Fine Motor Skills

Provision and/or strategies: approaches, adjustments and specific interventions expected to be made by settings according to the ages and stages of the CYP

Universal

• Consider whether behaviours such as defiance, avoidance, or emotional dysregulation may have an underlying link to fine motor difficulties.
• Ensure appropriate posture and positioning to support fine motor control (e.g. feet flat, stable seating, and appropriate table height).
• Ensure desks and seating are appropriately sized to support posture and effective engagement.
• Ensure sufficient workspace for writing and other desk-based tasks.
• Provide equipment and resources appropriate to the CYP's developmental stage and age, including modelling use and, where appropriate, offering hand-over-hand support.
• Provide a range of tools to support writing and fine motor development (e.g. writing slopes, non-slip mats, pencil grips, thick-barrelled or triangular pencils, adapted scissors, rulers, templates, and stencils).
• Provide adapted recording materials, such as larger lined or squared paper, enlarged text, and visual supports (e.g. alphabet strips showing letter and number formation).
• Adapt teaching to support skill development, ensuring opportunities to practise and embed new skills through play and everyday activities.
• Allow time for CYP to explore and establish hand dominance.
• Provide regular opportunities to develop fine motor skills through a range of activities (e.g. play, construction, self-care, and practical tasks).
• Make reasonable adjustments to ensure fine motor needs are met (e.g. early access to the canteen, additional time to eat, use of adapted cutlery, scissors, and trays).
• Allow additional time to complete tasks, recognising the increased effort required.
• Develop keyboard skills (e.g. through touch-typing games and structured practice) to support efficient recording.
• Use assistive technologies to provide alternative methods of recording where handwriting is not the focus (e.g. text-to-speech or typing).
• Promote independence by adapting tasks and tools so CYP can participate as fully as possible.
• Access and utilise resources from Just One Norfolk to support the development of fine motor skills.

Targeted

• Seek specialist assessment and advice (e.g. Occupational Therapy) where fine motor difficulties are impacting functional skills and access to learning.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate training and guidance to support fine motor development and implement interventions consistently.
• Access the Norfolk Portage Service for CYP in the early years.
• Deliver interventions in line with advice from relevant professionals (e.g. OT and physiotherapy).
• Implement targeted fine motor programmes (e.g. hand strengthening, dexterity and coordination activities), delivered regularly and reviewed for impact.
• Provide additional adult-guided opportunities to practise and reinforce fine motor skills within structured sessions
• Provide access to an appropriately trained key worker or additional adult support as required and in line with specialist advice (e.g. OT and physiotherapy.)