BrainChild Foundation Course

Professionals working in schools and nurseries as teachers and teaching assistants.
Professionals working with children and families, in particular, children at risk, looked after children and adoptive families.
Paediatric therapists eg. physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists.
Social workers and family support professionals working with children with diagnoses of developmental disabilities, such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, auditory processing, language disorder and ADHD. Also those with no diagnosis but exhibiting anxiety and behaviour issues, for example.
Professionals who are interested in understanding the impact of early life experiences on the future functioning of the whole child eg. paediatricians and health visitors.

Completion of this course is a requirement before progressing to BC Level 1 courses.

Course Content

20 hours: Two day course provision at BrainChild, LA10 5JS, 4 hours online and online support for case study supervision.

This course provides professionals with the knowledge and skills to observe and assess children who may benefit from the Brainchild Developmental Program. The program is specifically designed to work on early brain development that is the foundation for a child’s ability to learn, in the widest sense of the word. Although the programs have a serious purpose, children experience it as imaginative, active and fun.
The course is designed to provide an understanding of the effects of neuro-developmental delay. There is a balance of theory and practical.
We will examine the relationship between infant reflex issues and behaviour and discuss the impact of very early experience on communication, focus and attention, social interaction and awareness, anxiety, fears and obsessions, aggression, hostility and impatience, learning, sensory integration, health and physical impact, bonding, happiness and self-esteem.

The Foundation course will enable the participant to understand:

The developing brain in utero.
The importance of the carer in the primal period – conception to one year of age.
The role of the infant reflexes.
The physical action of each of the key reflexes.
The impact of neurodevelopmental delay.
The effect on learning and behaviours.
The impact of stress and movement opportunities on the developing brain.
The developmental process, including detailed information about the key reflexes.
The relationship of infant reflexes and sensory integration.
Physical assessment techniques.
Clinical case study recording.
Interpreting the information provided by parents.
How The Brainchild Developmental Program can address neurodevelopmental disruption by enabling maturation of the brain.

A course manual including assessment materials and record sheets are provided.

Progression to the next course requires the participants to complete and submit 4 case studies. Supervision is included in the course fee.

The next 2 day Foundation course is planned for spring 2024. Course fee: £550 (£520 from the same organisation). Lunches and refreshments provided.

Course location : Sedbergh, Cumbria. In the heart of The Yorkshire Dales. Ensuite accommodation available.