What every educator and therapist should know about how children learn
Across education and therapeutic settings, professionals share a common challenge. More children are arriving in school needing support with speech, language and communication, attention and engaging with the learning environment, managing their emotions and social interaction.
These needs cut across early years, primary, special education and community health teams, placing increasing pressure on staff who are already stretched.
While strategies exist for managing behaviors and/or adapting tasks, many practitioners are aware of the number of children impacted increasing and seek a deeper understanding of what sits underneath these challenges. They want to know why so many more children are finding learning harder - and what practical steps can help.
A shared challenge across professions
Early years practitioners often notice children struggling with sensory needs or early communication
♦ Primary teachers see learners who find it difficult to focus or participate in group tasks
♦ SENCOs and teaching assistants are supporting more children with developmental delays
♦ Therapists report growing demand for support with motor skills, expressive language and emotional and behavioral needs
Although these challenges appear in different ways, they often share the same root cause. All children need the right opportunities with enough regular exposure to develop the necessary integrated skills before they can fully access learning. Supporting and strengthening these foundations helps professionals across disciplines work together more effectively.
What the research tells us
A growing body of research highlights the link between movement and learning.
Sensorimotor, cognitive and emotional development are interdependent, sharing overlapping brain networks that directly support fundamental learning skills such as attention, memory, sequencing and problem solving. When children participate in high quality movement based experiences , they are more able to activate the neural systems that support their growth and development helping them engage more confidently with themselves and their environment.
Structured movement based learning can help children who particularly find it harder to focus, communicate and manage emotions. Even children who don’t appear to struggle with classroom routines, benefit from a movement based curriculum as it creates the optimal conditions for learning and retention.
Why movement works for learning
Developmental movement offers a simple and practical way to target the areas of brain growth that matter most for learning.
These include:
- Body and environmental awareness
- Sensorimotor integration
- Control, balance and coordination
- Self-control and emotional regulation
- Cognitive flexibility and working memory
- Focus, planning organising and sequencing
When these skills develop, children are better equipped to engage and participate and become more confident motivated independent learners.
For professionals, this offers an accessible, adaptable approach that can be used in classrooms, small groups or therapeutic settings.
About the Professional Development Day
Our one-day ‘MovementWorks For Learning’ Professional Development Day introduces practitioners to
developmental dance and movement as an evidence-informed approach to supporting learning outcomes.
25th September 2026
The Albany, Deptford
The training is accessible and designed for anyone working with children aged three and up.
The day includes:
♦ The developmental building blocks that shape learning
♦ How movement supports cognitive, social and emotional growth
♦ Activities that strengthen attention, communication and regulation
♦ Strategies for children who become more easily overwhelmed or dysregulated
♦ Ways to adapt movement-based activities for different ages, needs and settings
Who this Training is for:
♦ Early years practitioners
♦ Primary school teachers
♦ Special educational needs coordinators
♦ Teaching assistants and support staff
♦ Senior leadership teams
♦ Paediatric and occupational therapists
♦ Speech and language therapists
♦ Students entering education or child development roles
Why this day matters
Professionals across education and healthcare are looking for practical, cost and time effective ways to help children thrive.
Developmental movement offers a simple, evidence-informed approach that supports children’s bodies and minds, simultaneously allowing children to flourish physically and intellectually. It bridges gaps that exist within separate areas of professional knowledge, supports interdisciplinary practice and helps create environments for children where they can learn joyfully and reach their potential in a fully inclusive model.
If your team is looking for new strategies to meet the needs of today’s learners, this training is a strong place to begin.
👉 Find out more and book your place: