In year 8 textiles, Bushey Meads students research a chosen client and they create a sensory activity mat especially for them! Some of our students have selected to make their activity mats for young children ages between 2-10 years old.

Last Friday, a small group of Year 8 students went along to Meadow Wood Primary school to visit some of the children and teachers there.

They met 4 classes and spoke to the children and their teachers to find out what sorts of things they liked and what would be important to consider for their activity mats.

Here are some of the thoughts from Irene Jacob, one of the BMS students on the trip.

‘Safety is a number one priority for every child. We have all been requested by the teachers at the school to make sure that all our equipment is secured onto the mat so that e.g buttons don’t come undone. The children have a obsession with mirrors as they can see their faces and this amuses children with low sight or visual impairments.’

‘This school has given us many ideas to improve our play mats to suit the certain opinions of children. We have analysed the data the teachers and students have given us and will try to include interesting ideas to entertain the children, while keeping it safe for them.’

The trip was a great insight and will really help our students think carefully about the needs of their user.

We hope to take some activity mats, when completed, back over to Meadow Wood and see what the children and teachers think.

I am thrilled that our Year 8 students demonstrated exemplary behaviour while we were there and look forward to seeing what they create over the next few weeks!