Fiadh Hunter’s face lights up with joy as waves crash over her and she is surrounded by the sounds of the ocean.
A turtle glides overhead as she is enveloped in the aquamarine of the tropics and the stress of the outside world melts away for a few minutes. But the seven-year-old is no where near the sea as she is immersed in the serenity of an alternate reality.
Instead she is relaxing in an unusual looking booth at a North Belfast primary school. The school, Mercy Primary on the Crumlin Road, has become one of the first in Northern Ireland to start using a cutting edge technology aimed at addressing a myriad of issues including anxiety and conditions like autism and ADHD.
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The Cubbie, which at first glance looks like a photo-booth, sits in the library at Mercy Primary where teachers can programme it to play calming or uplifting music or soundscapes while projecting soothing or exhilarating imagery on to a screen to alter the mood of children and young people who are facing difficulties dealing with life in the classroom.
For five to 15 minutes anyone can escape the hustle and bustle by being transported to banks of a forest stream, a moonlit night sky or a panorama of the Northern Lights. The visual options are endless as are the musical backdrops to the immersive experience.
Mercy is one of just eight schools in Northern Ireland chosen to get one of the "sensory hubs" which principal Elaine Loughran says is already making a difference in the school environment.
She told Belfast Live: “It’s only been installed for a month, but already we have seen the benefits of the Cubbie. We’ve seen children who need to come down and take a quiet moment, we’ve seen children who are energetic, who are able to use the Cubbie to rock back and forth in order to self regulate and self sooth.
“The impact of a five minute break out of class that enables them to go back into class and concentrate and get on with their peers and their work is clear.
“We all know the classrooms are busy environments and there can be lots of noise, there can be activity, there can be distractions, but it makes a difference for those children to be able to take some time out.”
Mrs Loughran described the hub as a “preventative measure” which could address issues before they escalated. She added that it was “not just for use with special needs” issue but could bring benefits to pupils and staff alike.
The Cubbie is produced in Kiltimagh in Co Mayo and as well as teachers setting the parameters of its use, the company uses an occupational therapist to tailor individual programmes for children and young people based on a questionnaire filled out by parents and school staff.
Donal Gallagher, CEO of Cubbie, says the key is that they do not want children spending time in the Cubbie, but being able to use it quickly then return to what ever activity they had to leave.
He says Cubbie is about “creating a safe space” for people “where they can regulate quickly”.
He added: “We don’t want kids or young people in Cubbie. You go to the library not to sit in Cubbie, you go to read a book. We want this to be a space where you can regulate quickly, then go back and enjoy the activity that you were forced to leave because of the stress you were experiencing.
“We want children to come to school and feel ok to come to school because they’re not stressed. Cubbie gives schools the ability to create that environment and it’s quick - five, ten, 15 minutes max, so you’re not away from your peer group, you’re not away from the activity, the class you were taking part in. That’s the key for us - quick regulation.”
The hub was created after Mayo businessman David McIntyre’s daughter was diagnosed with Autism in 2015. He had been diagnosed in adulthood with dyslexia and both these factors drove to come up with a device to help young people who could struggle in school.
The firm believes Cubbies could be rolled out to environments across society including libraries and even shopping centres. Users would have a PIN code which would allow them to access their personalised programme at any Cubbie regardless of where it is.
Donal says he has spoken to school principals who believe pupils are now coming to school more readily thanks to the sensory hubs.
Welcoming the installation of the Cubbie at Mercy, Gerry Campbell, Chief Executive of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), said it would help children feeling “overwhelmed” to regulate before returning to class “to better participate in day to day activities”.
He added: “Our vision is a system where all levels and types of achievement are valued and the efforts that each learner takes on their journey are rewarded, appreciated, and equally recognised. Catholic schools firmly believe that no child should be left behind.
“Our schools are supportive and provide accessible spaces for students to grow and reach their full potential. In line with our ethos and values of openness, diversity, and respect, the Cubbie is a positive resource to assist those presenting with social, behaviour, emotional and wellbeing needs (SBEW) to better participate in school and play activities.”
Ruth Thomson, Primary Behaviour Support and Provisions, Locality Adviser at the Education Authority, said the device would help address “challenges” faced by teachers.
She added: “I am delighted to join with colleagues this morning to celebrate the opening of the Cubbie Sensory Integration hub. Mercy Primary School are one of 8 schools across the Education Authority (EA) participating in an in-school early intervention, preventative pilot for pupils with presenting social, behaviour, emotional and wellbeing needs (SBEW) using sensory integration support programmes.
“Today’s opening forms part of the wider EA efforts to address the challenges faced by schools to effectively support children with Special Educational Needs, especially in relation to SBEW presentations, and remove barriers for students through access to high-quality educational resources.”
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