Our commitment to supporting education settings, children, young people and their families

Somerset Council and its partners, including Somerset Foundation Trust, recognise the impact that sensory processing difficulties can have upon learning. Together, through multi-professional and multi-agency intervention, we are committed to supporting education settings, children, young people and their families.

Significant sensory processing difficulties must be identified by a medical professional. Whether a Paediatrician, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist or Physiotherapist, these professionals have had experience and additional training in this field. The Diagnostic Statistics Manual-V (DSM-V) has not recognised ‘Sensory Processing Disorder’ as a standalone diagnosis.

This guidance document provides up-to-date information on the nature of sensory processing differences / difficulties, and the impact they can have on the lives of children and young people. It provides information on a number of safe interventions for individual children and young people, and groups. There are also recommendations regarding the creation of appropriate learning environments for those experiencing these difficulties.

This handbook, which has been written primarily for practitioners supporting school-aged children and young people, is a collaboration between the following:

• Occupational Therapists from the Children and Young People’s Therapy Service
• Educational Psychology Service
• Autism and Communication Service
• Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)
• Somerset Parent Carer Forum (SPCF)

After publication, the handbook will be revised a year later. There will be opportunities for people to get involved and provide feedback.