We’re delighted to welcome back Victoria with her fantastic monthly ideas for each school month. It’s coming up to September so let’s go!

FREE Sensory-rich and Inclusive September Teaching Calendar. Highlights include:

 

Also New This Month: Five sensory story packs ready to print prep and go!


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Dates At a Glance

2 Sept: Anniversary of The Great Fire of London

6 Sep: Autumn Term

9 Sep: World Teddy Bear Day

11 Sep: Anniversary of the Birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi

13 Sep: Roald Dahl Day

13 Sep: World First Aid Day

15 Sep: International Dot Day

22 Sep: Rosh Hashanah

22 Sep: Autumn Equinox

 

Whole Month

Back to School

Organic September

Saints and Sacred Days

September through the Senses

 

What to Look for in Nature

Flora and Fauna  

Acorns, blackberries, brambles, conkers, crab apples, dried grasses, dried seedheads, elderberries, fungi, hawthorn haws, oak leaves, pinecones, quaking grass, sloes, spider webs, umbellifers (wild carrot), yew berries

⚠️ Safety Note   Some plants, berries, and fungi may be poisonous or cause skin irritation. Do not touch unless guided by an adult.  If handling, wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Always check before including natural items in sensory play.


Mammals, Insects and Birds

Badgers, bumblebees, butterflies (Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell) daddy longlegs (crane flies), deer (red and sika), dormice, flycatchers, goldfinches, grey seals, hedgehogs, hoverflies, house martins, jays, kittiwakes, ladybirds, linnets, mice (wood mice), moths (peacock, red-green carpet), nuthatches, pine martens, porpoises, salmon, squirrels, stoats, swallows, thrushes, warblers (blackcap, whitethroat), wasps, weasels

Bird of the Month: Robin

A small, round bird with a bright red breast and a sweet, piping song.


The September Kitchen

Blackberries, apples, plums, runner beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, leeks, and early pumpkins. Taste and compare textures: crisp apple, soft plum, crunchy corn. Make a simple crumble or soup with seasonal ingredients. Explore scents: earthy beetroot, sweet plum, sharp leek.


The September Sensory Garden

Organic September

Organic September is an annual celebration that promotes organic farming, food, and lifestyle choices — encouraging people to support biodiversity, reduce pesticide use, and choose eco-friendly products for a healthier planet.

Organic Farm Sensory Wall Display

Creating a sensory wall display is a gradual, collaborative journey.   Invite everyone to take part — crafting during art or fine motor skills sessions exploring textures. Watch as your working farm sensory wall gently grows, piece by piece, becoming a living landscape of shared creativity and sensory discovery.

 

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Learning Objectives


Communication & Interaction


Emotional & Social Development

Cognitive & Cause-and-Effect Awareness


Motor Skills & Physical Exploration

 

Suggested Resource

 ‘The Farm – A Multisensory Exploration’

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Step into the gentle rhythms of farm life with The Farm, a fully resourced, inclusive sensory story. This poetic, step-by-step guide invites learners into a world of tactile exploration, rhythmic storytelling, and global celebration.

From the Sensory Cow Craft Activity to Making Dough using a range of grains, each activity is crafted to foster connection, support engagement and foster choice-making, and sensory engagement.

Discover Farming Culture Around the World, explore Traditional Methods, and journey through Victorian Farm History with accessible, multisensory cues.

The resource includes:

Whether you’re crafting a Sensory Farm, counting with Farmyard Songs, or exploring Sorting & Measures, this book offers a rich tapestry of inclusive learning — poetic, practical, With rhythmic verse and vivid imagery, this sensory story invites story explorers to experience the farm through a multisensory lens, to explore and connect in a space where every sense is welcome. 

This Month in History

2 Sep The Anniversary of The Great Fire of London

Marking the Great Fire of London on 2 September invites learners to explore how a single spark reshaped a city, leading to lasting changes in architecture, safety, and community resilience. Its dramatic, sensory-rich story offers powerful opportunities for inclusive storytelling, tactile exploration, and poetic reflection.

Sensory-Rich Activity Idea

Flames in Motion Art

Flames in Motion Sensory Art

Flames in Motion Sensory Art

Suggested Resource

 

Includes clear learning objectives to help you plan and assess.

Includes clear learning objectives to help you plan and assess.

The Great Fire of London Sensory Story and Sensory Rich Activities

Bring history to life and explore the Great Fire of London with this interactive sensory story and inclusive, engaging, and sensory friendly activity pack aimed at sensory learners of all ages.

Relive the fire through a fully resourced, step-by-step sensory story, gain inspiration from the grab and go Sensory Table. Immerse your students in sensory activities as they re-live excerpts from Samuel Pepys’ Diary through the senses, explore how fire and heat change materials, create a sensory wall display, delve into sensory art activities, watch light, and shadow dance across surfaces, recreating London’s fiery night, fight the flames and rebuild the city…and more!

 

Saints and Sacred Days in September

There are seven saints and sacred days celebrated in the Christian calendar in September.

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Activity Idea

Explore the story of the birth of the Virgin Mary through a sensory story.

Excerpt from 'Sensory Saints - A Sensory Journey Through Seven Sacred Days

Excerpt from ‘Sensory Saints – A Sensory Journey Through Seven Sacred Days

 

SUGGESTED RESOURCE

Sensory Saints – A Sensory Journey Through Seven Sacred Days

 

 

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Throughout September, seven saints’ and sacred days are marked.

Marking saints and sacred days, each verse in this sensory story invites quiet reflection and symbolic engagement.


The sensory story weaves together props: scents, textures, sounds, and tastes to evoke sacred themes, while soft gestures and sensory cues offer a multisensory pathway to spiritual literacy, emotional ease, inclusive multisensory engagement.


Back to School

Peer Matching Photo Card Activity – One Card, One Connection

Perfect for incorporating into circle time, this activity supports recognition and match visual representations of peers, promoting social awareness, identity recognition, and engagement.


You will need 

Laminated headshots of students and staff.


Steps


SUGGESTED RESOURCE

Back to School Sensory Story and Teaching Guide with Activities

 

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This resource is your go-to for easing into the new term—packed with calming, sensory-rich activities to help learners feel safe, seen, and settled….just print, prep, and go!


This sensory story supports a range of learning objectives, including responding to familiar routines and sensory cues through sound, texture, scent, and movement. It encourages recognition of daily transitions—waking, dressing, travelling, arriving at the school/setting, and enjoying classroom activities though to the end of the day—while promoting expressive communication and emotional connection. Learners are invited to explore sensory materials developing fine motor skills and sensory awareness. The story fosters anticipation and engagement, supports self-regulation through calming and stimulating moments, and builds social confidence by introducing shared experiences and new friendships in a welcoming classroom environment.


Includes clear learning objectives to help you plan and assess.

 

SUGGESTED RESOURCE

People Who Help Us – The Special School Superheroes

 

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This resource is your go-to for easing into the new term—packed with calming, sensory-rich activities to help learners feel safe, seen, and settled….just print, prep, and go!

 

This sensory story supports a range of learning objectives, including responding to familiar routines and sensory cues through sound, texture, scent, and movement. It encourages recognition of daily transitions—waking, dressing, travelling, arriving at the school/setting, and enjoying classroom activities though to the end of the day—while promoting expressive communication and emotional connection. Learners are invited to explore sensory materials developing fine motor skills and sensory awareness. The story fosters anticipation and engagement, supports self-regulation through calming and stimulating moments, and builds social confidence by introducing shared experiences and new friendships in a welcoming classroom environment.


Includes clear learning objectives to help you plan and assess.

Communication Passport/All About Me Sensory Boxes

These are Communication Passports/All About Me profiles in the form of a box filled with sensory items that tell another person about an individual. They help people involved in the person’s life to learn and understand more about the person, their likes, and sensory preferences, build bonds and aid communication.

 

The boxes are perfect to set up in the Autumn term to welcome new students to your setting, and for students changing classrooms as it helps you all get to know one another.

 

 

Below is example of a box I made for a student I made a box with called Reuben. Reuben is 14 years old.

 

You can change the categories to suit the person.

 

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  1. Me: Reuben’s favourite activity is riding his adapted bike, so we choose a bike mirror to represent ‘me’ (Reuben) Shatterproof, safety mirrors are advisable, but in Reuben’s case, this bike mirror that straps onto his wrist is a great for a hands-free option helping to promote self-awareness.
  2. Born: This could be an item relating to the person’s identity. Reuben was born in Manchester and enjoys going to Man Utd’s home matches, so we choose to represent Reuben’s hometown using a football scarf.
  3. Family: Include a photograph or maybe the person would like to draw a picture of their family members. (For privacy I used a free image from Pexels for the example slide for this article, then if you wish to print the slide you can use it as a template)
  4. Dad: Reuben’s Dad works away during the week, so Reuben choose one of his Dad’s ties and spritzed his Dad’s favourite aftershave on it. (You could also use a t-shirt or a cloth handkerchief.)
  5. Music: Reuben loves wrist, and ankle bells and wears them when he rides his bike, Reuben added these to his box.
  6. Relaxation: Reuben likes to relax with a hand massage and chose his favourite hand cream to place in the box.
  7. Holiday: Reuben returned from holiday in Fuerteventura over the summer and this magnet signifies their holiday. The magnet has an embossed sunshine and palm trees which are nice to run the fingers over and talk about, and I placed some euro coins into the box to for Reuben to explore with the magnet.
  8. Future Event: Reuben will be a page boy at his brother’s wedding in November where he will be wearing a bow tie. We placed this inside his box as although he is looking forward to the wedding, he feels a little anxious as he has never been to a wedding before. Talking about this is helping Reuben prepare and look forward to the event.

 

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11 SeptThe Anniversary of the Birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi

Modern history founder Ulisse Aldrovandi was known for his studies of animals, plants, and minerals.

 

Present a range of animals, plants, and minerals for sensory exploration

 

Animals: (Fake) fur, suede, chamois leather/leather, wool

Herbs: Basil, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme.

Minerals: Calcite, crystals, rocks, stones or gold, silver, and copper-coloured items (coins, dress jewellery, foil, stainless steel items.)

 

Promote Sorting & Categorisation Skills

Can the sensory explorer group the items according whether they are animal derived, plant or mineral?

9 Sept – National Teddy Bear Day

National Teddy Bear Day is celebrated to honour the timeless comfort and companionship these cuddly friends bring to children and adults alike!

 

Sensory Activity Ideas

 

Goldilocks Price £3.98

Goldilocks Price £3.98

SUGGESTED RESOURCE

‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ Sensory Story and Sensory-Rich Activities

Join Goldilocks on a sensory adventure with the bears with this fully resourced, step-by-step multisensory story with sensory-rich activities.


This story pack invites learners to explore sound, touch, taste, and scent through themed activities that bring the bears’ home to life. From the rustle of a listening game to the softness of an oat bath, each experience is designed to nurture sensory awareness, emotional connection, and creative expression.

Learners will sculpt with salt-dough, stir oat milk in the Three Bears’ kitchen, and discover textures in a hard-and-soft bin. Whether making a bear habitat or sharing a warm bear hug, this journey blends storytelling with sensory play—perfect for inclusive classrooms.

 

Sept 13 – Roald Dahl Day

Explore the Main Characters in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ by Roald Dahl through the Senses

 

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Suggested Props:

Augustus Gloop – Gloop. Mix cornflour and water to the ratio of 2:1, (Option to add food colouring and essences/flavourings)

Charlie Bucket – Bucket

Grandpa Joe – Slippers

Mike Teavee – Large square glasses, cardboard box TV, or old TV remote control (batteries removed)

Mr Bucket (Charlie’s Dad) – Toothpaste or fresh mint (this is a reference to the job he held screwing the tops onto toothpaste tubes)

Oompa-Loompas – Orange/satsuma or orange face paint

Veruca Salt: Salt Dough. Mix 1 cup plain flour, ½ cup table salt, ½ cup water. (Option to add food colouring and essences/flavourings to enhance the sensory experience)

Violet Beauregarde – Parma violets, violet essential oil, violet flowers

Violet flowers are edible. Ensure the flowers are freshly picked, washed, are disease and pest free and have not been treated with pesticides.

Willy Wonka – Walking Stick

 

Extend Learning

  1. Give everyone a prop.
  2. Describe the characters in the story.
  3. Can the individuals guess which character they are according to the prop?

 

15 Sep – International Dot Day

A day to promote art, creativity, and individual achievement.

 

 

Create artwork using different tools and materials to make dots.

Bingo dabbers, cotton wool bud, fingerprints, paint brushes, pipettes, pom poms, sponges, stickers, vegetable printing, paint bubble wrap.

 

 

Take Learning Outdoors

 

Link to Maths

 

Link to Literacy

Read or watch the story of ‘The Dot’ by Peter H. Reynolds, a tale of a young girl who thought she could not draw…until she discovered dots! Retell the story using sensory props.

 

 

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Artwork courtesy of Fiona Hay, the team and students, Kerry and the team and students from The Vine, a specialist SEND provision at Leeds City College whose artwork featured in my sensory story ‘Shapes’

Explore the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of shapes with this fully resourced, step-by-step, sensory story PLUS 130 shape themed activities linking to areas of the curriculum.

 

14 Sep – World First Aid Day

Explore the contents of a First Aid Bag/Box This activity will raise awareness of the contents of a first aid box and reduce any anxiety some individuals may have around first aid.

 

First Aid Box Contents*

*The contents of your first aid boxes may differ to the items in the list.

 

20-25 Sep – Fire Door Safety Week

 

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22 Sep – Rosh Hashanah

A two-day festival celebrating Jewish New Year which begins in the Autumn.

Apples and honey symbolise ‘Sweet New Year’

 

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22 Sep – Autumn Equinox

‘Autumn – A Multisensory Exploration’

‘At the bottom of my garden underneath the apple trees,

I heard a little rustle, amongst the autumn leaves

A sudden gust of wind, blew the leaves apart

And what I saw inside those leaves, lightened up my heart’

 

Make an Autumn Sensory Box

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Autumn Sensory Box  

This seasonal sensory box invites exploration through scent, texture, light, and sound. It includes an assortment of leaves—dried bay, curry, lime, and fresh sprigs of rosemary and thyme—to enrich the olfactory experience. A colour-changing light cube adds visual intrigue, while straw evokes the autumn harvest.

 

To represent hedgehogs, a nail brush and koosh ball offer contrasting textures, alongside a Talking Tile with a recorded hedgehog sound. A piece of bark and scattered pinecones add woodland authenticity.

 

The hedgehogs are crafted from Play-Doh, with dried spaghetti spikes—an engaging fine motor activity.

 

Pop in a magnifying glass and torch to encourage scientific investigation and close-up discovery.

 

You can simplify the activity by adding less items.

 

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SUGGESTED RESOURCE

Autumn Sensory Story with Sensory-Rich Activities

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Step into the golden hush of autumn with this fully resourced, inclusive sensory story which includes sensory-rich activities. Rooted in poetic rhythm and rich sensory detail, this collection invites exploration through touch, taste, sound, and scent, celebrating the season’s gentle transformations.

Inside you’ll find: