What can we do to help?
Use the 5P Approach to Flexibility!
Poor flexibility or flexible thinking affects the development of a number of key skills in both learning and social development. The 5P Approach to Flexibility identifies three main elements; Thinking Skills and Conceptual Understanding, Play and Social Development and Adaptability, all of which are affected in some way by poor flexibility.
Using the principles and philosophy of the 5P Approach, the 5P Approach to Flexibility uses the distinct Red, Amber & Green traffic light colours to outline the Flexibility Framework. The approach introduces the concept of a "Flexibility Continuum" used to measure an individual's level of flexibility and to measure progress. The 5P Approach to Flexibility also introduces a unique and comprehensive assessment tool (the 5P Approach Flexibility Assessment) which provides a means of assessing flexibility skills and measuring small step progress.
About the 5P Approach to Flexibility
The 5P Approach, with its solution-focused, preventative emphasis, sets out to ensure that any strategies used for intervention quickly become part of a general approach (part of the GREEN Zone). This is particularly important for the area of Flexibility. The 5P Approach process and pathway (Profile, Prioritise, Problem-analysis, Problem-solve and Plan) can therefore be used equally effectively when the focus is specifically on flexibility.
The 5P Approach to Flexibility sets out a clear assessment and intervention pathway and provides materials to aid both the completion of the process and recording.
Clearly, supporting the development of flexibility is essential within both home and school. In the 5P Approach to Flexibility, there are four key intervention strands to this which work together:
Poor flexibility or flexible thinking affects the development of a number of key skills in both learning and social development. The 5P Approach to Flexibility identifies three main elements; Thinking Skills and Conceptual Understanding, Play and Social Development and Adaptability, all of which are affected in some way by poor flexibility.
Using the principles and philosophy of the 5P Approach, the 5P Approach to Flexibility uses the distinct Red, Amber & Green traffic light colours to outline the Flexibility Framework. The approach introduces the concept of a "Flexibility Continuum" used to measure an individual's level of flexibility and to measure progress. The 5P Approach to Flexibility also introduces a unique and comprehensive assessment tool (the 5P Approach Flexibility Assessment) which provides a means of assessing flexibility skills and measuring small step progress.
About the 5P Approach to Flexibility
The 5P Approach, with its solution-focused, preventative emphasis, sets out to ensure that any strategies used for intervention quickly become part of a general approach (part of the GREEN Zone). This is particularly important for the area of Flexibility. The 5P Approach process and pathway (Profile, Prioritise, Problem-analysis, Problem-solve and Plan) can therefore be used equally effectively when the focus is specifically on flexibility.
The 5P Approach to Flexibility sets out a clear assessment and intervention pathway and provides materials to aid both the completion of the process and recording.
Clearly, supporting the development of flexibility is essential within both home and school. In the 5P Approach to Flexibility, there are four key intervention strands to this which work together:
About the Flexibility Strands
Where do we start? Use the 5P Approach Flexibility Assessment
- The general intervention approach – Creating the GREEN Zone
- This is planning the general approach which works with the individual’s learning style and creating a safe environment in which the individual can learn and interact (and so reducing stress).
- Developing flexibility skills (GREEN)
- Supporting the individual to develop the skills needed to improve flexibility of thought and move further towards independence.
- Providing opportunities to develop flexibility (GREEN)
- Providing or organising opportunities specifically designed to make use of and generalise developing flexible thinking skills.
- Teaching coping and self-management strategies (AMBER)
- Supporting the individual to uses strategies which act as “coping“ or self-management strategies. These are those which reduce anxiety and provide a means of increasing flexibility whilst new skills develop.
- This strand links directly with the 5P Approach problem-solving framework and is only used when behaviour issues (RED) occur
Where do we start? Use the 5P Approach Flexibility Assessment