This Community of Practice Peer Group is now three years old! Come and learn, share stories of success, and hear about best practices. Explore the impact on practice and what we can do to support our schools, learners, and families amid the proposed changes to UK ECHP processes. Hear about what others have developed, from creative care pathways to tools and resources for practice.
What Does Ayres’ Sensory Integration® Look Like in Schools? Understanding the Role of OT in Inclusive Education
Educators and therapists are increasingly working together in today’s schools and colleges to support children and young people with increasingly diverse needs. Among the most powerful – and often misunderstood – approaches in this space is Occupational Therapy (OT) informed by Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI).
But what does this mean in practice?
What Is Ayres Sensory Integration?
Ayres’ Sensory Integration® is the brain’s ability to take in, process, and make sense of information from our senses so we can respond appropriately in daily life. When this system isn’t working smoothly, children may struggle with attention, regulation, coordination, engagement, or learning – often in ways that are misunderstood as “behavioural.”
Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) is a theory, framework, and therapeutic approach Dr. A. Jean Ayres developed. It’s grounded in neuroscience and helps us understand how differences in sensory processing can impact participation, especially in school environments.
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Schools
Occupational Therapists (OT’s) working in education focus on functional participation—supporting children to engage in the tasks and routines that are meaningful and necessary at school. This might include:
- Staying focused in lessons
- Coping with transitions and sensory-rich environments
- Participating in PE or handwriting tasks
- Navigating the social demands of the playground
When an OT works with an Ayres’ Sensory Integration® lens, they go beyond surface-level behaviours to explore the underlying sensory patterns contributing to a child’s difficulties. This involves:
- Detailed sensory integration assessments, when indicated, including tests like the EASI
- Collaborative hypothesis-building with the team
- Co-creating strategies to meet sensory needs
- Designing goals that align with EHCP’s and support real, lasting change
It’s not about fidget toys or sensory breaks—it’s about understanding each learner’s unique sensory strengths and differences and using that insight from a comprehensive assessment to design environments, routines, and supports that enable participation.
From Insight to Impact: Join Our Community of Practice
If you work with children and young people in schools or colleges using a sensory-informed approach, we’d love for you to join our School & College Sensory Integration Community of Practice.
Each month, we come together to:
- Ayres’ Sensory Integration® and how it can significantly impact lifelong outcomes!
- Explore real-world cases
- Use comprehensive assessment data to generate clear sensory hypotheses
- Strengthen our EHCP-aligned goal setting
- Share tools, strategies, and stories that help translate theory into practice
Whether you’re confident in using Data-Driven Decision-Making (DDDM) or just beginning your Ayres’ Sensory Integration journey, this is a space to reflect, learn, and grow with peers as passionate about inclusive, child-centred education as you are.
Community of Practice Details
- When: 4th Tuesday of every month
- Time: 7:30 p.m. (UK Time)
- Where: Live on Microsoft Teams
Bring your questions, insights, and commitment to creating schools where every child can participate, learn, and thrive through the senses.
? Contact us to register and be part of the conversation via the Communities of Practice sign-up.
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