The physical skills children need to be able to learn Case study

Following inset at a small country school, the teachers wanted to think of a way they could identify the motor needs of the pupils and also facilitate intervention in groups rather than individually. They decided to start the day prior to assembly with a movement session everyone together using exercises, first, concentrating on stimulating the coordination of the upper and lower limbs to enhance the children’s awareness of the many diagonal positions of the limbs on opposite sides of the body. Rhythm and spatial awareness were also focused on. With the Deputy Head at the front of the hall leading the session, the other teachers were able to watch their classes. The children who had difficulties completing the exercises were all identified as having a learning difficulty of some kind. Not surprisingly, this encouraged the school to proceed with this intervention, particularly focusing on the movements that caused most problems.

Obviously this type of intervention is only possible in a small school, but individual educators can undoubtedly carry out similar assessments and the necessary interventions during PE or games lessons.

Discussion

Do you know which children you work with have motor difficulties? If so, what are the school and educators doing to support this area of development? Choose one child with a motor difficulty to observe for a day. Does their difficulty, do you think, affect their learning and/or social interaction?