Assessing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning: The INPP Developmental Screening Test and School Intervention Programme

Updated INPP training manual for determining immature neuromotor skills in children and associated interventions to improve neuromotor ability The substantially revised and expanded Second Edition of Assessing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning is a long-established INPP training manual that has been consistently proven in practice which includes neuromotor skill tests for children, a developmental movement program, and information about paid online access to INPP video training materials. The book comprises two main sections: Simple screening tests for use by teachers in schools to investigate whether immature neuromotor skills are a factor in children who are under-performing in literacy, numeracy, and writing or who may be underachieving, as well as a developmental movement program designed to be introduced into schools as a class-based activity, which is carried out under teacher supervision for 10 minutes per day, every day over the course of one academic year. The manual is not intended to be used as a stand alone assessment for diagnostic purposes, but rather a simple means of screening for physical factors which can underlie specific learning difficulties and underachievement, and which respond to the school intervention program. Assessing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning includes information on: Simple tests to identify signs of difficulty with visual tracking, control of saccadic eye movements, and aberrant reflex response Testing gross muscle coordination and balance via the Tandem Walk and walking on the outsides of the feet (the Fog test) Assessing visual-auditory-speech recognition of sounds, including individual sounds, sound blends, syllables, and synthesis of the three Utilizing various neuromotor tests, including the Romberg test, the one leg stand, crossing the midline, and the finger and thumb opposition test for qualitative purposes. Assessing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning is an essential guide for teachers who want to identify children who may be under-achieving as a result of immature motor skills, implement the INPP screening test and/or program into their lessons, as well as researchers interested in using the screening test to evaluate children’s neuromotor skills and efficacy of various intervention programs.

Table of Contents:
About the Companion Website vii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Overview 1 1.2 Rationale for Screening and Remediation of Neuromotor Immaturity 2 1.3 What is the INPP? 2 1.4 The INPP Developmental Movement Programme for Schools 3 1.5 What is Neuromotor Immaturity? 4 1.6 What is the Significance of Primitive Reflexes to Education? 5 1.7 What are Primitive Reflexes? 5 1.8 What is the Significance of Neuromotor Maturity to Education? 6 1.9 What is the Purpose of Developmental Screening Tests? 8 1.10 Why Assess Posture and Balance? 9 1.11 Why Carry Out Assessments for Balance? 9 1.12 What is the Difference Between Static Balance and Dynamic Balance? 10 1.13 What is the Significance of Postural Control in Learning? 10 1.14 Primitive Reflexes: Why Have these Three Reflexes Been Selected for Evaluation? 11 1.14.1 The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex 11 1.14.2 The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex 12 1.14.3 The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex 13 1.15 What Evidence is there Linking Balance, Posture and Reflexes to Educational Achievement? 14 1.16 What Evidence is there that Intervention in the form of Movement Programmes Aimed at the Level of Primitive Reflexes Improves Educational Outcomes? 17 1.17 How to Use the Screening Tests 18 References 19 2 Developmental Screening Tests for Use with Children Aged 4–7 Years 23 2.1 General Instructions 23 2.1.1 Scoring 24 2.1.2 Tests 24 2.2 Neuromotor Tests 25 2.2.1 The Romberg Test 25 2.2.2 One Leg Stand 27 2.2.3 The Crawling on Hands and Knees Test 29 2.2.4 Crossing the Midline, Test No. 1 31 2.2.5 Crossing the Midline, Test No. 2 33 2.2.6 Finger and Thumb Opposition Test 35 2.3 Tests for Primitive Reflexes 37 2.3.1 Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) 37 2.3.2 The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) 40 2.3.3 Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) – Erect Test 42 2.4 Tests for Visual Perception and Visual- Motor Integration 44 2.4.1 Pencil and Paper Tasks 45 2.4.2 Additional Measures 49 2.5 Score Sheets for 4–7 Year Old Test 50 2.6 Observation Sheets 52 2.7 Interpreting the Scores 53 2.7.1 Tests for Gross Muscle Coordination and Balance (/36) 53 2.7.2 Tests for Primitive Reflexes (/24) 54 2.7.3 Tests for Visual Perception and Visual- Motor Integration (/72) 54 References 54 3 Developmental Screening Tests for Use with Children From 7 Years of Age 56 3.1 General Instructions 56 3.1.1 Scoring 57 3.1.2 The Tests 57 3.2 Tests for Gross Muscle Coordination and Balance 58 3.2.1 Tandem Walk 58 3.2.2 Walking on the Outsides of the Feet (Fog Test) 60 3.3 Tests for Aberrant Primitive Reflexes 62 3.3.1 The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) 62 3.3.2 Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) 68 3.3.3 The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) 70 3.4 Tests for Oculomotor Functioning 72 3.4.1 Test for Fixation, Convergence and Control of Saccades (VALETT) 73 3.4.2 Test for Visual Integration 74 3.5 Tests for Visual- Speech Recognition 75 3.5.1 Sound Discrimination (Individual Sounds, Sound Blends and Syllables) 75 3.5.2 Sound Synthesis 77 3.6 Tests for Visual Perception and Visual- Motor Integration 78 3.6.1 Visual Perception 78 3.6.2 Visual- Motor Integration (VMI) 80 3.6.3 Spatial Difficulties 81 3.6.4 The Tansley Standard Visual Figures Test 82 3.6.5 Figures Based on the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test 83 3.6.6 Scoring the Visual- Perceptual Tests 86 3.6.7 Additional Measures 88 3.7 Score Sheets (7 + Test) 89 3.8 Observation Sheets (7 + Test) 90 3.9 How to Interpret the Scores 91 3.9.1 Tests for Gross Muscle Coordination, Balance and Reflexes 91 3.9.2 Tests for Visual Perception and Visual- Motor Integration 92 3.9.3 Tests for Auditory–Speech Recognition 92 References 93 4 The INPP Developmental Movement Programme 94 4.1 How to Use the INPP Developmental Movement Programme 94 4.1.1 Developmental Movements 95 4.1.2 Why Use a Movement Programme to Improve Educational Performance? 95 4.1.3 Instructions for Use of the Exercises 97 4.1.4 Guidelines for Schedule for Exercises 98 4.2 The Developmental Movement Programme 98 4.2.1 Introduction 98 4.2.2 Windmills 98 4.2.3 Caterpillar 100 4.2.4 The Curious Caterpillar 101 4.2.5 The Sea Anemone 102 4.2.6 The Octopus (Part 1) 103 4.2.7 The Agitated Caterpillar 104 4.2.8 The Parachute 105 4.2.9 The Octopus (Part 2) 106 4.2.10 The Head Lift 108 4.2.11 The Fish 109 4.2.12 The Lizard 110 4.2.13 Hand to Foot 111 4.2.14 Hand to Knee 112 4.2.15 The Hinge 113 4.2.16 The Bracket 114 4.2.17 Lower Body Rotation 115 4.2.18 Upper Body Rotation 116 4.2.19 The Tadpole Who Turns into a Frog 117 4.2.20 The Drunken Frog 119 4.2.21 The Alligator 120 4.2.22 The Commando Crawl 121 4.2.23 The Cat 122 4.2.24 Three- Point Crawling on Hands and Knees 124 4.2.25 Cross- Pattern Crawling on Hands and Knees 125 4.3 Additional Optional Exercises for Integration of Left and Right 126 4.3.1 Differentiated Angels in the Snow 127 4.3.2 Finger Exercises 130 4.4 Postscript 131 References 131 Appendix 1: Resources 132 A1.1 Test and Exercise Video Clips 132 A1. 2 Training 132 A1. 3 Supplementary Resources 132 A1.4 Other Books by the Author 132 A1.5 INPP Training Courses 133 Appendix 2: Chapter 2 Test Resources 134 A2.1 Tansley Standard Figures 134 A2.2 Vertical, Horizontal and Diagonal Lines 135 A2.3 Observation Sheet for Chapter 2 Tests 136 A2.4 Scoring Sheet for Chapter 2 Tests 139 Appendix 3: Chapter 3 Test Resources 141 A3.1 Test for Fixation, Convergence and Control of Saccades 141 A3.2 Test for Visual Integration 142 A3.3 Sound Discrimination (Individual Sounds, Sound Blends and Syllables) 143 A3.4 Sound Synthesis 144 A3.5 The Tansley Standard Visual Figures Test 145 A3.6 Adapted Bender Visual- Gestalt Test 147 A3.7 Observation Sheets for Chapter 3 149 A3.8 Scoring Sheets for Chapter 3 151

About the Author :
Sally Goddard Blythe has an MSc. in Psychology and has been the International Director of INPP Ltd since 2000. Blythe has developed training course materials for courses offered to other professions related to education, medicine and psychology, currently offered under the umbrella of INPP International in 13 other countries.