How to use this website...

LEARNING SUPPORT TEACHER / Additional Support Needs / SENCO

Please read below and see the Summary Table.

Below is a series of suggested Steps to both view the website contents and consider what would be the most appropriate way to progress.

STEP 1: Getting a better understanding

The specific areas of the curriculum the learner is having difficulty with may be clear. However, there is also a need to identify any inadequately learned underlying sub-skills that may be causing problems. Many of these sub-skills should have developmentally been in place prior to starting school. To help understand this aspect, the child development video set is a very helpful start point regardless of chronological age - particularly the 5th video in the set, The Importance of Being Four, as it highlights areas of increased risk of learning, social and behavioural difficulties.

The information in the videos can support your own knowledge and be helpful in clarifying the background for the pupil’s class Teacher and Parent.

• Follow this link for more information about these videos.

STEP 2: Choose books

There are several books that add more background and introduce some useful approaches. Click on the book title to be transferred to the appropriate section of the website. Informative websites are also often linked into the book descriptions.

• Smart Moves: why learning is not all in your head by Carla Hannaford PhD
• Awakening the Child Heart by Carla Hannaford PhD
• Tomorrow's Children by Margaret Sasse
• When Listening Comes Alive by Paul Madaule.

STEP 3: Getting started

The books in STEP 2 will already have given some ideas. Additionally:

• The Movement & Learning CDs and songbooks by Brendan O’Hara:
  • with practical explanations about brain functioning, these are proving a popular start point for getting actively involved.
  • the series also includes a CD called Beanbag Ditties which utilises motor movements to aid the integration of primitive reflexes.
  Follow this link to learn more about and choose from the Movement & Learning Series.
• Many LS/SEN/SENCOs are finding Brain Gym a very useful approach. Review:
  • Brain Gym® Teacher’s Revised Edition
  • Hands On – How to Use Brain Gym® in the Classroom
  • I Am the Child by Cecilia Freeman – for children with Special Needs
  Follow this link to learn more about Brain Gym and review the books.

STEP 4: What next?

• Some training courses to learn more about the application of the resources.
  It is strongly recommended that one or more key members of staff attend training sessions to ensure the Movement & Learning materials and Brain Gym® concepts and movements are fully understood to achieve maximum effect.
  Follow this link to find courses on Brain Gym.
• Consider : attention to Posture and Thinking in Activity
  • The Art of Running
  • The Art of Swimming
  • The Art of Changing.
  You may also like to consider the effects of school furniture on posture and thinking.

• Consider an auditory / listening input. See:
  • When Listening Comes Alive by Paul Madaule.

STEP 5: More specialist approaches?

At Ladder of Learning we have had the opportunity to investigate and assess the usefulness of some specialist tools and techniques. Many of these are ideal for LS and SENCOs in their one-to-one or small group working.

• The Audiva Brain Fit as an indicator of auditory and visual processing speed.
• The Dominance Factor by Carla Hannaford PhD
• The Learnie Board as a graphic record of dominance profiles
• Earobics Series 1 as a guide for improving “self sounding”