Children with delays in motor development may have lacked early experience and the opportunity to develop these skills. They may have visible physical difficulties or be diagnosed with a condition such as Dyspraxia or Down Syndrome, but in most cases these children would all still be educated in mainstream school.
Our mission is to provide an inclusive programme that will enable every child, where possible, to participate at their developmental level and gain the same benefits that Balanceability offers to all. Working with Patricia Maude MBE, author of ‘Physical Children, Active Teaching’, we are continually making adaptations to the programme to ensure that Balanceability is able to help every child improve their balance, moving towards the goal of independent cycling.
Every warm-up and balance-related activity has been specifically chosen to allow the child to experience movement in a number of ways.
Differentiation is about meeting everyone’s needs and not about segregating a disability. The only consideration is that Balanceability provides plenty of opportunity for children to practice skills in a number of ways to help move towards the outcomes.
Some children and adults develop balance skills later in life and we have pioneered using larger balance bikes and adapted bikes to fit most trainees.
It should be stressed that any participating child with a known medical condition must advise the course Instructor/teacher before beginning the programme so that we can tailor activities to the individual and the group if necessary.
Each child that we teach is different and it’s important that our Instructors listen to parents and carers at the start and watch closely as the sessions progress.
Dani Edser, who has mild Cerebral Palsy, recently attended a Balanceability session. Her mum, Leigh Edser said:
“This programme really compliments her physiotherapy with the added benefit of using a balance bike which is so light. Dani currently uses a trike, but finds the pedalling hard work and not much fun, so being more like her peers was a huge boost. In just one session Dani made significant progress in gliding and steering.”
Once a Quick Quote has been received, please arrange for a Purchase Order to be e-mailed to info@balanceability.com.
When your Purchase Order has been received, an invoice will be sent back to you, which also includes a delivery date.
Attending a Balanceability demonstration at Welton Primary School, I was impressed with the potential opportunities it offered for younger children who would normally have to wait until year six to receive any formal cycle training. Not only does the scheme offer a logical step on the way to Bike-ability training, but it appears to equally support the requirements of the PE curriculum at Key Stage 1.
Balanceability also has the potential to fill a gap in current cycling and cycle training provision and dovetail into NGB schemes like British Cycling's Go Ride scheme. As an indoor activity it should offer leisure and community centres a great all-year-round fun activity and along with our local Avon and Somer Valley community schemes - plus the Sky Ride Bath - it is well placed to promote cycling to a wider age range.
