Rabbsfarm Primary School

The Physical and Sensory Support Team (PASST) work with children who have difficulties which can prevent access to the learning environment. Children may have a physical disability or diagnosis such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder or Sensory Processing Dysfunction.

The Physical and Sensory Support Team support the development of functional skills including fine motor skills, gross motor skills, visual perception and self-care.

• Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscle movements within the hands and fingers. We need these skills to help us participate in classroom activities such as play, handwriting, use of scissors or tools and self-care.
• Gross motor skills involve the movement and coordination of the arms, legs, and other large body parts which are needed for participation in PE, play and participation in classroom activities.
• Visual perception is the ability to use visual information to recognise, recall, discriminate and make sense of what we see. For example, it is important for the guidance of movement when writing and catching a ball. Visual perception is learnt through touch, movement and vision.
• Self-care refers to activities of daily living such as dressing ourselves, feeding, drinking and toileting. Some children need support to develop their independence with these skills.

Some children have difficulty with sensory processing. Sensory processing is our ability to receive, process and respond to sensory input from the environment around us. It involves the use of our senses including visual, auditory, smell, taste, touch, proprioception (body awareness) and vestibular (movement). Difficulty with sensory processing can impact attention and concentration, motor control and emotional/behavioural responses. OT will support with the assessment of these skills and provision of intervention or strategies.