Interconnections Worldwide

Working internationally to share information, help build knowledge and support teamwork around babies, children and young people who are disabled, marginalised or vulnerable

The home of Team Around the Child (TAC) and the Multiagency Keyworker

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The multifaceted condition and collective competence

essayThis essay is an argument against the traditional idea that an infant can have 'multiple disabilities' that must be treated by 'multiple practitioners' 

By Peter Limbrick 

1880 words 

This essay is an argument against the traditional notion that, in the context of development and learning, an infant can be described as having multiple disabilities. While an adult certainly can have multiple disabilities, the infant is still developing neurologically and at this level the disabilities inevitably interact with each other as he develops and learns. The result is an emergent condition that is more than the sum of the parts – a multifaceted condition.

Peter argues that our response ought to be a multifaceted early intervention system that brings separate professional skills together into a whole approach rather than offering the infant a number of separate practitioners each with their separate programmes.  

To view the essay as a PDF: This essay can be downloaded by going to JOURNAL in the green banner above and then selecting Issue Number 12.

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Neuro-motor maturity – an indicator of developmental readiness for education

essayReflex status viewed in the context of chronological age provides a reflection of maturity in the functioning of the child's central nervous system. This essay discusses reflexes and findings from the use of a screening test for neuro-motor immaturity 

By Sally Goddard Blythe

4125 words 

Despite initiatives of successive governments there remains a significant percentage of children whose mastery of basic skills continues to fall below expected levels at the end of primary education with children from poorer backgrounds being at a particular disadvantage. One area that has not received sufficient attention in recent years is developmental and physical 'readiness' for formal education.  

One method of observing a child's physical development is through the assessment of primitive reflexes, postural reactions, balance and co-ordination. Primitive reflexes and postural reactions provide useful tools in this respect because there are key stages in development when primitive reflexes should be active, suppressed and transformed into mature postural reactions. Reflex status viewed in the context of a child's chronological age can provide a reflection of maturity in the functioning of the individual child's central nervous system and indications of maturity in the neuro-motor skills needed to support all aspects of cognitive learning. 

This essay discusses the findings from the use of a screening test for neuro-motor immaturity in schools in the United Kingdom and the impact of a daily developmental movement programme introduced into schools. 

To view the essay as a PDF: This essay can be downloaded by going to JOURNAL in the green banner above and then selecting Issue Number 12.

share your information  Cartoon © Martina Jirankova-Limbrick 2011