Run a Local Interest Group
The development of local NHA groups has been on our agenda for sometime. We set up a prototype in Rugby many years ago, which you may like to read more about.
- It would be a way of establishing an ongoing exchange of ideas and information with and through the national committee.
- It would encourage local inter-professional collaboration.
- It would be a creative and effective way of promoting our aims and keeping in touch with our members.
Anyone interested in setting one up should email Ann Markee for support and information.
Rugby Handwriting Group
We've had a Handwriting group in Rugby for some eight years now. Originally motivated by the Children's Community Physiotherapists our members came from both health and education. Our aims, like those of the National Group, are to promote and encourage the good teaching of Handwriting, the formulation of clear and detailed Handwriting policies in schools, and understanding and help for children with difficulties of various kinds. We could be described as a "satellite" of the National group!
We have tried over the years to meet at least twice every term (often at lunchtime because of heavy workloads)Our aim is to assess and address problems jointly, and to try to build intervention schemes into Individual Education Programmes in school where children spend most of their time; thus there's more chance of everyone knowing and understanding and sharing the plan. We have also run a number of courses and conferences, and collaborative training sessions. These focused on Developmental Coordination Disorder (dyspraxia) and Handwriting as one the most disabling of it's various manifestations. Courses usually ran over three or four twilight sessions one week apart -an arrangement most convenient for teachers!
Although rather "jargonesque" and trendy, we think the term "joined up thinking" probably describes our group most accurately ! Perhaps we're starting "cursive" way ahead of our time! Sharing knowledge and skills has been exciting and very valuable.
Ann Markee
Children's Community Physiotherapist