Sensory design in schools | Primary Capital Action Conference 2009

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Oranges were given out at the Primary Capital Action 09 event to demonstrate the power of the senses. Image used courtesy of OrangeSmell via Flickr CC.

We know that children are best prepared to learn when they are active and alert. The challenge for teachers and designers is to create school environments that enhance this emotional and intellectual receptiveness. While a new building may offer the opportunity to design up-to-date learning environments, this is not always an option; the Government’s cash injection of £3bn will not help all the UK’s primary schools. So how do you transform life-expired buildings into inspiring spaces on modest budgets?

The recent Cambridge Primary Review final report has suggested that school building design should provide better facilities for specialist teaching, outdoor learning and libraries. But there are other ways of revolutionising primary school learning through building design. At this year’s Primary Capital Action event, Nightingale Associates took centre stage to explain the theory of sensory learning and introduce a potentially ground-breaking primary school experiment.

The practice’s presentation, Testing the Theory: Simplistic Design + Low Investment = Maximised Pupil Performance, explained how the experiment would transform one primary school classroom – on a small budget – to adopt the principles of Sense Sensitive Design. Sense Sensitive Design is a concept developed by Nightingale Associates  and derived from extensive study into the relationship between sensory engagement and learning. It involves designing learning spaces with the purpose of acitvely stimulating each of the human senses.

Within the healthcare field there has been significantly more research into sensory perception and how it impacts on the healing processes. Nightingale Associates has drawn on this research to develop evidence-based design tools and guidelines that inform the design of effective healing environment. Now existing and new research has begun to indicate how school environments can truly affect academic outcomes.

Design research and innovation director, Richard Mazuch, believes sensory design can enhance academic performance.

Nightingale Associates’ design research and innovation director, Richard Mazuch, and associate director, Rachel Bassindale, explained at the Primary Capital Action conference how refurbishment should be more than just freshly-painted walls; it should take into account the physiological and psychological impact the school setting has on our children.

Richard said before the event, “Nightingale Associates has been exploring the way the body perceives and responds to sensory stimuli. Through extensive analysis, the theory recognises a link between children’s environments and their capacity to learn.

“An understanding of paediatrics and sensory maturation during the seven ages of child development is key in calibrating teaching and learning environments.

“In collaboration with university and industry partners, we now intend to undertake a primary school research project that will prove this hypothesis.”

The presentation outlined the methodology, design tools and expected outcomes of the experiment, and gave delegates the opportunity to challenge the research with the aim to better the approach.

Nightingale Associates, which hopes its classroom experiment will prove that sensory design can aid learning, attracted much interest from delegates at the second annual Primary Capital Action Conference, giving those involved in the planning and delivery of PCP funds an opportunity to meet and exchange valuable knowledge and experience.

Last year’s event was a tremendous success, with over 300 delegates, 20 high-level speakers, and the most influential suppliers involved in delivering the PCP having gathered to discuss best practice in developing innovative strategies for change.

The Primary Capital Action event took place at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London.

To download the seminar presentation, please visit the website.