Date sent: Fri, 05 Feb 1999 20:41:29 +0000
Organization: GU146HJ
Subject: Physio for special needs children
From: Ian Penfold <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Send reply to: [log in to unmask]
Hi Ian,
I am a physiotherapist now working in Canada (I trained in England
and worked in special schools before emigrating) in a rather unique
setting. We have about 160 students with special needs within a
general school population of 600 or so. The special needs students
are generally based in what we call General Learning Resource
Rooms and are integrated into the regular classrooms as
appropriate ( some children are fully integrated into the regular
programme). The children who require it are assigned Teaching
Assistants who carry out a variety of programs as recommended by
Occupational Therapy, Speech - Language Pathology,
Physiotherapy and Psychology. For the most part the therapists
train the assistants and then "monitor" the programmes as
necessary. We also provide "hands-on" or direct therapy as
appropriate. We have found this model to be an efficient use of
resources, more children can get service and the therapy becomes
a part of the child's daily routine instead of a half hour with the
therapist once a week (which can be argued is quite ineffective).
We would say that these therapies are a vital part of a child's
education. We have found that teaching an assistant how to lift a
child in such a way as to promote head control, for example, does
benefit the educational programme in that as the child gains head
control, he does not have to expend so much energy on keeping his
head up and can pay attention better or for longer periods of time.
A child who needs to be positioned frequently benefits from being
more comfortable and again more able to pay attention ( I could give
lots more examples!). We are very careful about what we teach our
assistants. I do not think a responsible physiotherapist would
inservice an assistant on something that was going to cause harm or
damage to the child in their care. As long as adequate time is spent
on the inservicing, I can't see there being a problem. We have not
had any difficulty with this. If you are interested, I would be glad to
provide you with more details regarding our programme and the
kinds of things we allow our assistants to do. I could also put you in
touch with some of our sepcial education teachers for more
information on how this works within the classroom and the
educational programming aspect. I can be reached through
physiomail or at [log in to unmask] ( I don't know how to make
that link so when you click on it it works!)
I hope you do find some resolution to your dilemma,
Yours,
Erica Bowen,
Physiotherapist
> Hi,
> Please can anyone advise me. I am Chair of Governors at a school for children with complex learning
> difficulties. Physio provision is very limited in my area and due to this, the NHS area physio team have been
> instructed to provide more of an advisory/consultative role, rather than hands-on support. As a result, school
> staff and parents will no doubt be called upon to actually do the practical work of routine therapy.
> I am very worried about the prospect of untrained or briefly trained individuals however well meaning and
> dedicated, conducting manipulations on children with all sorts of problems including brittle bones. It is also
> very unfair to expect school staff to get involved in physio when they have more than enough to do already.
> When I asked about additional provision, the area senior therapist told me that she is only able to provide a
> service in accordance with the Children Act.
> I am at a loss as to what to do for the best. Can anyone offer any help or advice please?
>
> Best Regards
>
> Ian Penfold
> Chair of Governors
> Henry Tyndale School
> Farnborough
> Hants
>
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