Aurora-The Sensory Barn opens in Barham, between Ipswich and Stowmarket

A mum-of-two has opened a multi-sensory barn in a Suffolk village, welcoming children and their parents into an inclusive, therapeutic space.

Aurora-The Sensory Barn can be found on the same site as Choices Clothes in Barham, between Ipswich and Stowmarket.

It is already proving popular – with 85 families visiting in the first fortnight it was open.

Hayley Sangster opened Aurora, having worked in the pre-school sector as a nursery manager and owner of a baby franchise.

The mum, who lives in Kesgrave, explained that when her daughter now aged 13 and son now aged 12, were young she could never find a sensory room to take them to, something that hasn’t changed in the last decade.

She explained: “It is something I have always dreamt of doing and from the feedback I have had, it is what the community needs.

“I am starting out and seeing where it takes me.”

Hayley will be running a variety of sensory sessions and private hire is available for older children with special educational needs and disabilities.

She hopes that parents and grandparents visiting the barn will be a support to each other and also take the opportunity to shop and have a coffee at Choices, which sells pre-loved children’s clothes.

Aurora is made up of a sensory room and another room equipped with sensory toys, which Hayley decorated for Halloween and will be doing so again for Christmas.

There will be a dedicated session for grandparents once a month, with the first one on Wednesday, November 15.

A pyjama party, followed by a lullaby party will take place on Saturday, November 18.

More details about booking sessions can be found on the Aurora – The Sensory Barn Facebook page or by emailing: hello@aurora-suffolk.co.uk.