I am Kerry Robinson; I teach at the Seaham Trinity Primary School in Seaham and my role is to support those children who need additional support with their learning and who benefit from a smaller learning environment.

I am asking for your support to help me create a Sensory Garden at our school, an outdoor space especially designed to stimulate the senses.

The benefits of sensory gardens for children, with and without special needs, have become well recognised in recent years. It encourages exploration, aids learning and improves concentration, promoting a strong affinity with nature, which has therapeutic benefits for everyone.

Our sensory garden will support over 450 children aged 3-11, and in particular up to 80 children with specific educational needs, such as autism and dyspraxia and will create a great space to stimulate all five senses which will help strike the right balance between relaxation and stimulation.

The purpose of our garden will be to enable all visitors to explore the sensations they might not usually experience within a calm and nurturing environment, ultimately promoting a strong sense of wellbeing along with a whole host of additional benefits for children with sensory processing issues.

We need your help! - To create this space, with the specialised equipment it is extremely expensive and the school simply does not have the funds to spare.

I am looking for financial contributions to support this initiative from our community and the wider to make this happen.