Help for children with DCD or dyspraxia - views please!

[bertraccoon]

Hello, I am looking for some feedback on an idea to help children with DCD or dyspraxia.

Working in education I have seen many children with DCD or dyspraxia. I have taught them in PE classes amongst 30+ other children, and often said to myself 'if only they had their own little group'. I went off to do a further qualification in developmental disorders.

Sadly PE provision in this country is shocking IMO, and children with DCD or dyspraxia don't get the teaching they need. I am looking at setting up a weekly class in my area, just for children with DCD or dyspraxia. The class would focus on key motor skills and primarily be fun. The aim would be to eventually push the children towards another physical activity - be it for competition or just for fun / recreation.

Basically I am after the views of parents with children who have DCD or dyspraxia. Is this something you would use, anything in particular you would advise?

Thank you in advance!

[zonedout]

My severely dyspraxic ds attends something very similar sounding close to where we live. It is basically a physiotherapist led gym class which is tonnes of fun for the children. Whereabouts in the country are you?

[Jerbil]

I would go for this for DS1. At the moment we go to football twice a week. he so ends most of the time following the lines on the pitch and then stepping over them, and walking in circles. rarely understands what's going on and what's required. I'm led to believe at school he just joins in, and then he tells me he's been sent out of PE and doesn't know why! The PE provision IS shocking. I used to take him to gymnastics but because he was unwilling to do everything and didn't want to sit next to the other DCs I had a number of rows with the managers and then pulled him out.

[bochead]

I'd bite the hand off the person who offered this in my locale!

[Ineedalife]

Hi bert my Dd3[9] is borderline for Dyspraxia but she actually has a dx of ASD, she is also hypermobile.

Her coordination is pretty bad but improving since she has been having physio and doing Activate at her new school. i would love her to go to a group like this, she won't go to sports groups at all at the moment because she has started to become aware that she can't do everything.

Her old school told me she had no issues in PE and then in yr 3 sent her home with a certificate for trying hard to learn how to do a forward roll. She was 8 and actually she still cant do one.

Her new school with PE is better but I think she is left feeling that she cant cope quite a lot of the time.

[telsa]

My DD is not helped at school, despite having severe difficulties doing what others in the class manage effortlessly. I would leap at the chance to do this with her.

[bertraccoon]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. In my area there are lots of things sports wise going on for children but for some children it is a big step, and the class I'm planning would bridge the gap.

In terms of getting children to come to the session, would it be better to advertise as a dyspraxia / DCD class. Would the children be happy to attend or would it put them off and feel that they have been singled out?

[feynman]

Absolutly, there is nothing in my area (East Yorkshire) aimed at dyspraxic children. Then again, East Riding PCT won't see children with suspected dysraxia so no-one gets a diagnosis, so I guess we're all ok really!

[auntevil]

Shame you're in Sheffield . DS1 tries so very hard to do PE at school - but there is no differentiation. DS has to do exactly what his peers do, but his classmate with CP goes off and does his physio at the same time (as the indoor PE session) - so doesn't have the depressing feeling of never quite being able to do it. In outdoor PE, his mate has 1-1, DS1 has nothing, so has to cope by himself.
I have pointed out several times in school that they highlight both the olympics and the paralympics - but what are they doing to celebrate the latter? Its just been met with a very blank expression.
Bert - have you thought about rolling your ideas out to schools? - or taking your programme around schools?

[FlyingFig]

I would also jump at the chance to involve DS in something like this. He has daily physio at home but he hates doing it and I think he'd really enjoy something more aimed at group work/fun.

PE is a struggle for him; the latest meltdown was when he couldn't skip with a rope. I suggested skipping as one of his targets with his physiotherapist but she's very tactfully said that it's a long-term target that might be achieved in years, seeing as he can't even hop very well.

[FlyingFig]

feynman Our area is the same with regards to an official Dyspraxia diagnosis, DS's physio refers to DS as having 'dyspraxic behaviours' (although the Comm paed used the word Dyspraxia when assessing DS) and works with him using therapy she's picked up from Dyspraxia workshops, but absolutely refuses to use the term Dyspraxia.

The mind boggles!

[Jakadaal]

Would love something like this in my area - sadly not Sheffield. DD (9 yrs) has a diagnosis of DCD along with other needs and has completed 2 programmes of OT but they are a private provider and don't go into schools. I find that school (and ed psych) very dismissive of DCD and we are also having a battle with forward rolls. Teacher is currently getting her to do them on a bench so that she keeps in a straight line ... nope she just falls off and refuses to do them. Nothing like building a child's confidence?!

[Ineedalife]

Forward rolls on a bench!!! Ffs, what is the matter with these people.

Dd3 struggles along with the rest of the class in PE but she did do sports day with the children with disabilities last year, they said it would be a one off as she had only recently started the school. But we shall see.

Sorry for the hijack bert but as you can see there is a need for classes like yours all over the country

[WarmAndFuzzy]

I would send my DS2 to a class like that in a shot! He's been diagnosed with vestibular dyspraxia and some other movement/co-ordination difficulties (privately, LA don't really take much notice of dyspraxia unless it's really severe) and we're doing about 20 minutes of exercises a day at the moment which he's been given by his OT. He enjoys his exercises, and would probably enjoy a class.

[bertraccoon]

Thanks guys for all your support!

Yes rolling the programme out is one idea - would take a lot of work!

There are a lot of barriers to break down - PE provision in most primary schools is still incredibly poor with many teachers refusing to teach it. Other schools buy in sports coaching packages where the kids are taken by a Level 1 coach (barely out of college) who has very little teaching experience.

I would challenge anyone to ask teachers for details of their PE lessons - there should be two lessons a week, total of 120 mins. And those lessons should be differentiated to cater for all abilities.

[elliejjtiny]

I have dyspraxia and I went to a group run by a physio when I was 7-10 which was brilliant. Would this be just for children with dyspraxia as my ds2 has hypermobility and hypotonia and something like that would be great for him.

[bertraccoon]

Elliejjtiny - it would be open all to all. No need for referrals etc, just self refer. Thanks for all the replies guys.

[amyvictoria82]

Please could you let me know if to group is running?

Thanks Amy

[2boysnamedR]

I would. Ds goes to gymnastics for a hour a week and I am lucky I found a very understanding non competitive club. But OT tells me that judo, karate is better. I can't try it as he cant stand on one leg

[Proudmumof2boys]

I would definitely take DS1 to a class like this
He enjoys skiing with DSUK and is learning to snowboard with them too

2boys - his Dad takes him to judo - it could worth phoning round to find an understanding place?