Our practice of using a therapeutic lens for learning, casts new light on the role of the teacher. We use a multi-disciplinary therapeutic approach within educational settings to empower, motivate and inspire staff and children.
This practice helps support a blended, more holistic approach to education, maximising learning opportunities within the learning environment.
Therapeutic teaching significantly differs from purely teacher led activities, our therapists work hand in hand with educational staff and fully understand the factors that can impede learning for young people with learning difficulties. Support offered jointly by both therapy and teachers ensure children get to inhabit enriched learning spaces, with wide ranging resources, while teachers increase their opportunities to engage every child more deeply.
In addition, we have discovered that a blended approach to learning provides educational staff additional effective techniques that can be used to effect positive change, whilst providing minimal disruption to the learning day.
Blended learning focuses not only on academic achievement but also on building foundational attention, memory and learning skills to allow the child to develop greater self-awareness, and thereby, a become a more effective learner.
An example might be a teacher working closely with an Occupational Therapist (within a classroom setting) supporting Handwriting development (support would be provided 1:1 or within group sessions dependent on the identified need). The programme and guidance would be shared by the therapist with the teacher/teaching assistants. Focus might be given to improving bilateral integration, fine motor skill development and hand strength, wrist stability and/or pencil control. Systematic multi-sensory instructions would be provided on correct letter/ number formation, sizing, spacing between words/ letters etc. with parental participation strongly encouraged and recommendations given for home support.