“Each station will give the young people an opportunity to explore, play and learn through each of their senses”

A Sunderland special school is looking to raise £70,000 to create a “life changing” sensory trail for the children in its care.

Provision and Resource Development Lead Lucy Nesbit-Ferry (right), class teacher Isabel Bage, occupational therapist Michelle Graham, and teaching assistant John Garner with pupils Tanzeela, Olly, Daniel, Gavin, Layla, and Jacob. | Iconic

placeholder image — Provision and Resource Development Lead Lucy Nesbit-Ferry (right), class teacher Isabel Bage, occupational therapist Michelle Graham, and teaching assistant John Garner with pupils Tanzeela, Olly, Daniel, Gavin, Layla, and Jacob. | Iconic

Portland Academy educates 11-19 year-old children and young people with profound and severe physical and learning disabilities. After completing phase 1 of their outdoor provision, which incudes a play area and outdoor gym, the school is now looking to invest £140,000 to create a five station sensory trail to engage the children and stimulate their senses.

Teacher and Provision and Resource Development Lead, Lucy Nesbit-Ferry said: “The trail will contain five stations and all the ideas are from the children and families who completed a survey on what they would like to see included.

Occupational therapist Michelle Graham with Gavin and Layla | Iconic

“The plan is for a colour and tactile station including different coloured tunnels, a sand, water and mud area to encourage active play, a section with interactive cognitive panels to investigate, and an area where pupils can play musical instruments to investigate sound.

“There will also be be gardening station where students can grow and taste their own food.

“Each station will give the young people an opportunity to explore, play and learn through each of their senses; touch, sight, smell, taste and sound.”

Jacob, with teacher Isabel Bage | Iconic

The school has allocated £70,000 of their own budget but now needs to raise a further £70,000 to cover the cost of the development.

The trail stations will be located around the perimeter of the school grounds and Lucy hopes it could be opened and ready to use by the start of the 2027 academic year.

She added: “The sensory trail would provide a life-changing experience for the children at our school. This is all about meeting our mission statement to remove barriers to learning and each station will be fully inclusive.

“There is a lot of evidence which supports the importance of outdoor learning for physical and mental wellbeing which is why this is so important for our school.”

The school has already “invested heavily” in its outdoor provision, and students are looking forward to the potential addition of a sensory trail.

Olly, 18, said: “I really enjoy using the outdoor area, particularly the monkey bars. I’m really looking forward to the sensory trail as I like being active outside.”

Tanzeela, 19, said: “I like being outside and close to nature. Hopefully we can raise enough money for the sensory trail.”

Daniel, 17, added: “I love being out in the fresh air and I’m looking forward to the sensory trail.”

The school has set-up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the trail.

Lucy said: “This is a massive opportunity to support young people with disabilities in Sunderland and I would ask people to please donate what you can to this appeal.”

You can donate to the school’s cause at https://www.gofundme.com/f/inclusive-sensory-trail