A blog post from Sunshine Support advocate Emily Fairbrother…
In the past, dyspraxia was a condition which wasn’t typically diagnosed until adulthood. However, we are now starting to see a growing number of children having the traits of dyspraxia recognised at an early stage when supportive action can be put into place.
Dyspraxia, or DCD – Developmental Coordination Disorder – as it is also commonly referred to are conditions which affect a person’s gross and fine motor skills so it’s clear that being able to put the right support in place as soon as possible is vital to help support a child as they grow.
On Tuesday 4 February, we are going to be joined by Occupational Therapist Alison Hart, the founder of Children’s Choice Therapy Services for a two-hour webinar all about dyspraxia and DCD. For anyone who is looking to learn more and support their child in developing their skills, this is a great one to attend and you can secure your tickets here now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/970343953887

What is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia is a neurodevelopmental condition which affects the way the brain processes information about movement. This then leads to difficulties with coordination, balance and fine motor skills, which might manifest in challenges with tasks such as handwriting, using scissors or catching a ball.
Dyspraxia is not a learning disability – children with dyspraxia can be as bright and capable as their peers but may struggle with certain physical and organisational tasks.
These challenges can become more pronounced over time, leading to difficulties in education settings and also at home and play. Like many neurodevelopmental conditions, those needs can also change over time depending on the environment a person finds themselves in.
Much like sensory processing disorder, the difficulty with dyspraxia comes from a mix-up of the messages in the brain and how the body then processes the information it is getting in.
What are the indicators of dyspraxia?
There are a huge number of ways in which a child might be affected by dyspraxia but here are some of the most common ones:
- They struggle to do what can be called ‘large muscle activities’ which are things like running, jumping or riding a bike
- Similarly, they can struggle with fine motor skills such as handwriting, shoelaces and buttoning clothes.
- Trouble navigating the stairs
- Appearing clumsy or struggling with spatial awareness
- Difficulties with sequencing and organising actions
- They might also be delayed in meeting their developmental milestones

How is dyspraxia diagnosed?
Dyspraxia is not normally diagnosed in children under the age of 5 but help and support for pre-school children can have huge benefits if it’s put into place early.
Diagnosis is led by a specialist and according to the Dyspraxia Foundation, a diagnostic assessment for dyspraxia should include:
- A review of information from parents, teachers and the child. It’s about how the child manages at home, at school and during leisure.
- A standardised assessment of movement skills – this is often carried out by an occupational therapist or physiotherapist.
- A developmental history provided by the parents or carers
- A medical assessment to rile out other conditions that have similar symptoms.
What does the movement test for dyspraxia involve?
A standardised test called the Movement Accessory and Battery for Children (MABC) assessment is used to examine both gross and fine motor skills.
The assessment then measures a child’s skill level against that of other children in a similar age group.
There’s three performance areas that the MABC looks at – manual dexterity, ball skills and static and dynamic balance. Their movement difficulty will then be scored.
As with all additional needs, knowledge is power and the more that you know the more support you can put in place. If your child has already got a diagnosis of dyspraxia or DCD or you think it sounds like something which you might need to explore further then do come along to our webinar on 4 February to learn more.
Tickets can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/970343953887
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Emily Fairbrother is a Sunshine Support advocate and has been with us since 2024. Prior to that she worked in two very different education settings – one, an all-through school managing the Autism provision and the other as a Deputy SENCO. Her specialisms are Autism, ADHD, EHCNA Requests, Mediations, Cognition and Learning, Co-ordination Needs and collaborations with schools.