Sensory Integration Education

Understanding how people experience the world through their senses can change the way we support participation and engagement in daily life. Module A: Foundations of Sensory Integration is the first step on a postgraduate pathway that equips professionals with both evidence-informed knowledge and practical tools to make that difference.

Why Module A Matters

Module A is part of the new SIE postgraduate pathway, designed to bring the latest research and contemporary practice together in one cohesive, lifespan-focused programme. The module provides a strong foundation in sensory integration theory, the structure and development of the nervous system, and the mechanisms underpinning sensory processing. You’ll explore social, emotional, and regulatory development, praxis, posture, and all major sensory systems — interoception, vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, auditory, visual, olfactory, and gustatory.

Through Module A, you develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills, enabling you to apply sensory integration frameworks to everyday challenges in your work. This is about more than theory — it’s about making sensory-informed approaches meaningful and actionable across the settings where you work, from schools to hospitals, community services, and adult rehabilitation.

Understanding Ayres Sensory Integration in Practice

A central element of the SIE pathway is Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®). Module A introduces the principles behind ASI, helping you to establish therapeutic alliances while working with individuals and maintain a client-centred, evidence-informed approach.

Learning That Fits Your Work

Module A is delivered online over 18 weeks, including 12 weeks of teaching, and combines:

• Online lectures to build a structured understanding of sensory integration
  
  
• Interactive workshops and practical tasks to connect theory to practice
  
  
• Peer discussion groups for collaborative learning
  
  
• Optional live sessions with your eMentor for guidance, feedback, and Q&A
  
  
• Access to resources for 12 months after assessment
  
  

Assignments include a 3,000-word task and a 1,000-word reflection piece, supporting your development of critical appraisal, synthesis, and applied reasoning skills.

The Benefits of Being an SIE Student

Module A students enjoy a comprehensive range of support and resources:

• University-accredited credits: 40 UK academic credits through Sheffield Hallam University, recognised globally
  
  
• eMentor support: personalised guidance throughout the module
  
  
• Immediate access to the Getting Up to Speed course: ensuring you start your studies with confidence
  
  
• Online access to the university library and Student Support Services
  
  
• Microsoft 365 is included for the duration of your studies
  
  
• Flexible learning: study asynchronously with optional live sessions to fit around your professional commitments
  
  

Module A and the Full Pathway

Module A is the first module of the PGCert and PGDip in Sensory Integration qualifications - accredited by the award-winning Sheffield Hallam University.

Completing the full PGCert builds your ability to integrate sensory-informed approaches across diverse populations and settings. The PGDip further develops reflective practice, consolidates ASI skills, and supports integration with wider therapeutic frameworks.

Who Should Apply

Module A is open to a range of registered professionals whose work involves supporting participation and engagement:

• Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists
  
  
• Social Workers, Nurses, Practitioner Psychologists
  
  
• Play Therapists, Art, Drama, and Music Therapists
  
  

This interdisciplinary approach enriches learning, allowing you to explore sensory integration in real-world contexts relevant to your own role. (Teachers are also able to undertake Module A, but they may find our Sensory Inclusive Schools course more applicable to their setting.)

Application Deadline

Applications for Module A close on 20 March 2026. With a structured 18-week schedule and supportive eMentor guidance, this is your chance to begin a journey that can meaningfully impact the people you work with every day.