Children’s Occupational Therapy Services
Sensory Motor Circuits - A Sensory Motor
Skills Programme for Children
Information for Teachers
Information for Teachers
Participation in a short sensory motor circuit is a great way
both to energise and settle children into the school day.
The aim is to focus concentration in readiness for the day’s
learning. The circuit also encourages the
development of the child’s sensory processing skills.
Many children can benefit from attending a Sensory Circuit,
even for a short period of time. Record
behaviours that you see in a child that suggests that they
would benefit.
These include:
• Constant fidgeting in class
• Slow to start work and constantly missing cues
• Difficulty organising self
• Lethargic and dreamy
• Poor coordination and balance
• Known sensory processing difficulties
• Constantly rocking
• Has difficulty paying attention
• Lacking confidence to join in
Once you have selected the children you want to attend the
circuit, the circuit co-ordinator and the class teacher need
to set a target for each child.
This can be both a physical skills target and a sensory or
behaviour target. For example; to improve balance and
reduce calling out in class.
The circuit should be an active, physical and fun activity
that children enjoy. Ideally is should be run first thing in the
morning, and after lunch if at all possible.
The Sensory Circuit provides a sequence of activities done
repeatedly to provide the child with the right type of sensory
input in order to calm and organise them for the day ahead
ready for learning to occur.
The idea is to start with something alerting, move to an
organisation stage and then finally to a calming phase. The
order is important; you don’t want a child to return to class
wound up and hyperactive!
Alerting section
The aim of this section is to provide vestibular and
proprioceptive stimulation within a controlled setting.
This prepares the brain for learning.
Activities can include such activities as:
• bouncing 10 times on a mini
trampoline or space hopper
• spinning a hoop
• bunny hops / crab walks / frog
• Jumps
• therapy ball for rolling over and bouncing on,
• skipping
• walking on cans/stilts
2. Organising section
This section includes activities that require motor sensory
processing, balance and timing. The child needs to
organise their body, plan their approach and do more than
one thing at a time in a sequential order.
Activities includes tasks such as:
• balancing on a beam
• log rolling
• climbing wall bars
• throwing bean bags into a target
• arm push ups against the wall
• blowing bubbles or blowing a
paper ball to a target
• wobble boards for balance work
• T-stool for balance work (one legged stool).
• Skipping and jumping a moving rope
These are skills that may increase a child’s focus,
attention span and performance within the classroom.
Calming section
The calming activities are very important as they provide
input to ensure that children leaves the circuit and return to
their classrooms calm, centred and ready for the day
ahead.
Activities include proprioceptive or deep pressure
activities such as:
• placing feet or hands in weighted bean bags
• lying under weighted blankets
• having balls rolled over their backs
• hot-dogs (rolling child up tightly in a blanket).
Within the classroom setting it is often possible to
transfer techniques used within the sensory circuits to
continue to support a child. Frequent movement breaks can
be built into the school day as necessary – ask your
Occupational Therapist (OT) for more suggestions advice.
The Sensory Motor Circuits are based on the theories of
sensory processing and sensory integration; please ask
you OT for further information.
OT Admin
The Peacock Centre
Brookfields Campus
Mill Road
Cambridge
Cb1 3DF
Tel: 01223 218065
0218 - April 2018 (V2)
May 2018
May 2021
