or call 020 7404 3400
or call 020 7404 3400
Or call 020 7404 3400
Thoughtfully designed visual prompts around your school can remind pupils that everyone is welcome, safe and able to learn.
But, how do you decide what messages to include in your visual displays? Who exactly should they target? And where are the best locations to make a genuine impact? As an education design agency, we help schools navigate these considerations every day. So we understand how to create a truly inclusive visual environment that appeals to all pupils.
Here are some ideas to get you started…
Sensory trails can help you create an inclusive visual environment because they give pupils simple, accessible activities that support self-regulation, calming and refocusing. For some pupils, repetitive actions such as tracing can be soothing, while other activities can encourage controlled breathing, movement or tactile exploration.
They also support fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, concentration and sensory exploration. At the same time, sensory trails make the school environment feel more interactive and inclusive.
A big benefit is that they can be used in different ways and don’t have to be a formal activity. A pupil might interact with one element for a few seconds when they need a moment to regulate, while another might spend longer exploring the different activities. Sensory trails are particularly appealing to SEND pupils, but they can benefit any pupils who need a moment to regulate.
We designed the example below for Dunchurch Boughton Infant Academy and Nursery. It follows a structured format that aims to help pupils feel calm, regulated and ready to return to class;
What’s really powerful about this visual resource is that it’s accessible to all pupils at any time. Teachers don’t need to spend time in class helping individual pupils regulate. Instead, pupils can spend time engaging with the designs before or during class, so they feel supported and their sensory needs are met.
Sensory rooms offer pupils a safe haven where they can rest and rebalance their nervous systems. But not all schools have the space for a dedicated sensory room.
So, some schools are using their corridors to create an inclusive visual environment that is accessible to all pupils, at any time. Immersive designs immediately transport pupils away from their school day and into a soothing, sensory-friendly space.
Using every available surface of the area; including walls, floors, ceilings, doors and windows, creates a truly immersive effect.
The example below is an immersive ‘Launch pad‘ we designed for Kings Cross Academy. It works as a SEND area to support pupils. And the space themed design feels positive, hopeful and uplifting. It’s an effective use of the available surfaces and, although it’s connected to the main school building, the immersive design immediately creates a feeling of escapism.
Motivational quotes and positive imagery can go a long way towards creating an inclusive visual environment. And, this sense of inclusion can create a sense of belonging and raise aspirations in the wider community too.
For example, Bentley Youth Hub provides a safe and inclusive space for children and young people in Doncaster. The hub offers a range of activities including night-time sessions for young people, SEND and LGBTQ+ groups, music services and kinship groups. They are also accredited with the Child Friendly Doncaster Badge.
We created bespoke Wall Art to transform the space. The design is set against a colourful backdrop and features inspiring images and uplifting quotes. We were keen to raise aspirations with this design. Each quote aims to motivate young people to believe in themselves and see opportunity in every day. It was a pleasure to work closely with the team at the hub to bring this project to life.
You can replicate this style of design in your school to create a positive and welcoming visual backdrop for students. Using a large feature wall for the design will ensure it stands out and is accessible to all pupils. It will also add wow factor to your learning environment and can transform a large, dull wall into a visually appealing work of art.
At Promote Your School, we’ve long extolled the virtues of using nature in school buildings to create calm, inclusive spaces.
Spending time in nature benefits wellbeing – this is a fact. So, many schools are applying the principles of Biophilic Design – factoring nature into the built environment – to reduce anxiety, improve focus and support regulation. For SEND pupils in particular, nature can offer a sense of calm in an area of high sensory demand. Teachers tell us they too benefit from seeing nature based designs in their learning environments.
Walking through an immersive rainforest or enchanting woodland on the way to the classroom can have an instantly calming effect. Nature is a fantastic backdrop for the school library too. It creates a soothing backdrop and instils a natural sense of calm for pupils to sit quietly and read.
Pupils from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender, and cultural backgrounds should feel welcome and safe at school. And an inclusive visual environment will instantly show them that they are.
In general, we always ensure that our Wall Art designs feature diversity in all its forms. From the images we choose to the people we feature, this is so critical to our designs. And one project in particular made a big impact on our design team. This Migration Stories Map, which we designed for John Peryn Primary School.
The migration stories reflect the diverse and inclusive community at the school. And it connects pupils to their peers, parents, heritage and the wider world. It’s a beautiful celebration of culture and connection, and one we were delighted to support. We designed large visual maps to demonstrate the migration stories. Against a calming blue ocean, we featured various countries, including flags and primary cities. We also connected individual pupils to the countries their families originated from. This personalises the design and creates a sense of belonging for pupils.
At the same time, the large visual map serves as a learning resource. Pupils can explore the map like cartographers, discovering new countries, memorising flags and getting a sense of relativity between continents. In this way, the map also makes learning more accessible – and the extra large format design enables active engagement from pupils of all ages.
Democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance. These are the powerful pillars of our society in the UK and have been a core component of the British curriculum for over ten years.
We know that schools need a clear strategy for embedding British Values into their whole school culture. And to be able to demonstrate that pupils understand and apply them in their mindsets and behaviours. So, many schools are choosing to promote British Values in key areas through large visual displays. We can link the tenets of British Values to your own school’s values to communicate their connectedness and how the two pillars work hand in hand. This gives pupils a solid foundation that shows what’s expected of everyone within the school community. And, critically, it shows that all pupils are safe and welcome – just as they should be.
Using graphics and icons to represent each value makes them more accessible to pupils, and easier for younger students to understand. Visual displays create a sense of pride – reminding pupils that they live in a democratic society where everyone has a voice and is a valuable member of the community.
October is Black History Month. BBC Bitesize has a wonderful collection of resources for schools – including videos, stories and activities to engage pupils of all ages.
It’s also ADHD awareness month, a time to increase our awareness and understanding of ADHD. Teachwire offers a wealth of practical resources and techniques to better understand and support students with ADHD in your classroom.
5th October is World Teachers Day, a chance to celebrate teachers around the world who impart knowledge, inspire and motivate pupils and make a genuine difference every day.
And finally, although World Mental Health Day and Hello Yellow have already passed, we wanted to remind schools of our partnership competition with YoungMinds. Schools still have the chance to win a Wellbeing Wall Art project by making a minimum donation to support HelloYellow before 6th November 2026. Donate now to stand a chance of winning!
We’ll visit your school to understand your goals, explain our process and provide you with a no-obligation quote.
