Schools Workshops

Sensory Play Workshops & Training

Inspiring educators. Empowering children. Making sensory play meaningful.

At Mama Sensory, we believe sensory play is about so much more than getting messy. It is an opportunity to connect, communicate, explore, regulate and learn.

We deliver engaging, practical and informative sensory play workshops designed to empower educators with the knowledge, confidence and ideas to bring meaningful sensory experiences into their everyday practice.

Whether you're an SNA, teacher, special education team, early years educator or school leader, our workshops are designed to give you practical strategies and inspiration that you can take straight back into your setting.

 

Who these workshops are for

Our training is designed for anyone working directly with children in Irish primary and special schools, including:

• Special Needs Assistants (SNAs)

• Mainstream class teachers 

• Special class and special school teachers

• Early years educators in ELC and ECCE settings

• Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) staff

• Whole-staff CPD days

Whether your team is brand new to sensory-based approaches or already experienced and looking to refresh their practice, the workshop is tailored to the group in front of us.

What we cover

A practical and interactive workshop designed specifically for SNAs, teachers and educational teams working with children with additional needs.

This session explores how sensory play can be incorporated into everyday classroom practice to support children's individual needs, encourage engagement and create opportunities for connection and learning.

What will you explore?

  • Understanding sensory play and its role in children's development.
  • Exploring sensory experiences and how children respond to different sensory inputs.
  • Using sensory activities to support regulation and engagement.
  • Encouraging communication, interaction and exploration through play.
  • Adapting activities for children with different abilities and support needs.
  • Creating meaningful sensory opportunities using accessible, low-cost resources.
  • Building sensory play into everyday classroom routines.
  • A hands-on learning experience

We believe the best way to understand sensory play is to experience it!

Our workshop includes six interactive sensory stations, giving participants the opportunity to explore a variety of activities, materials and practical ideas.

Each station demonstrates how simple resources can be adapted to create engaging experiences for children with a wide range of needs and abilities.

We focus on ideas that are realistic, achievable and easy to recreate within your own classroom or setting.

 

 

What is included?

  • 90-minute interactive training session.
  • Six practical sensory play stations.
  • Demonstrations and hands-on exploration.
  • Ideas using accessible and affordable resources.
  • Practical take-home guidance and emailed resources.
  • Certificate of attendance for participants.
  • All workshop materials supplied.

Workshop investment: €300

Schools looking to provide additional training can enquire about our two-workshop package at €550.

Who are our workshops for?

We work with educational settings and professionals who want to develop their understanding and confidence in using sensory play.

Special Education Settings & Autism Classes

Practical ideas to support children with a range of additional needs, including children who are non-speaking, require significant support or have physical access requirements.

SNAs & Teachers

Helping educators discover new ways to encourage engagement, communication, exploration and participation through sensory experiences.

Mainstream Schools

Introducing meaningful sensory opportunities that can be incorporated into everyday classroom learning and support children's individual needs.

Early Years & Montessori Settings

Inspiring educators to use open-ended, hands-on sensory experiences to encourage curiosity, creativity and early learning.

 

What schools are saying

"Rebecca from Mama Sensory held a wonderful workshop for us here in the school.
She is a former SNA and has lots of experience with working with neurodivergent students and students with more complex additional needs.
She came with lots of practical resources and activities and discussed them at length with our special needs assistants and school team. The staff were able to explore and engage with the materials and experience the activities themselves while learning the theory behind each activity and why they were so beneficial for our students.
The school team learned about how to support our students in regulation, the importance of sensory play and how to effectively communicate and engage with the students during the activities.
The team really enjoyed the workshop and felt they would be more confident now working with students with additional and sensory needs.  
I would highly recommend Rebecca and her Mama sensory workshops as we were thrilled with our workshop experience here in our special school. " 
Anna Principal of St.Micheals house special school Baldoyle 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you travel nationwide?

Yes. We're based in Dublin and deliver workshops across Ireland. Travel inside Dublin is included; outside that we add a small travel contribution, agreed upfront.

How many staff can attend?

Up to 20 staff per session works best for the hands-on elements. For larger groups we can split into two sessions or run a full-day with rotations.

Is the content suitable for mainstream schools, special classes and special schools?

Yes , we tailor the examples and activities to your setting before the day.

Do attendees get a certificate?

Yes. Every attendee receives a Mama Sensory Certificate of Attendance confirming CPD hours, suitable for teaching and SNA portfolios.

Can you work with our OT or SLT recommendations?

Absolutely. Send us any existing reports or recommendations in advance and we'll weave them into the session.

How far in advance should we book?

We recommend 4–6 weeks' notice, especially for staff development days. 

 

 

 

Get in touch for your workshop