Dyspraxia Service
Project Co-ordinator - Chris Ridley
"Dyspraxia is coined from two Greek words: dys, meaning poor, and praxis, meaning movement. Children with this condition tend to be 'clumsy', lacking in co-ordination and have poor attention spans. Other symptoms could be problems in speech."
Background Information to the Dyspraxia Project
In 1988 107 pupils within the county of Durham who had been offered alternative educational provision because of their significant emotional and behavioural difficulties were screened to determine any evidence of neurological immaturity. Eighty two youngsters, that is, 77% of that sample population, were identified as having difficulties which were sufficiently significant to warrant intervention.As the incidence of neurological immaturity was so high in this particular sample population it was evident that if there was a system in place for identifying these youngsters before they 'failed' within the mainstream environment then there would be a significant reduction to the numbers of youngsters from Durham who required alternative educational placement and more importantly it would dramatically improve the expected outcomes in terms of educational attainment of these vulnerable youngsters.
Between 1988 and 1994 a variety of assessment techniques were piloted and since that time diagnostic criteria have been in place and the staff within schools in Durham have been assessing youngsters, identifying those who are potentially at risk from failure within the system and offering appropriate intervention programmes. Currently there are more than 80 schools within the county offering such programmes in intervention to over 300 pupils.
There have been regular training courses to staff in the county both from professionals in Education and Health. Whilst there has been a great commitment on the part of individual schools to work effectively with these youngsters, many teachers and support assistants felt that they were working in isolation and were anxious that the appropriate programmes of intervention were not being extended sufficiently.
In June 1997 it was agreed that the post of Project Co-ordinator should be established to offer support to the teachers, support staff and parents working with identified pupils.
In September Christine Ridley, who is a qualified Special Needs Support Assistant, was appointed on a half time basis to fulfill this role.
Responsibilities of the Co-ordinator
- To provide detailed motor assessments of youngsters referred for intervention.
- To devise an intervention programme to be delivered through an adult working on a daily basis with the identified youngster.
- To update and monitor the programmes of individual pupils.
- To provide information regarding the success of the intervention, and information regarding the child's position within the Code of Practice.
- To offer training regarding programme implementation.
Current Service Provision
Chris Ridley is now employed on a full time basis and the Dyspraxia Project has been included in the county's response to the 'Initiative for School Improvement'. In addition to mainstream schools working with individual pupils a project has been organised at Elemore Hall Special School.The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the suitability of a motor skills and perceptual training programme for youngsters within a special school environment and measure whether there has been any impact on learning and improvement of self esteem.
Future Developments
It is anticipated that the Dyspraxia Project will be extended to ensure that there is equal access to support for all the schools in the county.Madeleine Portwood's Dyspraxia website is at http://web.ukonline.co.uk/Members/madeleine.portwood/index.htm
