Physical Development  

A lot of children’s learning is embedded in physical development (movement). It is essential for children to develop fine motor skills in order to access other areas of learning and development, such as using grip for writing or for learning skills such as dressing and undressing. Our gross motor skills sessions enable our children to have a healthy lifestyle by utilising their different skills, such as jumping and balancing. Movement, in general, is key for all children to help improve their emotional regulation and wellbeing. 

We are committed to creating an environment where pupils are supported and encouraged to develop their physical abilities through a wide range of engaging activities and strategies. This ensures individuals gain skills that can improve their own physical needs, as well as improving their self-care and independence skills for the future. In turn, this approach helps to boost self-esteem, build confidence, and promote overall physical and mental wellbeing. 

We believe in the positive impact of consistency between home and school when developing physical skills. A shared approach helps to reinforce key movements, establish clear and predictable routines, and support all pupils in achieving their physical potential. This can be seen through parental workshops and newsletter updates. 

We understand that some pupils may encounter challenges with movement, coordination, or sensory processing differences. For this reason, it is vital that staff establish strong, trusting relationships with everyone. By encouraging staff to have active involvement, offering consistent support, and promoting positive interactions—alongside using carefully chosen physical strategies and resources—we help pupils develop their physical skills in ways that are engaging, purposeful, and enjoyable. 

Physical Development Circuits – PD Circuits are delivered to every child in Nurture, Willow, Elm and Cherry 

Pathways with three clear ‘zones’ of movement and sensory input. PD Circuits are targeted around children’s needs in terms of vestibular and proprioception input but also in terms of throwing, catching, jumping and this helps with some children’s sensory differences. It also has a calming section which helps with the children reflecting. Circuits are delivered daily in 10-15 minute chunks or in longer sessions as the core PE activity in a term, depending on pupils’ needs and strengths. Staff have been guided by OTs and SALT to create circuits that are bespoke to meet our children’s needs and offer personalised support within a group session. Sensory need based circuits are advocated by many Occupational Therapists as a way to support children’s readiness to learn more widely. 

What is a Dough Disco? 

Dough disco involves moulding play dough in time to music and performing different actions such as rolling it into a ball, flattening it, putting each individual finger into the dough, rolling it into a sausage and squeezing it. Our books and YouTube videos have lots of examples of all the different themed moves you can do. 

What are the benefits of Dough Disco? 

Children and adults need to have strong muscles in their hands to enable them to write effectively. This is exercise for the fingers to improve fine motor control and gross motor skills. Doing these simple, fun exercises will help your child prepare for writing. Dough Disco can also be used to develop finger dexterity for people with health conditions or impairments. 

What age is Dough Disco for? 

It has no age limit and is used to exercise fine muscle in all ages. It has been used in schools, homes and old people’s homes. 

Videos can be found on YouTube under “Spread The Happiness TV”. Space Themed Dough Disco can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoWqUNUcAzo 

Yoga 

Classrooms can be very stressful environments for autistic children for reasons such as sensory difficulties and the requirement for high levels of social interaction. Many autistic children will also experience high levels of anxiety which can present with breathing patterns that are out of regulation. 

Frequent shallow breathing and breathing through the mouth consistently stimulate the sympathetic nervous system at a low level. This means that being ‘stressed out’ becomes the norm. When the nervous system reacts with a fright or flight response, breathing quickens and becomes shallower. When we slow the breath, we change the physiological response.

By consciously slowing the breath, especially the exhalation, we can facilitate the relaxation response and develop some control over how our nervous systems responds to our environment. We develop the ability to change our emotional state. 

Working with the breath can therefore effectively ‘wake up’ or ‘calm down’ the child. We might for example: 

  • Put the child’s hand on their belly to ‘feel’ their breath. 
  • Stretch the body to help open up the capacity for the breath – rhythmic movements of arms up and down done slowly can really help here. 

The Benefits of Yoga 

Some of the many benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness practices include: 

  • improving motor planning and control 
  • improved self-awareness emotionally, psychologically and physically 
  • developing the ability to self-regulate across environments and demands 
  • developing balance, strength and flexibility 
  • developing the ability to relax and release tension, fear and frustration 
  • reducing stress reaction and improving resilience 
  • improving immune function 
  • improving quality and quantity of sleep 
  • enhancing respiratory ability and capacity 
  • enhancing a sense of wellbeing, calm and peace 
  • enhancing a sense of emotional balance 

Videos such as Cosmic Yoga can be used within classes and homes to help our children regulate. 

Cosmic Yoga Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CosmicKidsYoga 

Cosmic Yoga Space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZAaZDVqCiA 

Cosmic Yoga Hungry Caterpillar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhWDiQRrC1Y 

More information can be found: 

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/yoga-schools https://specialyoga.co.uk/ 

 

Sherborne Developmental Movement – Movement experiences are fundamental to the development of all human beings and are particularly important to people with special needs. The input or ‘feeding in’ of movement experiences has to be concentrated and more continuous if people who are challenged in special ways are to realise their potential. Sherborne Developmental Movement is an approach to teaching and working with movement that is both accessible, especially by people with minimal movement experience. 

 

Objectives of Sherborne Developmental Movement.  

 

There are two basic objectives within Sherborne Developmental Movement:  

 

Awareness of Self 

This is gained through movement experiences that help the person concentrate so that they become aware of what is happening to their body, listening via touch and by feeling of inner physical sensations rather than by our usual way of looking and thinking. This helps lessen self-criticism and allows people to grow in terms of self-esteem and confidence both a physical and emotional level. 

 

Awareness of Others 

The next step is to begin to learn to move around and interact with others in ways that encourage the further development of trust and the building of positive relationships. These movement experiences enable the person to be appropriately supported while being encouraged to explore their unique creativity through shared movement activities. 

 

Useful Documents

PD by stage curriculum content