Why sleep matters: how Derwen College is pioneering better rest for learners with SEND

At Derwen College, we’re taking bedtime seriously. Sleep underpins every aspect of wellbeing and learning, especially for our students who are young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our sleep hygiene initiative is helping students (and staff!) rest easier, learn better, and feel more energised and motivated every day.

So how did the programme come about? In 2024, we launched our College Student Wellbeing Strategy which is a holistic plan shaped by students, staff, and families. As we mapped out the five pillars of wellbeing (social, emotional and mental health, physical exercise, diet and nutrition, quality of life and sleep), it quickly became clear that sleep was the keystone. Without it, everything else falls out of balance.

We were surprised to find there were limited sleep resources available for young people with SEND or autism. National studies highlight sleep’s role in mood, cognition, and health, but few further education (FE) colleges address it directly – especially for learners with additional needs. So, we set out to change that.

I took on the challenge of leading a cross-college sleep hygiene project, working alongside Lilliee Dulson, our occupational therapy assistant. Together, we completed specialist sleep training and planned a three-tiered sleep hygiene model to support students:

• Universal: college-wide awareness campaigns, accessible information boards, and promotion weeks about the importance of sleep.
• Targeted: relaxation resources, staff-led evening routines for residential students, and environmental adjustments for those needing extra support.
• Specialist: bespoke plans for students identified is needing personalised support, following in-depth assessments.

Although led by therapists, our sleep strategy is a true team effort with teaching staff, care staff, nurses, speech and language therapists, IT and assistive technology teams, HR, marketing, and, crucially, students and their families all play a part.  

Practical changes, often simple and inexpensive, have made a real difference: blackout blinds in bedrooms, calming paint colours, dimmable lighting, and advice on reducing blue-light screen time before bed. We encourage students to keep bedrooms tidy, get daily exercise, and eat well – all factors that support better sleep. For residential students, routines are practised in their own rooms; day students use a practice bedroom and are encouraged to try new habits at home.  

The results speak for themselves. We’ve seen students who struggled to fall asleep now settling more quickly and staying asleep through the night. One student, after working with staff to tweak routines and cut down on evening snacks and caffeine, now sleeps more soundly and feels more alert in class. Another found that a white noise machine helped them relax, so much so that friends wanted to try it too. For a student coping with bereavement, a weighted teddy bear has brought comfort and better rest. Staff have also benefited, using sleep diaries and smart watches to monitor and improve their own sleep patterns.  

Awareness of sleep’s importance is now embedded across college life. We run sleep workshops, share tips with students and staff, and encourage everyone to monitor their own sleep and try out new strategies for themselves.  

Our therapies team is exploring new technology, like acoustic monitoring and portable sleep devices, to help us track and support sleep more accurately. We’re looking forward to sharing our findings with other colleges and specialist media, hoping to inspire sector-wide change. Though our students have SEND and/or autism, sleep is vital for everyone and our findings and resources, can be adapted for mainstream college, and indeed work and learning settings of all kinds.

Sleep affects everyone. By putting it at the heart of our wellbeing strategy, we’re helping students and staff at Derwen College feel healthier, happier, and more ready to learn. We hope our journey inspires others to put sleep at the heart of wellbeing and experience the benefits of a well-rested college community.

Lynsey Coyle is an Occupational Therapist at Derwen College.