INPP and WITHOUT LIMITS LEARNING
INPP (Institute of Neuro-Physiological Psychology) was originally founded by Dr Peter Blythe of Chester, England to address issues associated with learning and development and its effect on education. He first coined the term Minimal Brain Dysfunction in 1979 which encompassed any non-specific diagnosed abnormalities. However this quickly changed to organic brain dysfunction as a particular set of developmental deficiencies that could be precisely described. More commonly the term is known as Neuro-Developmental Delay (NDD) and more recently the term Neuro-Developmental Immaturity (NDI) has arisen due to the recognition of variation in development and plasticity of the brain. Sally Goddard Blythe is now the head of INPP and has written many books on the subject some of which can be found in the resource section.
Neuro developmental immaturity describes and encompasses many learning and developmental issues. Simply, it is “the continued presence of a cluster of primitive reflexes beyond the first 6 – 12 months of post natal life, with or without, absent or undeveloped postural reflexes beyond 3 1/2 years of age.” (Sally Goddard-Blythe, 2009). NDI is when the brain and the body do not communication well because of the presence or under-development of reflexes.
The INPP Moves4Me programme for individual children, or the Moves4LilMinds for preschoolers and the Moves4Minds schools programme allows the process of normative development to occur through specific movement exercises tailored to the child. The assessments allows an accurate reflex profile to be ascertained, and the appropriate programme to be undertaken. The Moves4Me programme is specific for each child, uniquely made to address their individual needs. The whole programme generally takes 12 months as this is in line with normative brain development however the length is dependent on individual results.
The INPP schools programme Moves4Minds is a programme created to meet the most needs in one setting. Initial and final assessments still occur however these are smaller and target the main reflexes associated with learning difficulties such as the ATNR, the STNR and the TLR. In line with this the Moves4LilMinds programme also reaches the largest number of four year olds possible within the early childhood setting.
After three years of implementing the Moves4LilMinds programme with four year olds the results have been phenomonal in reducing the primitive reflex programme and developing the needed postural control for sitting, listening, watching and writing in the educational setting. Moves4Me and Moves4LilMinds is perfect as a preventative screening programme for 4 – 5 years ensuring that children are ‘school ready’ when they enter the formal learning situation.