A NEW sensory room will be built at a primary school in Basildon to help provide “greater accessibility and facilities” for disabled students.

Basildon Council has given the green light to a planning application to build a detached sensory room at Janet Duke Primary School, in Markhams Chase.

The sensory room will be used to provide “sensory integration therapy to individuals with sensory processing challenges”.

These rooms often include components such as “bubble tubes”, “fibre optic sprays”, “beanbag chairs” and so on.

Alex Harrison, Labour councillor responsible for the Lee Chapel North ward, praised the school for catering to all students.

He said: “School can be an intimidating place for children with additional needs, and teachers are often too stretched to provide the support additional needs pupils need.

“So, it is great news that Janet Duke School has plans to improve the experience for these children.

“I hope more schools follow Janet Duke’s lead with specialist facilities like this.

“Labour’s plan to deliver 6,500 additional teachers will reduce class sizes and allow more support to be directed to children with additional needs so they can thrive in their school environment.”

Janet Duke Primary School has approximately 640 pupils all aged between five and 11.

The sensory room would measure 4.8m in width, 3.5m in depth, and 3m in height.

It would be located on the edge of the existing school field adjacent and existing hard-standing car park, with an accessible footpath linking it to the rest of the school.

In the plans, the school state: “The proposal seeks to enhance accessibility for students with sensory needs and severe disabilities.

“It will also be wheelchair accessible.”

No objections were raised by neighbours during the planning process and Basildon Council gave the proposals the green light this week, meaning the school can now move forward with building the new sensory room.