It will be of interest to all those involved in health and education,
parents and professionals. The programme comprises six sets of simple
exercises and suggested music for listening.
Each
set of exercises, and music selected for listening, are used for one
week so the programme takes six weeks. The exercises themselves serves
as a guide to a child’s stage of neuro-physiological development. They
provide a very early indication of difficulties & active support.
The aim being to prevent later learning and behavioural problems. They
provide the opportunity for children to use the movements necessary to
pass through the important stages needed for the body and brain to reach
readiness for learning. A follow on EASIE 2 has been introduced to continue developmental moves and listening which, precedes any other work for integration and aids those with more severe difficulties. They precede the work done for integration. The
exercises do not harm those who have reached each milestone but help
with consolidation and automaticity. They are vital for those who have
missed early stages or who have regressed for various reasons.
Improvements
are noticed each time the programmes are used. They can be followed
through each half-term for the whole year or interleaved with more
outdoor activities in the summer term. They can also be used as warm up
activities in P.E. lessons.
The
sound element is based on Sound Therapy Principles and helps to develop
hearing and listening skills. It is possible and desirable to
incorporate it into everyday routines. It helps to develop healthy
attitudes to regular exercise and relaxation. They benefit all children.
Teacher training, Inset days, workshop and conference presentations offered.
Letter received this summer from a former EASIE trainee
Hi Gwyneth.
I am writing to let you know of my experience of using EASIE over the past 3 years as a Reception teacher in Camden.
I
first heard about EASIE whilst researching the importance of movement
for the development of young children, for my dissertation at Nottingham
Trent University. Whilst i was doing so, I attended An EASIE training
with you at Newark, giving the back ground to EASIE and the way in which
it can be easily implemented in schools to provide vital physical
development opportunities to children.
After
the course, I visited a teacher in a school in Nottingham to observe
her using EASIE with her class of year 2 children. I was fascinated and
excited with what I found, as the teacher told me about the ways in
which it had transformed the behaviour, focus and concentration of some
of the children in her class, even though most of the children were 7
years old.
Based
on this, when I became a teacher of my own class of children in 2008 I
started EASIE straight away. I have always done it from 9am to around
9.10am to provide a strong routine for the children which really helps.
To be honest, regardless of the fantastic benefits I will talk about
next, just doing the programme alone is a lovely way to start the day,
bringing the class together and letting them know school has started. It
is also a great way to promote early listening skills as it requires
the children to follow instructions and participate in a group. It ticks
no end of areas of the EYFS which is always great!
However,
the most significant benefits of EAsIE have been seen with the
Children. Many of whom who have come in to reception without the skills
necessary to sit still for extended periods or to concentrate and
maintain focus for an extended period. For these children, EASIE has
given them the development opportunities necessary to build up their
capacity to be able to do this. It has also really helped the children
who have found it a challenge to hold a pencil, through addressing the
underlying issues of core strength and motor control but in an exciting
and inclusive way.
It
is hard for me to say exactly how much of an impact EASiE has had, as
like I said earlier, I have always done it since becoming a teacher but
it is still clear to me that the children have benefited immensely and
have always emerged from their year in Reception as confident, focused
and self motivated children who have as a result achieved very highly
when compared to the national and local averages. Whilst I believe that
the EYFS is holistic and all experiences contribute to a childs overall
achievement, the children's daily experiences of EASIE cannot be
underestimated as a significant opportunity to enable them to develop,
enjoy themselves and to reach their learning potential.
Finally
I'd like to thank those involved in EASiE for creating such a simple
yet vital way in which to promote development and well being in schools.
Jennifer Oliver (Reception teacher in Camden London)
Another
student doing a degree on Inclusive Education wrote after her degree
was awarded, that she included the results of using EASIE in her
dissertation. She had found those using EASIE in the group at her
special school all improved significantly in 'The Draw a Man test'
after one run through of the programme.
A new trial
A Grandmother, having seen amazing changes in her Granddaughter following developmental work with me, contacted me. She wanted to see input at the nursery with which she was involved. Her granddaughter used programmes for the older child, which were not suitable for nursery age, so I suggested she used EASIE.
This lady secured funding from 'Children in Need' and training took place over four mornings in 2023 at Account 3 Nursery, Bethnal Green. The trainees included nursery staff, an OT and parents. Despite the fact that this was a school holiday period, so trainees had to secure carers for their own children, they all attended for the whole of the course and expressed a great deal of interest in the information on the course and theory behind it.
I organised the training. I brought in Brenda Lloyd, the originator of the program and, Samina Masud and Aniko Imre came along to provide any other assistance necessary.
The nursery went on then to do a trial of the program in the summer term when it was assessed by a representative of the charity and others.
People observing the program in action were impressed. The children responded well and enjoyed it. Improvements were seen in different areas. Listening and attention improved. Motor skills developed and for some drawing skills improved too. Developmental milestones were achieved.
The nursery now has the program as part of their regime to be done annually. It was done after Christmas the next year because they started with an entirely new group of two year olds and the first terms was used to help the children settle and adjust to separation from parents. They are continuing to use the program and are very happy with it.
Samina and Aniko being central and London based have taken over the organisation of EASIE training. They are both experienced in EASIE training in school.
Contact details
Samina Masud
Flat 25 Cecil Court
71-75 Eaton Rise
Ealing
W5 2HE
snmasud@aol.com
Aniko Imre
36A Stafford Road
Ruislip
HA4 6PJ
imcsike@gmail.com
For further information or advice you can contact:
Gwyneth Jeyes - 07894 098241
Brenda Lloyd - 07739 158024