Minister opens new sensory room at local school

A new sensory room at Clonaslee College as officially opened last week by Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madidan.

The Minister also confirmed the recent approval by the Department of Education & Science for the building of two new ASD classes, an Art room and a Graphics room for Clonaslee College.

Under the patronage of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), Clonaslee College is co-educational and multi-denominational school.

As with other areas in Ireland, the tentacles of Covid reached into this small community, disrupting education and making the last two years challenging for all aspects of student and local life. Now, in a post-pandemic environment, the school is once again back to face-to-face tuition for their students.

Recognising the negative impact of Covid-19 on students through social lockdowns and school closures, the staff of Clonaslee Community College have created a space where students can be offered a quiet, distraction-free zone.

A new sensory room, named Narnia by the students, has been developed within the school. The room contains a state-of-the-art sensory pod, a sensorial space with seating, a cave area to relax in with hexagonal tables to work at, all built within a bespoke woodland theme surrounding. The pod provides a safe and calming environment, featuring colour changing sensory ceiling, Vibromatt vibration sensory mattress, and a multimedia system through which music and sounds can be created and programmed to meet each student’s individual need.

The new sensory room is an inclusive room that can be utilised by all members of the student body, from those that have individual and special needs, through to students completing the state examinations this year and require some relaxing downtime to alleviate anxiety and stress.