Special Schools & ARP Workshops

A safe, interactive space for all children, our Sensory Space is specifically designed to support Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent children and young people to engage, explore and learn.

With an interactive floor that responds to gesture and movement, and floor to ceiling wall projections, children can explore a room full of dynamic images, pop-up elements, sound effects and music.

Workshops in the sensory space can be themed to any book or topic of your choosing, and will be bespoke-designed to suit the needs of your learners.

Techniques Used:

• Sensory Exploration
• Puppetry
• Movement
• Group/Pair Games
• Call & Response
• Songs
• Music
• Interactive Floor Projections

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Increased or decreased sensory stimulation.
• Sessions can follow a story structure or allow learners to discover elements at their own pace.
• Can be delivered seated or with freedom to roam.
• Group sizes, aims and topics can all be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 30 minutes to 1 hour

In a Sensory Story session, one of Polka’s expert storytellers will invite your students to travel with them through the world of a story, using a range of dramatic and sensory techniques to bring a book or classic tale of your choosing to life.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a cool down and reflection.

Techniques Used:

• Sensory Play
• Puppetry
• Movement
• Roleplay
• Group/Pair Games
• Call & Response
• Songs
• Music

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Increased or decreased sensory stimulation.
• Sessions can either follow the plot or allow learners to freely explore the world of the story.
• Can be delivered seated or with freedom to roam.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 30 minutes to 1 hour

In a Page to Stage workshop, pupils will work with a Polka practitioner to explore a book or story of your choosing and create their own dramatic adaptations.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a chance for groups to perform.

Techniques Explored:

• Using stimuli to inspire drama
• Creating a setting onstage
• Bringing a character to life using movement, expression and/or voice
• Telling a story

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Learners can work toward a variety of outcomes, including short plays, movement pieces, still images or crafts.
• Learners can work individually or in groups.
• Learners can perform or take on ‘backstage’ roles.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 1 hour to 1 day per class

In a Play in a Day workshop, a Polka Practitioner will guide your students through the process of devising and staging their own piece of theatre.

Play in a Day workshops can be themed to one of your curriculum areas, or you can give your pupils complete creative freedom. Past workshops have included everything from a Theatre for Change piece on the environment, to a play about a magical pineapple.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a chance for groups to perform.

Techniques Explored:

• Generating ideas
• Using stimuli to inspire drama
• Devising and improvisation
• Structuring a story
• Developing characters
• Building a setting
• Performance techniques

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Learners can work toward a variety of outcomes, including short plays, movement pieces, character catwalks or still images.
• Learners can perform or take on ‘backstage’ roles.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 2.5 hours to 1 day per class

A Show-Related Workshop is the perfect way to complement a trip to Polka. In these workshops, pupils will work with a Polka Practitioner to explore the key themes, characters and settings from the Polka production they have seen.

Performance Elements Explored:

• Character
• Setting
• Plot
• Key Themes
• Performance/Production Techniques

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Sessions can work toward a creative outcome (e.g. a short roleplay or craft), or allow learners to freely explore the world of the play.
• Increased or decreased sensory stimulation.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 30 minutes to 2.5 hours per class

In a Puppetry Workshop, your pupils will learn about a range of different types of puppets and how they are operated. One of Polka’s experienced puppeteers will then guide each child through the process of designing and building their very own puppet. Workshops can be themed to a book or topic of your choosing.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a chance for pupils to practice operating their puppets.

Types of Puppets:

• Paper Bag Puppets
• Stick and Rod Puppets
• Moving Mouth Puppets
• Shadow Puppets
• Paper Plate Puppets

How this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

Upon booking, Polka staff will talk through a range of puppet options to find the most suitable for your learners to create and/or decorate.

Recommended Workshop Length: 45 to 90 minutes per class

Puppetry workshops incur an additional fee of £1 per learner to cover materials.

In our Coping with Change Workshop, a Polka Practitioner will use drama and storytelling to guide your learners as they explore the concept of change.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a cool down and reflection.

Techniques Used:

• Process Drama
• Storytelling
• Still Image
• Roleplay
• Breathwork

Learners will…

• explore the differences between the types of change they may experience in life.
• be immersed in a story or take part in a process drama about a difficult change.
• work together to explore and recognise the different emotions the characters may be experiencing.
• problem solve ways to manage those feelings

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Increased or decreased sensory stimulation.
• Can take the form of either a story or a more interactive drama workshop.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 45 minutes to 2 hours per class

In our Empathy Workshop, a Polka Practitioner will use drama and storytelling to guide your learners as they explore empathy, how to recognise emotions in others, and the impact of their actions upon their peers.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a cool down and reflection.

Techniques Used:

• Process Drama
• Storytelling
• Still Image
• Roleplay
• Devising

Learners will…

• be immersed in a story or take part in a short process drama on a disagreement between friends.
• practice identifying emotions
• consider the causes and effects of different actions.
• work together to explore different solutions and outcomes.

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Increased or decreased sensory stimulation.
• Can take the form of either a story or a more interactive drama workshop.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 45 minutes to 2 hours per class

In our Confidence Workshop, a Polka Practitioner will use drama and storytelling to guide your learners as they identify and celebrate their own strengths and those of their peers, as well as exploring moments in their lives where they may need to set boundaries or ask for help.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a cool down and reflection.

Techniques Used:

• Process Drama
• Storytelling
• Still Image
• Roleplay
• Devising

Learners will…

• take part in games and activities designed to celebrate their differences, skills and strengths.
• be immersed in a story or engage in a process drama in which a character requires help.
• work together to explore and discover ways that help can be attained.

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Increased or decreased sensory stimulation.
• Can take the form of either a story or a more interactive drama workshop.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 45 minutes to 2 hours per class

In our Emotions Workshops, a Polka Practitioner will use drama and storytelling to guide your learners as they grow their emotional regulation skills, exploring how to recognise and manage strong feelings. Workshops can be themed to a specific emotion, such as anxiety, anger or sadness.

Every workshop will begin with a warm up and end with a cool down and reflection.

Techniques Used:

• Process Drama
• Storytelling
• Still Image
• Roleplay
• Breathwork

Children will…

• be immersed in a story or take part in a process drama on managing difficult emotions.
• practice identifying different feelings.
• work together to problem solve ways to manage big emotions.

Examples of ways this workshop can be adapted to suit your learners:

• Increased or decreased sensory stimulation.
• Can take the form of either a story or a more interactive drama workshop.
• Group sizes and aims can be chosen to create the most suitable learning environment.
• Optional use of communication aids.

Recommended Workshop Length: 45 minutes to 2 hours per class

Polka also provides workshops bespoke-designed for your school.

A bespoke workshop may combine two or more different types of workshop, run over multiple days, or use drama and theatre to explore something completely original.

Examples of Past Bespoke Workshops:

• Weekly drama classes and clubs
• Combined Puppetry and Play in a Day/Page to Stage workshops
• Shakespeare workshops
• Poetry or Creative Writing workshops
• History through Drama workshops
• Mask-making workshops
• Playmaking and Devising workshops run over multiple days

Please note that bespoke workshops incur a small additional fee, which will be discussed when booking. To book a bespoke workshop, simply fill in the Schools Workshop Booking Form and our Schools Manager, Lizzie, will get in touch to discuss your ideas.