In June 2023, we worked for the first time with SenSability, a parent community group for children with special needs, to create a couple of Open Air Bounce SEN sessions. We adapted what we do to recognise those needs, to improve access to the park and to make sure that even more children can have the fun of an open air bouncing session.
With thanks to the team at SenSability for all their work to make this happen, here are just 8 of the things that we added or adapted – and we’re now exploring how best to adapt things for the future so please get in touch if you have ideas or suggestions.
1. Disabled toilets
A pretty basic requirement and something we’re keen to have available for every session now that we’ve sourced units that work well for everyone.
2. A wheelchair access ramp for the sandpit in the Beach area
Again, something we now have in place for all sessions having had the access issue pointed out for the SEN sessions. We’ve also made sure there’s water to rinse off wheelchairs after they’ve been in this area so that there’s no sand to damage wheelchair gears or bearings in use.
3. Staff training
We’ve invested time and effort – as have SenSabilty – to ensure that our staff understand more about special needs and the children and families who are dealing with them. In that training, we’ve encouraged our team to understand invisible as well as visible disabilities and to see the abilities, not the disabilities. We won’ be perfect but we’ll be better – and we’re keen to learn for the future too.
4. Signage that shows as well as tells
We’ve created Now and Next signage as well as more visual notices around the park so that our bouncers of all ages are reassured and know a bit more about what’s happening and where.
5. Reduced numbers
We limit numbers for all our sessions to make sure that bouncers don’t have to queue too much and can have maximum fun. For SEN sessions, we’ve reduced numbers a bit more and there’ll be fewer bouncers on each inflatable at any time.
6. Reduced music
We understand that too much noise and music can really distress some of those with special needs and so the SEN sessions will be much quieter, partly because we’ll turn the music off or right down and partly because reduced numbers mean reduced noise as well.
7. A special tent with reduced sensory stimulation
On site for the SEN sessions will be a dark tent with a quieter atmosphere and gentle sensory lighting. It aims to be a space where anyone with sensory overload from the rest of the park can retreat and relax before more bouncing.
8. If stocks allow, sensory goodie bags for bouncers
The team at SenSability have helped us source a variety of items that could help your child. Our sensory goodie bags contain ear defenders, a timer, fidget toys and even a fluffy blanket, all designed to enable EVERYONE to enjoy their time at Open Air Bounce.
We had lots of feedback from the first sessions in June and the July sessions sold out within a week or so of us announcing them! We’re now working out how best to make this approach work in future. There’s certainly a demand for these sessions and we just need to make sure that we’re offering everything that our visitors expect and need for a really special session.
You can find out more about SenSabilty by following the group on Instagram @mysensability.
We hope that this is a useful blog – and really hope to see you at Open Air Bounce very soon. If you’ve advice for other parents following your own visit, please let us know and we can pass it on to other people too.
