EdPlace offers thousands of interactive learning resources from year 1 to GCSE, made accessible for children with SEND. We’re here to help support your child through their learning journey. We understand that finding the type of support your child may need can be daunting.
Mandy, our Head of SEND provides a generalised overview on some of the most common questions when it comes to supporting your child’s education.
Please note: It’s important to remember that each diagnosis is unique to the individual. There are personal, LA and regional differences in diagnostic routes and available interventions.
Fine and Gross motor skills are the movements and actions of bone and muscle structures. Typically, they are categorised into two groups: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. If you have concerns about your child’s physical development, you must seek medical advice from your GP.
A paediatrician, GP or paediatric Occupational Therapist will be able to judge if your child has reduced fine motor and gross motor skills. The professional will do a series of mental and physical assessments and base a diagnosis on the overall scores and observations. Sometimes they may call the diagnosis DCD or Dyspraxia.
Some behaviours and symptoms that you may see in a child with poor motor skills
Children with motor skill differences may have difficulty playing with toys which involve good coordination, such as stacking bricks. You may notice that your child can some difficulties learning to eat with cutlery, writing, drawing and using scissors.
Your child’s handwriting and drawings may appear scribbled and more childish than other children their age. Getting dressed, doing up buttons and tying shoelaces may also be difficult for your child. As children get older and they are required to change for PE without help, it can lead to avoidance behaviours and emotional stress. This can present as them being over emotional or withdrawn. Any change in behaviour should always be reported to your child’s GP.
Gross Motor Skills Superpower
People with motor skills differences have their own personal attributes and skills on top of extra superpowers, such as resilience and adaptiveness! Having the imagination and insight to notice when something isn’t suited to your abilities, and being able to change the task in a creative way is an awesome superpower to have.
Additional support
EdPlace educational resources supports students with motor skills difficulties
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Access thousands of Poor Fine and Gross Motor Skills friendly resources
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