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Twilight Talk: The Complexity of Supporting Sensory Differences In Secondary School

  • Webcasts
  • 06 Nov 2025
Twilight Talks

Supporting students with sensory processing differences in secondary school is a complex, often overwhelming task. Educators are asked to meet a wide range of needs in environments that are noisy, fast-paced, and rarely designed with sensory regulation in mind. Students, particularly those who are neurodivergent, may feel constantly overwhelmed— while educators are doing their best, often feeling they don’t have the right tools to do so. 

This session acknowledges the very real struggles faced by both students and staff. There are no simple strategies or one-size-fits-all answers, and this session will not provide you with all the answers. Instead, we will explore what it means to support sensory processing in a system that was never built for sensory difference. We will consider: 

  • The sensory challenges of secondary school and how sensory processing differences present in secondary school students. 
  • The impact of busy, inflexible school environments on students’ sensory regulation, participation, and wellbeing 
  • Why educators often feel “stuck in the middle” — between student needs, system demands, and limited capacity 
  • Practical, realistic approaches that centre compassion, flexibility, and authentic connection 
  • A call to action: small shifts that can ripple into systemic change 

Above all, this session is a space to validate the emotional and practical challenges educators face — and to remind ourselves that while we may not be able to fix the system overnight, we can begin to shift the culture, one interaction at a time. 

Once you have finished watching this recording please do complete our short evaluation.

You can read more about our Twilight Talks sessions on our dedicated page.

Suitable for: A parent/carer, Administration Staff, Assistant Head Teacher, Consultant, Deputy Head Teacher, Early Years Practitioner, Educational Psychologist, Governor, Head Teacher, Inclusion Manager/Leader, Newly Qualified Teacher, SENCO, Senior Leader, Student, Support staff, Teacher, Tutor, Young person, Other

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Beth Smithson

Beth has worked as an Occupational Therapist for the last nineteen years, supporting children, young people, and families across health, education, and social care. She has managed integrated OT services in these sectors and worked internationally, bringing a wealth of expertise to her practice. As an advanced sensory integration practitioner and a passionate advocate for sensory processing and integration, Beth leads the Sensory Inclusive Schools project for Sensory Integration Education. Through this role, she delivers training, raises awareness about sensory processing, and empowers schools to create environments where every student can thrive.

Beth Smithson

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