Sensology

Sensology (Flo Longhorn)

Waking up senses

At Marshlands Primary School, Sensology sessions provide pupils with opportunities to explore and develop their senses through a range of engaging activities. Based on an approach developed by Flo Longhorn, Sensology focuses on the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste, as well as movement and body awareness.

Sensology is particularly beneficial for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and complex needs. Regular sensory experiences help pupils to become more aware of themselves and the world around them, supporting engagement, communication and early learning skills.

Through Sensology, pupils are encouraged to explore new experiences, make choices and respond to different sensory stimuli in a safe and supportive environment. These sessions help to develop attention, understanding, memory and interaction, while promoting enjoyment and participation.

At Marshlands, we recognise that every child learns differently. Sensology provides valuable opportunities for pupils to build confidence, develop their understanding and access learning in ways that are meaningful to them.

Sense	Resources and Activities
Smell	Lemons, mint, lavender, garlic, oranges
Sight	Torches, sensory room, light-up toys, shiny curtain swishing, disco ball, mirrors
Hear	Musical instruments, animal sounds, everyday sounds, environmental weekly walks, sensory hearing circuit (e.g. crunching sounds and other auditory experiences)
Touch	Canvas boards with different textures and materials each week, affixed to the wall for exploration
Taste	Salty: Popcorn, crisps, Tuc crackers, pretzels, soup, chips, salt Sweet: Chocolate, honey, jam, Angel Delight, sugar, jelly Sour: Lemon, rhubarb, cranberries, vinegar, grapefruit Crunchy: Cereal, crisps, apple, carrots Smooth: Milkshake, ice cream, cream, jelly, tomato soup, Dairylea, yogurt, smoothies Soft: Marshmallow, candy floss, mash, banana, whipped cream