The Universal Offer: Making Sensory Support Work in Mainstream Schools
Free Webinar | Aurora & AccessHub
The Universal Offer: Making Sensory Support Work in Mainstream Schools
15th October 2026 | 9:30am BST | Approx 30 mins + Q&A
Led by Kate Whittlesey, Director of Education at AccessHub, National SEND Improvement consultant, and former SENCo. Kate has led SEND strategy at Local Authority, regional, and MAT level, and now advises schools and MATs across the country on inclusion, audits, and governance.
Joined by Matt Livesey (Aurora) and Pat McMahon (AccessHub) for practical advice on sensory provision in mainstream schools.
Ideal for SENCos, School or Trust leaders, School Business Managers and anyone involved in SEND, or inclusion planning.
Join Our Webinar
Reserve your free place today
Topics Covered
Hear expert insights on:
Understanding the Universal Offer
- What 'ordinary available provision' means in practice
- The Inclusive Mainstream Fund and current expectations
- Building inclusive environments before specialist intervention is required
Myth-Busting Sensory Rooms
- What sensory rooms are (and aren't)
- Common mistakes schools make
- When sensory rooms can be effective
- Alternative approaches that may deliver greater impact
Supporting Regulation and Reducing Anxiety
- Understanding the pupil anxiety curve
- Early intervention and prevention
- Creating predictable, supportive environments
Sensory Circuits and Practical Interventions
- What sensory circuits are designed to achieve
- Examples of effective implementation
- Timetabling and practical considerations
- Staff involvement and consistency
Creating Effective Sensory Environments
- Small changes that can make a big difference
- Low-cost and high-impact strategies
- Practical examples from schools
Ardnashee School & College
Aurora Sensory Room
Greenacre School
Aurora Sensory Room
Castle Tower School
Aurora Sensory & Immersive Room
Key Takeaways
Leave with a clearer understanding of:
What effective sensory provision looks like in practice
How sensory environments fit within a school's wider inclusion strategy
Common myths and misconceptions to avoid
Practical, realistic actions that can be implemented immediately
Director of Education, AccessHub & National SEND Improvement Consultant
Kate Whittlesey
Kate is a nationally respected SEND consultant with leadership experience across early years, primary, secondary, and post-16 education. She has worked as a SENCo, Local Authority SEND Advisor, Regional SEND Lead, and MAT leader, supporting schools from those requiring rapid improvement through to Ofsted Outstanding.
She regularly advises schools, MATs, and Local Authorities on audits, strategy, and governance, and provides coaching and mentoring for SENCos and leaders. Alongside consultancy, Kate contributes to national discussions on inclusion, wellbeing, and workload, sharing practical insights through events, podcasts, and networks.
At AccessHub, Kate ensures the platform is aligned with curriculum priorities and whole-school improvement, helping leaders embed accessibility as a core part of effective teaching and leadership.
Sales Manager, Aurora
Matt Livesey
Matt Livesey at Aurora has more than 25 years' experience supporting schools across the UK and Ireland. With a wealth of knowledge in IT and education technology, he has played a key role in shaping Aurora's sensory and immersive solutions since joining the business in 2015.
Working closely with schools, MATs, software development teams, and partner organisations, Matt helps develop practical solutions that support learning, inclusion and wellbeing. His extensive experience gives him valuable insight into the challenges schools face and how immersive technology can make a meaningful difference.
Managing Director, AccessHub
Pat McMahon
Pat is a former architectural technician and co-founder of RISE Adaptations, the UK's leading Changing Places provider. He has overseen the design and installation of accessible facilities for local authorities, heritage sites, sports venues, and community spaces nationwide – combining technical expertise with a practical understanding of compliance and user needs.
With experience spanning architecture, project delivery, and client support, Pat brings a broad perspective on what works in real-world environments. He ensures accessibility solutions are not only compliant with standards, but also safe, durable, and genuinely usable.
At AccessHub, Pat applies this expertise to make sure the platform is firmly grounded in the realities of school buildings, budgets, and day-to-day operations.
About Aurora
Aurora is the UK’s trusted provider of sensory and immersive rooms, backed by over 50 years of combined expertise in sensory and immersive technology. As a division of Osborne Technologies Ltd, established in 1996, Aurora designs and installs tailored multi-sensory spaces and immersive environments for the education sector.
With hundreds of installations across the UK, our spaces help people feel calmer, more focused and more engaged, supporting ongoing development, sensory regulation and emotional wellbeing.
Every space is designed around the people who use it, adapting to individual needs, supporting different lessons, activities and purposes throughout the day.
About AccessHub
AccessHub helps schools consider the broader accessibility picture. Drawing on years of practical accessibility experience, AccessHub helps schools review, improve, track and evidence accessibility across the whole school.
Built on over 70 technical and legal standards and shaped by a multidisciplinary team of experts, it brings together audits, guidance, recommendations and action tracking into one clear, structured approach.
AccessHub isn’t another SEND tool or compliance checklist, nor does it replace your MIS. Instead, it fills a clear and important gap by providing a practical, whole-school framework that builds on the work schools already do every day to be more accessible.
Join us on 15th October 2026 at 9:30am BST