New SEND Workshop to Offer Hands-On, Sensory Learning for All at Hull's The Deep

Have you ever stood in front of a massive aquarium tank and just felt completely mesmerised? It’s a bit like looking into another universe. Well, one of the best places to do that, The Deep in Hull, is making sure that feeling is accessible to absolutely everyone. As a leading education and conservation charity, it’s always looking for new ways to connect people with the marine world. On 15th January 2026, the organisation announced something brilliant: a brand new, specially designed workshop called ‘A World of Wonder’, created for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

A new adventure for every learner

Learning isn’t a one-size-fits-all thing, is it? Some people learn by reading, others by doing, and some need a bit of extra support to feel comfortable and confident. That’s exactly what this new workshop is all about. ‘A World of Wonder’ joins The Deep’s other fantastic educational sessions, standing alongside another sensory workshop called ‘A Sense of Adventure’. Both of these are built from the ground up for SEND learners. This means that every single part of the experience has been thought about to make it engaging, supportive, and, most of all, fun for young people with a diverse range of disabilities. It’s a proper interactive experience, not just a sit-down-and-listen lesson. This charity understands that for many learners, especially those with complex needs, a standard classroom setup just doesn’t work. This workshop throws that rulebook out of the window and creates a space where every learner can thrive and connect with the incredible marine world.

What actually happens in the workshop?

So, what can groups expect when they book this session? Think of it less like a lesson and more like an exploration. The workshop is a multi-activity experience where learners are encouraged to get hands-on. Instead of just looking at pictures of sea creatures, they get to engage with a range of genuine artefacts. Imagine holding a shark’s tooth, feeling the bumpy texture of a starfish, or examining the intricate patterns on a seashell. These real-life objects help build memory and make the learning stick. The session is also packed with free-choice activities, which is a game-changer for building independence. One person might be absorbed in a puzzle about different ocean habitats, while another is expressing their creative thinking by drawing a weird and wonderful creature from the deep. It’s all about empowering learners to follow their own curiosity. The whole workshop is designed to boost communication and enquiry skills, encouraging participants to ask questions and share what they’ve discovered about the amazing animals and their underwater habitats.

More than just a fun day out

While the workshop is definitely a great time, the benefits go much deeper. For many learners with disabilities, building confidence in new environments is a huge step. This session is designed to be a safe and encouraging space to do just that. The activities are tailored to help with key development areas, all while focusing on individual targets that matter to each person. The goals are both big and small, from improving concentration on a task to feeling brave enough to speak up in a group. Here are just a few of the areas the workshop aims to support:

• Explorative creative thinking

• Developing independence and choice-making

• Boosting memory and concentration skills

• Building confidence in unfamiliar settings

This bespoke workshop is carefully crafted to support a diverse range of learners, including those with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities) and other complex needs. By offering these tailored educational sessions, the education charity ensures that its conservation message can reach and inspire everyone, from early years pupils right through to post-16 learners.

Thinking about the bigger picture

The Deep isn’t just an aquarium; it’s an influential education charity with a massive focus on conservation. It’s all about protecting our oceans for the future. And this workshop cleverly ties into that mission. The activities in ‘A World of Wonder’ acknowledge the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development, specifically goals 14 and 15. In simple terms, that’s about looking after life below water and life on land. So, while learners are having an amazing time, they are also gently being introduced to the big ideas of conservation and why it’s so important to protect our planet’s incredible habitats. It shows that learning about the marine world can also be about becoming a responsible global citizen. It’s a powerful message delivered in an accessible and positive way, making this more than just a workshop; it’s a stepping stone to understanding our role in the world.

A word from the team at The Deep

You can tell how much this new project means to the people behind it. The passion from the team at this wonderful charity is clear. The Deep’s Education Team shared their excitement about the launch, saying,

“After months of refinement, the team are pleased to now be launching ‘A World of Wonder’ to join the exciting choices of workshops available.”

“As an education charity, we are fortunate to welcome a diverse range of learners through the doors from Early Years to Post-16, all eager to discover more about our ocean.”

“Through our teams’ continuous evolvement and development of sessions, this enables us to ensure The Deep reaches a wide range of new audiences to explore and be inspired by the marine world.”

It’s this experience with such a wide variety of learners that has allowed them to create such a thoughtful and effective SEND workshop. The new session is another fantastic tool for sparking curiosity and a lifelong love for our oceans in every single learner, no matter their abilities or needs.