was good to go.”