Additional support for learning: sensory-inclusive learning environments - guidance

13. Further information and resources

Design and Management Guidance

BSI PAS6463 Design for the Mind – Neurodiversity and the Built Environment 2022, is FREE TO DOWNLOAD and contains deeper technical guidance. British Standards.

Neurodiversity in planning This is an excellent resource for good practice around engaging with neurodivergent members of the public and stakeholders. When developing the brief for new schools or major refurbishments.

Inclusive Design Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work This overlay provides guidance on implementing inclusive design through each RIBA Plan of Work stage.

A&DS Design elements for school grounds: ideas to inspire This free resource offers practical advice and inspiration for small scale interventions on school playgrounds

Sport England’s Accessible and Inclusive Sports Facilities Guide guidance for planners, designers, building owners and operators to support the design and operation of safe, welcoming, accessible and inclusive sports and leisure facilities.

Managing School Business Operations - a guide for chief operating officers, business managers and headteachers by Jo Marchant MBE, ISBN-13 : 978-1036006198

The Learning Estate Strategy and its guiding principles provide a platform for investment in the learning estate across Scotland and set out our strategic approach for managing the learning estate.

Building Bulletin (BB) 93 Acoustic design of school’s performance standards (Scottish Government guidance (2007) supports design improvements based on Building Bulletin 93 (GOV.UK)

National Deaf Children’s Society Acoustics toolkit: A wide range of practical resources, expert guidance and training to support your work.

Creating a good communication environment as an educator Practical tips to improve sound quality and ensure your space and teaching support clear, inclusive communication – whether spoken or signed

Creating Good listening environments Highlighting some of the ways that settings can improve listening conditions.

BATOD acoustic standards: legislation and guidance The standards and guidance provide criteria for school acoustic design and access.

Nature by Design: The Practice of Biophilic Design — Stephen R. Kellert (2018)

Journal of Biophilic Design

Sensory Friendly LED lighting

NDTI website has some guidance on lighting in healthcare which is also applicable to other environments such as learning spaces.

Support materials and guidance

Cumbria Country Council 2026: Supporting Children with Sensory Processing Needs in the Early YearsSupporting Children with Sensory Processing Needs in the Early Years

Architecture and Design Scotland guide on using to design to support inclusive and accessible learning environment: Designing for inclusive and accessible learning environments

LEANS is a free curriculum to introduce pupils aged 8-11 to the concept of neurodiversity and help them explore how it impacts school experiences.

Designing inclusive places online resource for the built environment

Space to grow and thrive design guidance for early learning and childcare and school age childcare settings. Free download

Sensory Audit for Schools and Classrooms is a downloadable resource audit spaces to help staff assess and create an environment that enables the participation of pupils with autism

For staff/workplace:

Neurodiversity at work, 2021, Theo Smith and Amanda Kirby, ISBN 978 1 3986 0024 9

For learners:

The Brain Forest, 2022, Sandhya Menon National Library of Australia ISBN 978 0 646 85609 4

50 fantastic ideas for supporting neurodiversity, 2023, Ker4ry Murphy and Fifi Benha, Bloomsbury ISBN 978 1 80199 218 3

Wonderfully Wired Brains, 2023, Louise Gooding ISBN 978 0 2415 6816 3

My Body’s power pack – How to manage your energy and stay in charge!, 2025, Sandhya Menon ISBN 978 1 80501 825 4

Organisations and Networks

The Aural Diversity Network Aural diversity describes the wide range of variations in hearing across individuals – differences include deafness, noise-related, genetic, ototoxic, traumatic, and disorder-based hearing loss. Auditory processing differences such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia also involve heightened sensitivity rather than “loss.”and populations. The Aural Diversity Project explores all these differences in hearing and their consequences in any setting that involves sound. Newsletters are also provided.

National Deaf Children’s Society Scotland (NDCS) – Education rights, family support, transitions

British Deaf Association Scotland (BDA Scotland) – Deaf culture, BSL, rights and advocacy

Deaf Action (deafled) – BSL, interpreting, advice line, mental health, housing and community services

Deafblind Scotland – Specialist support for people with combined sight and hearing loss

Ménière’s & Vestibular UK is the only registered charity in the UK dedicated solely to supporting people affected by dizziness and balance problems caused by vestibular disorders.

RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) Scotland – Information, community dropins, benefits, assistive tech, campaigning

Sense Scotland – Communication support for people with complex and sensory disabilities

The National Register of Access Consultants | NRAC UK Register of accredited accessibility and inclusion specialists.

National Autistic Society Scotland Scottish arm of NAS with education rights, transitions support, and local services

Scottish Autism Scotland’s leading autism charity; services, advice line, policy influence, and research.

Autistic Care Collective, list of autistic people led organisations, Includes AMASE (Edinburgh), ATLAS, Autism Understanding Scotland, SWAN.

National Autistic Society (NAS) The largest and most established autism charity in the UK; advice, advocacy, education, and local services.

ADHD Foundation – The Neurodiversity CharityCovers ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s and more; strong in education, workplace training, and public campaigning.

Young Minds The Uk’s leading charity providing support to young people to look after their mental health. They help empower adults to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives.

Scottish ADHD Coalition Umbrella body connecting local ADHD groups; strong policy voice with Scottish Government.

Ambitious about Autism Focus on autistic children and young people, education pathways, and transitions to adulthood.

ADDiSS (Attention Deficit Disorder Information & Support Service)Longstanding national information and signposting service.

Dyslexia Scotland National Scottish charity for dyslexia and inclusive education; very influential in schools policy.

British Dyslexia Association (BDA) The national authority on dyslexia; education, workplace adjustments, and policy influence.

Dyspraxia Foundation Specialist UK body for DCD/dyspraxia across lifespan.

The Donaldson Trust (National Body for Neurodiversity in Scotland)Crosscondition, systemslevel work across education, justice, and employment.

STAND (Scotland) Grassroots, parentcarerled, strong advocacy and livedexperience focus.

DIFFERabled Scotland Peer support for neurodivergent adults and parents/carers (pre and postdiagnosis).

Sight

RNIB Scotland – Advice, Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs), employment, benefits, reading services, children & families

Sight Scotland – Scotland’s largest sightloss charity (formerly Royal Blind); rehabilitation, advice line, education (Royal Blind School), policy and campaigning

Visibility Scotland – Independentliving support, hospitalbased services, assistive technology, wellbeing and peer support

Guide Dogs Scotland – Guide dogs, mobility training, family and lifeskills support

Vision Collaborative Scotland – Umbrella collaboration of sightloss organisations shaping policy and workforce development

Scottish Sensory Centre – Education, research and professional learning on visual & sensory impairment

This guidance has been developed through consultation and collaboration with a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations with varying perspectives and expertise whose input has been invaluable.

• Aberdeenshire Council
• Architecture and Design Scotland
• Buro Happold
• Care Inspectorate
• Scottish Futures Trust
• Scottish Government

• Action on Hearing Loss
• ADES (Association of Directors of Education in Scotland)
• BDP
• Children and Young Peoples Commissioner for Scotland
• Children’s Parliament
• COSLA
• Education Scotland
• ERZ
• Fergus Murray
• Inclusion Ambassadors (Children in Scotland)
• Marion McLoughlin
• National Autistic Society Scotland
• National Deaf Children’s Society
• NORR Architects
• Parliamentary Cross Party Committee on Autism
• Rankin Fraser landscape architects
• RMP acoustics
• RNIB
• Scottish Assembly of Parents and Carers
• Scottish Youth Parliament
• Sensational Learning Centre
• SHOPS (Scottish Heads of Property Services)
• Sight Scotland
• SLR Consulting
• Sofia Farzana
• The Donaldson Trust
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of West of Scotland