Cheap quality sensory equipment?

lilly81

Does anybody know where I can buy cheap sensory equipment that would be suitable for an autism base/school?
Many Thanks
LillyX

kingfisherblue

I don't know where you can find cheap fibre optic lights and suchlike, but small items can often be found in pound shops. I have had, in recent months, a small colour changing light, various squishy balls, disco ball, books with different textures. Asda had clear balls (about the size of a tennis ball) filled with glitter and lights - various different colours. I think they were £2 each or three for £5.

Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation sell three larger balls with funny faces - the balls are scented. They are neon green, yellow and pink.

Child safe mirrors can be found in many baby shops. You can also get black and white geometric mobiles for about £15.

The Works were recently selling books suitable for young children or those with learning difficulties. They were simple stories about insects, and were 59p each or two for £1. The binding was rigid plastic (ridged like a teething ring) and the pages were made of something that feels like paper, but is tear proof and water proof.

Home Bargains sell a variety of lights, including lava lamps and disco lights, from £4.99. They also sell cheap fleece blankets - if you sew two together, with weights around the eedge, it will be considerably cheaper than buying a weighted blanket from a specialist retailer. The textiles teacher should be able to do this quite easily.

Ask local fabric shops for offcuts of materials to make a touchy feely box. Also for cheap lengths of dark and/or blackout material.

Ask tile shops for odd tiles with different textures.

Curry's donated a cassette/CD player to my Brownie unit when it opened - worth asking!

Lots of shops now have in stock things like windmills (or you can make them!), bubble machines, rainbow streamers (or make one from a striped plastic strip style door curtain), beaded curtains, etc.

Dunelm Mill sell beanbags from about £20 upwards - different shapes and different textures. Try to get those with removable or wipable covers for easy cleaning.

Ask other schools if they have anything lurking in their cupboards that they would like to donate.