Abstract

Sensory Stories are short stories of a few lines which are brought to life through a selection of meaningful sensory experiences. They are particularly beneficial for students with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other special educational needs (SEN).

For children with PMLD, Sensory Stories can open up new avenues for communication and inclusive learning. For students with SPD and ASD, they offer a fun way of encountering sensory experiences and triggers in a safe, repetitive way, which over time can help to reduce associated anxieties. This accessible guide offers teachers, other professionals working with students with SEN and parents with a complete step-by-step guide to creating and using Sensory Stories effectively. Aiming to make Sensory Stories affordable and accessible to schools and parents alike by using everyday items found in the classroom and home, Joanna Grace provides original, ready-to-use Sensory Stories with accompanying lesson plans, games and activities and adaptations for different abilities and diagnoses.

Written by an experienced SEN consultant and sensory learning specialist, this is unique and essential reading for teachers, other professionals and parents wishing to introduce the many benefits of multi-sensory storytelling to children in their care.

This book identifies many of the problems our children exhibit as a result of their sensory difficulties, such as delayed learning, and low moods and behaviour. It introduces sensory stories as a resource to break down barriers to learning and understanding. The examples within draw upon Joanna's incredible insight into the world of special needs children through her experiences in the role of teacher and enabler. This is vital reading for every special needs parent and teacher alike.
James Gordon, Autism advocate and Social Media Campaigner, single parent of a boy with severe Autism
Take a pinch of glitter, a peck of spice, a splash of water, pebbles, a torch and noise makers; add the guiding spell of this book and we are ready. Through inspirational ideas, clearly and simply explained, Jo shows how everyone, including those with the most profound needs, can share and learn through the deep magic of stories. I wish this book had been around years ago when I first began teaching students with profound learning difficulties.
Gill Warren, English Coordinator, Sir Charles Parsons School, Newcastle, UK
Teachers will love the stories, the lesson plans and record keeping ideas.
Penny Lacey, Senior Lecturer in Education, School of Education, University of Birmingham, UK
Joanna Grace is a consultant and author of educational materials for students with special educational needs. She has spent her career working with children with special educational needs both in mainstream and special school settings, and has also fostered a child with special needs on a short break basis. She has been commissioned to write for a number of high profile organisations, including BookTrust, Teach First, Worldstories, Oxfam, Amnesty International and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. She regularly trains professionals in how to facilitate Sensory Stories for students with special educational needs and disabilities. She speaks regularly about sensory learning at educational conferences. Joanna's website can be found at www.thesensoryprojects.co.uk and she tweets as @jo3grace.
But what impressed me most was the way the book explains every element and idea, providing useful information and practical methods to enable practitioners to makes sensory stories a part of classroom life fairly quickly. It was an inspiring read and I will be sharing it with my colleagues in their mainstream early years and Key Stage 1 classrooms, as well as with those working in specialised settings with children of all ages.
Helen Punter-Bruce, specialis teacher for early years children with additional needs, East Sussex
Special Children
The author, Joanna Grace is passionate about sensory stories and their life enhancing power comes through loud and clear in her book aimed at those who work with children, young people and adults who have special educational needs... As well as using sensory stories with individuals, they can also be shared in a group... excellent 'resource-guide' to hand... Practitioners/carers and parents aware of the particular needs of their group/individuals would be able to choose other stories appropriate to those needs and the sensory stimuli to go with them.
Red Reading Hub blog
Red Reading Hub blog

Joanna Grace has developed the concept of sensory stories based on her extensive experience in working with children in mainstream and special settings... The stories use touch, smell, sight and taste to tell the story and they are not dependent on the ability to understand and process language.
Grace provides a clear framework and rationale for her work and explains the relevance of it for children and adults with a range of learning differences such as ASD and mental health difficulties... This is a well-researched book, which will appeal to a wide audience.

Mary Mountstephen, author, editor
SEN Magazine