Specialist Adapted PE, Therapeutic Movement and Developmental Play

At Sensoryflex, we provide specialist adapted and accessible physical education, therapeutic movement, developmental play, and sensory-motor activity sessions for children and young people with additional needs.

This service is designed especially for young people with:

• autism / ASD
• ADHD
• learning disabilities
• SEMH needs
• sensory processing differences
• regulation difficulties
• motor coordination and confidence difficulties
• reduced access to school, PE, group activities, or community-based provision

Our sessions are designed to make movement feel safer, more accessible, more achievable, and more meaningful for children and young people who may not be able to engage successfully in traditional PE, sport, or group activity environments.

A different kind of movement provision

Not every child can access standard PE.

For some children and young people, PE lessons, sports clubs, or group physical activities may feel overwhelming, dysregulating, socially demanding, physically inaccessible, or simply set at the wrong level.

Some may avoid movement because it feels too noisy, too pressured, too fast, too unpredictable, or too difficult.

Others may want to join in, but struggle with coordination, body awareness, confidence, sensory regulation, or coping in group environments.

Our provision offers a different starting point.

We provide a carefully adapted approach that supports each young person at their current level, with activities matched to their:

• sensory profile
• developmental stage
• physical confidence
• emotional regulation needs
• communication style
• interests and motivations
• ability to cope with demand, challenge, and change

What sessions may include

Sessions may include a tailored mix of:

• adapted PE activities
• therapeutic movement experiences
• developmental play
• sensory-motor activities
• balance and coordination work
• body awareness and spatial awareness activities
• postural control and core strength development
• rhythm, timing, and bilateral coordination tasks
• movement games that support regulation and confidence
• low-demand shared activities that help children re-engage with movement safely
• gradual progression towards greater participation, confidence, and physical competence

 

Every session is adapted to the individual or group and aims to support access, engagement, regulation, enjoyment, and development.

Who this can help

This provision may be especially helpful for children and young people who:

• cannot access typical PE lessons successfully
• find sports or group activities overwhelming
• struggle with sensory overload in busy environments
• have low confidence in movement
• avoid or refuse physical activity
• need a more individualised and therapeutic approach
• are on reduced timetables
• are out of school
• require a bespoke package of support
• need movement-based provision as part of a wider SEND, EHCP, or EOTAS/EOTIS package

Specialist, but not standard PE

These are not generic sports sessions and they are not standard PE lessons.

They are specialist sessions designed to make movement more accessible for children and young people whose needs are not met by ordinary physical activity offers.

The focus is on helping the young person to feel safe enough, regulated enough, and confident enough to engage in movement and physical activity in a way that is realistic and meaningful for them.

Sessions are developed and delivered by a HCPC-registered paediatric occupational therapist, and are informed by understanding of:

• child development
• sensory and motor differences
• neurodivergence
• emotional regulation
• movement confidence
• therapeutic use of play and activity
• the barriers many children with SEND experience in everyday physical participation

Potential benefits

Depending on the young person’s needs, this provision may support:

• improved regulation
• increased confidence in movement
• improved participation in physical activity
• better balance and coordination
• stronger body awareness
• improved postural control
• greater tolerance of guided activity
• more positive experiences of movement and play
• increased engagement with adults and peers during activity
• improved readiness for learning
• gradual re-engagement with wider educational or community-based activity

EHCP and bespoke provision

This service may be suitable as part of a bespoke support package for children and young people who require an adapted and accessible movement-based offer.

This may include children and young people who:

• need highly individualised provision
• cannot currently access school PE or group activity
• need a more flexible and specialist approach to movement and developmental activity
• are receiving support outside a typical school environment
• require provision linked to physical access, engagement, regulation, confidence, and participation outcomes

Provision can be offered on a 1:1 basis or in small groups,

depending on need, suitability, and goals.

For families, schools and professionals

We welcome enquiries from:

• parents and carers
• schools and alternative provisions
• local authorities
• EHCP coordinators
• caseworkers
• SEND professionals
• commissioners seeking bespoke movement-based provision for children and young people with complex needs

Movement that starts in the right place

For some children and young people, movement cannot begin with pressure,

performance, or demand.

It has to begin with safety, trust, regulation, and success.

That is what this provision is designed to offer.

If you would like to find out more about our specialist adapted PE, therapeutic movement, and developmental play sessions, please get in touch by clicking the button below