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Postgraduate training: qualify as a Sensory Integration Practitioner
Earn a PGCert, PGDip or MSc in Sensory Integration and Processing and train to practise Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI).
University-accredited, delivered with Sheffield Hallam University
Teaching, mentoring, and practice development built in
A clear route from Module A to confident clinical application
Sensory Inclusion Facilitator Certificate
Learn practical ways to spot sensory differences and make simple changes that help people take part - at school, work, home, and in the community.
£395. Online.
(CPD + Community)
Keep your sensory integration knowledge up to date with short courses, live support, and a practitioner-moderated forum.
£195/year. Cancel anytime.
Live online peer sessions
Community forum (moderated)
Short CPD courses, webinars, events, and resources
Answer a few questions and we’ll point you to the best course for your role. Takes about 2 minutes.
See what our students have to say about our courses:
"I feel that the breadth and depth of the study topics, clinical hours and mentoring support for Module 4 has greatly enhanced both my clinical and professional skills enabling me to practice confidently as an Advanced Practitioner. By applying advanced knowledge of sensory integration theory and practice to my clinical field, I can respond more effectively to the diverse needs of the children with whom I work."
Winner of the The Elizabeth Stephenson Award for the Postgraduate Diploma in SI Outstanding Student of the Year
"I'm extremely grateful and honoured to have won The Elizabeth Fairgrieve Award. Completing the postgraduate certificate in sensory integration was an exciting and rewarding experience and it's completely enhanced my professional practice."
Winner of the Elizabeth Fairgrieve Award for the Postgraduate Certificate in Sensory Integration Outstanding Student of the Year
"After 21 years of using an SI frame of reference it is still incredibly valuable to take the time out to develop. It is such a rapidly developing field that there is always something new to learn, and its complexity means that any re-immersion in formal learning results in new connections and insights that will benefit clinical practice. And it is so interesting!
It's also really good to now introduce myself as an Advanced Practitioner after all these years! "
Quick answers about sensory integration, sensory processing, and our training routes.
Sensory integration, also known as sensory processing, refers to the neurological process by which the brain receives, organises, and interprets sensory information from the body and environment. This process helps us experience, understand, and respond appropriately to sensory inputs.
Sensory integration involves senses such as:
It is an automatic process essential for everyday activities like dressing, eating, moving, socialising, learning, and working.
Sensory integration develops naturally through typical childhood activities, but some individuals experience difficulties processing sensory information, which can affect behaviour, learning, and daily participation.
Sensory integration difficulties (sometimes called sensory processing disorder or SPD) can be seen in individuals with various conditions, including autism, ADHD, and developmental coordination disorder.
The concept was first developed by Dr A Jean Ayres in the 1960s-70s, who defined it as:
“The neurological process that organises sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively with the environment.” (Ayres, 1972)
Sensory Integration Therapy (Ayres Sensory Integration®) is a specialised, evidence-based therapy provided by qualified practitioners to help individuals with sensory integration challenges.
For more detailed information, you can visit https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/what-is-si
The term Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is sometimes used in the US, but not usually in the UK. We use the term sensory integration and processing differences.
If you're wondering whether your child has sensory processing difficulties, here are some key points to consider based on sensory integration principles:
Useful links
If you need specific guidance or support, consulting a sensory integration practitioner is recommended. They can provide an individualised assessment and intervention plan tailored to your child's needs.
Sensory processing differences can be assessed by qualified Sensory Integration (SI) Practitioners.
For more information or to find a qualified therapist, you can visit:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/find-an-si-therapist
Ayres’ Sensory Integration® (ASI) is a theory and therapeutic approach developed by Dr A Jean Ayres in the late 1960s and 1970s. Here is an overview:
Definition:
ASI is a neurological process that organises sensation from one’s own body and from the environment, making it possible to use the body effectively within the environment (Ayres, 1972).
Core Concept:
It explains how the brain takes in sensory information from multiple senses (vision, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, proprioception, vestibular, and interoception), processes and integrates this information, then produces appropriate responses that enable participation in daily activities like dressing, eating, moving, learning, and socialising.
Development:
Sensory integration develops naturally during childhood through ordinary activities. However, some individuals experience difficulties in processing and integrating sensory information, which can affect behaviour, learning, and participation.
Therapeutic Approach:
ASI therapy is a structured, evidence-based intervention carried out by qualified sensory integration practitioners (occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, or physiotherapists with specialised postgraduate training). It includes carefully designed activities that provide sensory input in a way that supports the brain’s ability to process and integrate sensations.
Fidelity and Adaptation:
ASI therapy follows specific principles and fidelity measures to ensure effectiveness, but practitioners creatively adapt interventions to fit different clinical settings and client needs.
Legacy:
Dr Ayres was an occupational therapist and educational psychologist whose work forms the foundation for sensory integration therapy used worldwide today.
You can find detailed information about sensory integration and Ayres’ Sensory Integration® here:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/what-is-si
If you want to explore training in sensory integration visit:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/postgraduate-courses
Sensory integration therapy may help individuals with autism who experience sensory processing difficulties.
Understand Sensory Needs: Recognise that individuals may be over-responsive, under-responsive, or have mixed sensory processing differences affecting their comfort, focus, and participation.
Create Sensory-Inclusive Environments:
Incorporate Movement and Breaks:
Personalise Sensory Diets:
Adapt Tasks and Routines:
Educate and Train Staff:
Sensory Inclusion Facilitator Certificate course helps professionals recognise, support, and adapt for sensory processing differences:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/sensory-inclusion-facilitator-certificate
Sensory Inclusive Schools resources and courses help educators and professionals create sensory-friendly learning environments:
https://www.sensoryinclusiveschools.org/
Free sensory resources for practical tips and tools:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/resources
Small environmental changes and understanding sensory needs can make a huge difference in comfort, participation, and productivity at school or work.
Yes! Sensory Integration Education offers a range of courses specifically designed for parents, teachers, and other professionals to understand sensory integration difficulties and learn practical strategies to support individuals in everyday environments like home, school, and work.
Sensory Inclusion Facilitator Certificate:
A course to help recognise sensory processing differences and adapt approaches to support others in school or the workplace. It includes an online course, live workshops, and an assessment to become a Certified Sensory Inclusion Facilitator.
More information here:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/sensory-inclusion-facilitator-certificate
Short Courses and Webinars:
Sensory Integration Education offers various short courses, webinars, and workshops aimed at increasing awareness and practical skills in sensory-informed practice for educators, parents, and carers. These cover sensory strategies, sensory diets, and creating sensory-friendly environments.
Resources and Support:
There are also free resources and guides available for parents and teachers to help understand and support sensory processing differences:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/resources
Sensory Inclusive Schools:
A programme providing resources and training to support sensory-friendly environments in educational settings:
https://www.sensoryinclusiveschools.org/
Sensory Help Now:
FREE Expert Help for Parents and Carers from Sensory Experts
https://www.sensoryhelpnow.org/
These courses and resources empower non-therapists to better support sensory needs in children and adults in their daily lives and settings.
To become a certified practitioner, professionals such as occupational therapists must complete postgraduate training in sensory integration — our flagship courses offer this path.
See our Postgraduate Programme in Sensory Integration here: https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/postgraduate-courses
See the entry conditions here:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/pages/si-postgraduate-entry-conditions
Yes, adults can have sensory processing difficulties too. Sensory integration challenges are not limited to children; they can affect people throughout their lives, including adolescents and adults.
A Sensory Integration (SI) Practitioner is a health or social care professional trained to assess and support people whose sensory processing and integration differences affect their everyday life.
These practitioners use specialist assessment tools and evidence-informed intervention approaches to understand each person's unique sensory processing needs, supporting individuals to participate, move and interact in ways that feel more comfortable.
At Sensory Integration Education (SIE), we define sensory integration as the brain’s automatic process of receiving, organising and interpreting information from our senses (vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, proprioception, vestibular and interoception) so that we can respond appropriately to our body and environment. For some people, differences in the way they process sensory input mean they struggle with coordination, concentration, regulation or daily routines.
Because the titles “SI Practitioner” and “Sensory Integration Practitioner (Advanced)” are not legally protected, it is vital for people seeking support to understand what these titles mean and how to identify someone with the depth of training and clinical experience that SIE endorses.
An SI Practitioner can assess how a person’s sensory systems are functioning and provide individualised supports to help them manage challenges arising from sensory differences and to advocate for accommodations. Their work might include:
Sensory Integration Practitioners support children, young people, and adults who experience sensory processing differences that may include:
Through sensory experiences and tailored environmental or task adaptations, SI Practitioners help individuals build more effective sensory processing, enabling improved learning, confidence, and participation.
A Sensory Inclusion Facilitator is a professional or staff member trained to make spaces and activities more accessible for people with diverse sensory processing preferences.
While not a clinical role, Sensory Inclusion Facilitators use their knowledge of sensory processing to adapt environments, routines, tasks and communication to promote inclusion and comfort for everyone.
Staff working in or with schools can qualify as a Sensory Inclusion Facilitator for Education.
