Special Needs

 Essentials

Regardless of the start each child has in life they all continue along their own developmental pathway. Some may have delayed development others may have identified conditions that place limitations on what they might be able to do. However the provision given by physfun recognizes that every child is unique, is entitled to every opportunity to progress and improve and any activities participated in BUILDS from the premise of what the child ‘CAN DO’!

Where a child appears not to be making progress either generally or in a specific aspect of learning, then it may be necessary to present different opportunities or use alternative approaches to learning. The aim is inclusion and integration into all mainstream activity! Physical therapy sessions take into account the child’s;

• well being
• degree of involvement in activities
• how they best learn
• type of activities they enjoy
• their social skills
• how they communicate
• behaviour
• physical development and skills

Comorbidity between most conditions are issues with balance, coordination and fundamental movement skills.

Physfun programmes take full advantage of the latest neuro-science which conclusively holds that it is ‘movement that wires up the brain’!

Physfun is fully aware of all the challenges of working with developmental Coordination Delay (Dyspraxia), ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, Cerebral Palsy and Downs Syndrome but takes the view that all children have untapped potential and with patience, repetition, enjoyable and varied regular special physical activity programmes, developmental levels will progress and motor, language, visual, personal, social and cognitive skills improved. 

Physfun programmes work from the basis of developing the foundations and fundamentals thoroughly first, taking a ‘bottom up’ rather than ‘top down’ approach. When you consider all the elements shown in the Building Blocks chart below, it is clear how complex the development of a person is and how each layer of skills must build on the ones below. Children who begin with a disadvantage must be given the opportunity to ‘recover’ as many of these skills as they are able before and alongside the learning of the higher cognitive abilities.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LEARNING

                                                     (Robyn Cox & Learning Solutions)

 What we do

We identify the underlying difficulties for learners and put into place a regular (e.g. 10 minutes every day) Movement Intervention Programme. With quality repetition it is possible to see improvement and developmental ‘catch up’ within a matter of weeks leading to a child who enjoys learning because they are being SUCCESSFUL!

(read more here The Early Development Recovery Programme Pack)

This returns children to the floor where they experience the benefits of regular rhythmic movements that ensure infant reflexes become integrated and do not get in the way of learning voluntary movements and integrating the senses. Also included are balance, visual and listening activities and cross-lateral hand -eye, foot – eye coordination exercises.

What we can provide

Parental advice – Child assessment – Family Programmes – Advice for Primary and Secondary Schools – Child Movement Programmes Interventions that can be integrated into normal lessons