The Belconnen-based school opened its new sensory garden, named Wotoma, during a ceremony on Friday.

As part of the $30,000 upgrade, the garden will include sections for herbs and vegetables, as well as areas for calm and relaxation.

Bean bags, sand pits, a tyre swing and also a punching bag also feature in the garden

Executive teacher Michelle Van Puyvelde said the space was specially designed to help meet the sensory needs of students with special needs, although it is open to all students at the school.

“This is designed specifically with research on the best classroom spaces for children on the autism spectrum, and also looking at sensory-integration therapy,” she said.

“We’re looking at how we can best meet the sensory needs of students.”

Plans began for the new garden at the beginning of the school year, following a grant from the ACT Education Directorate as part of upgrading infrastructure for learning support units in Canberra schools.

As well as being an area focusing on the senses, Mrs Van Puyvelde said Wotoma can also be used as a space for students to calm down or ‘let off steam’ if they are feeling stressed.

“The punching bag is there for students who need to use it if they are feeling angry,” she said.

“The space is open to every student at Evatt that needs a quiet pace to calm and de-stress.

“It’s going to help immensely with students in learning to self-regulate and give them a space when they feel like they are not coping in the classroom.”

Students at the school also helped to design the new area, coming up with the design for the soft fall and contributing ideas as to what would be included as part of Wotoma.

Mrs Van Puyvelde said the new space has not only brightened up the old area of the school, but will deliver benefits to all of Evatt’s students for many years to come.

“It will benefit their needs, but also their self determination as well,” she said.