Session Description
This session explores the implementation of a Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) as a practical and evidence-informed approach to supporting early years learners in developing the foundational skills required for movement, learning, and everyday functioning. PMP focuses on strengthening the connection between perceptual and sensory processes and motor skill development, enabling students to better understand and interact with their environment. Grounded in the key concepts of Direction, Space, and Time (D, S, T), PMP provides structured opportunities for students to develop spatial awareness, body control, and movement confidence. The program supports students to progress from reliance on teacher guidance to increasing independence and self-regulation. The session will highlight how young learners require repeated, varied experiences to grasp D, S, and T concepts, and how movement-based activities using verbal, visual, and auditory cues can enhance both brain function and skill acquisition. Importantly, the development of perceptual motor skills is linked to both students’ perceptions and subsequent actions or responses within their environment, as well as readiness for academic tasks such as reading and writing. Participants will be introduced to practical, adaptable activities aligned to the three focus areas, (D, T, S), demonstrating how PMP can be embedded within educational settings to support both children’s development and broader curriculum outcomes. This session aims to build teacher confidence in designing purposeful movement experiences to cater for a variety of student needs.
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