Course curriculum

  • 1

    The Sensory Festival 2 - 31 October 2026

    • Welcome to the Sensory Festival!

    • The Hirstwood Training Newsletter!

    • PMLD Link - further information for you!
  • 2

    Richard Hirstwood's Sensory Tent

    • A Blackout Toilet Tent! with Richard Hirstwood

    • A sensory resonance pipe with Richard Hirstwood

    • A Fantastic Spinning Light for Neurodiverse Learners with Richard Hirstwood

    • JBL Go 3 a fabulous vibration speaker with Richard Hirstwood

    • Making a sensory salad spinner with Richard Hirstwood THE EASY WAY

    • Diffusing light for visual stimulation with Richard Hirstwood

    • Aquarium Live! with Richard Hirstwood

    • B & M White Boxes with Richard Hirstwood

    • AHolographic Shower Curtain VI and CVI with Richard Hirstwood

    • The Gove Light Curtain with Richard Hirstwood

    • The Four A’s: available, appropriate, accessible, achievable with Richard Hirstwood
  • 3

    The Autism Tent

    • Diets and Autism: what’s the story with autistic children, food and behaviour? The latest thinking with Chris Barson

    • Why do we love to spin? with Shelia Thelen

    • ‘Don’t Get in a Mess With Stress! Tips, tools and tech for keeping calm on the spectrum’ with Chris Barson

    • ‘Why is change such a problem for learners with Autism? What kind of help works?’ with Chris Barson

    • ‘Demystifying the proprioceptive and vestibular senses – and why they are important!’ with Clive Smith

    • ‘Safe Spaces: why you need one and how to make one!’ with Clive Smith
  • 4

    The Curriculum Tent

    • Coping, managing and leading in a SEN classroom with Nick Sheffield

    • Making Learning Stick: Turning Memory into Fun and Meaningful Experiences with Dr Sarah Moseley

    • Homework from Lynne Castle

    • Sharing Sensory Ideas with Lynne Castle

    • How do I maximise opportunities for communication across the day? with Dawn Brown

    • Sensory ChatGPT with Lynne Castle and Richard Hirstwood

    • ‘Top 5 Tips for Telling Sensory Stories’ (in the style of ‘Top of the Pops!) with Pete Wells

    • How to use podcasting to develop learning with Adam Millichip

    • How to transform a familiar story into a sensory experience with Caroline Hill

    • Where have we come from? Where shall we go? with Les Staves

    • Sensory Christmas with Lynne Castle

    • ‘Creating a sensory cube: for exploring stories and new experiences’ with Caroline Hill

    • Playful Thinking! with Bex Watton

    • ‘The ladybird and the spider: a sensory story’ with Lynne Castle

    • Breathwork with Lynne Castle

    • Multisensory Music Journeys with Victoria Navin
  • 5

    The Sensory Environments Tent

    • The Inclusive Classroom with Bex Watton

    • Creating small environments to make play and the curriculum multisensory and accessible! with Simply Sensory

    • Ai Podcast 'Vision for Doing' a book review

    • Sensory doesn't have to be expensive! with Dawn Brown

    • ‘Stuck’ In The Sensory Room? With Sensory Soup

    • ‘Safe Spaces - Big Impact: tools to support neurodiverse and high needs learners’ with Clive Smith

    • ‘Bring the environment to your learner’ with Simply Sensory

    • ‘Make the sparking lights fun for all!’ with Clive Smith