This practical training will help teachers move beyond the buzzwords to understand what sensory processing really means. You’ll learn the key ideas and evidence-based approaches in a clear, accessible way, including how the brain, body, and behaviour are linked. We’ll explore what sensory differences can actually look like in a busy classroom.

Crucially, the session will focus on what teachers can realistically do. You’ll leave with simple, practical strategies that support pupils’ regulation, engagement, and participation.

What teachers really need to know

• What sensory processing is
• Evidence-based practice vs. popular buzzwords
• Key theories explained simply
• How the body, brain, and behaviour work together
• What sensory differences look like in the classroom
• What teachers can actually do (without specialist equipment).

Audience: This training is ideal for teachers, teaching assistants, and school staff who want to better understand sensory processing and its relationship with attention, behaviour, emotional regulation, or participation in everyday classroom activities.

This training will be delivered by VNET Associate Darleen Grimsby, Trust SENDCo, Inclusion Officer and author of Developing Educational Plans for Learners with SEND. She supports a network of schools to develop inclusive practices and provision for students with complex needs.