School-Based Physiotherapy Practice

Lesson 1 • Interdisciplinary Team Dynamics

Examines how PTs function within multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams. Builds skills for shared decision-making and role release.

Lesson 2 • Role of the School-Based PT

Defines physiotherapy's distinct contribution within the school team. Connects professional identity to educational outcomes rather than purely medical goals.

Lesson 3 • School System Structure and Culture

Maps administrative hierarchies, funding streams, and school culture norms. Prepares PTs to navigate institutional dynamics effectively.

Lesson 1 • Atypical Development and Disability Models

Contrasts medical and social models of disability as applied to school-age children. Frames PT practice within a strengths-based, participation-focused lens.

Lesson 2 • Typical Motor Development Milestones

Traces gross and fine motor acquisition from ages 3 through 18. Provides the developmental baseline required for all subsequent assessment chapters.

Lesson 3 • Cognitive and Social-Emotional Development

Connects cognitive stages and social-emotional growth to PT goal-setting. Ensures interventions are motivationally and developmentally matched.

Lesson 1 • Ecological and Observational Assessment

Teaches observation of students in natural school environments to capture real-world function. Complements standardised testing with contextually valid data.

Lesson 2 • Interpreting and Reporting Findings

Guides translation of assessment data into educationally relevant conclusions. Prepares PTs to communicate findings clearly to families and IEP teams.

Lesson 3 • Referral and Screening Processes

Outlines how students are identified for PT evaluation and the PT's role in screening. Establishes the entry point for all subsequent assessment activities.

Lesson 4 • Re-evaluation and Progress Monitoring

Covers timelines, triggers, and methods for ongoing student re-evaluation. Ensures services remain justified and goals remain relevant over time.

Lesson 1 • IEP Meeting Participation Skills

Develops communication and advocacy skills for productive IEP meetings. Prepares PTs to handle disagreements and support family engagement.

Lesson 2 • Writing Measurable PT Goals

Teaches goal-writing frameworks that are functional, measurable, and educationally justified. Directly applies assessment findings from Chapter 3.

Lesson 3 • IEP Structure and PT's Contribution

Explains IEP components and where PT input is required or optional. Positions the PT as an active contributor rather than a passive service provider.

Lesson 1 • Sensory-Motor Integration Techniques

Applies sensory-motor strategies to improve attention, coordination, and classroom readiness. Builds on sensory processing concepts introduced in Chapter 2.

Lesson 2 • Strength and Motor Skills Training

Applies therapeutic exercise and motor learning principles within school-based contexts. Ensures interventions are embedded in meaningful school activities.

Lesson 3 • Embedding Intervention in School Routines

Teaches how to integrate PT goals into daily school activities rather than isolated sessions. Maximises generalisation and reduces pull-out time.

Lesson 4 • Mobility and Ambulation Training

Addresses gait training, assistive device use, and safe navigation of school environments. Builds on developmental and assessment knowledge from prior chapters.

Lesson 1 • Assistive Technology Frameworks

Introduces AT classification systems and the PT's role in the AT team. Establishes conceptual grounding for all subsequent AT selection and implementation.

Lesson 2 • Physical Accessibility and Universal Design

Teaches environmental assessment and modification to remove physical barriers in schools. Applies accessibility standards to real school building contexts.

Lesson 3 • Mobility Devices and Wheeled Mobility

Covers manual and power wheelchair evaluation, fitting, and training for school use. Directly applies mobility intervention skills from Chapter 5.

Lesson 1 • Consultation Models in School PT

Compares expert, collaborative, and triadic consultation models for school settings. Provides the theoretical basis for all indirect service delivery approaches.

Lesson 2 • Interprofessional Communication Skills

Refines written and verbal communication with OT, SLP, psychology, and nursing colleagues. Ensures PT recommendations are understood and implemented across disciplines.

Lesson 3 • Coaching Educators and Paraprofessionals

Teaches structured coaching cycles to build staff capacity for PT goal carryover. Extends intervention reach across the full school day.

Lesson 1 • Programme Development and Evaluation

Guides design and evaluation of school PT programmes at the district level. Builds capacity to demonstrate programme value to administrators and policymakers.

Lesson 2 • Advocacy and Systems Change

Equips PTs to advocate for policy changes that improve student access and PT resources. Connects individual practice to broader educational equity goals.

Lesson 3 • Mentorship and Professional Development

Prepares experienced PTs to mentor new practitioners and lead professional learning. Sustains a culture of continuous improvement in school PT teams.

Lesson 4 • Caseload Management and Prioritisation

Develops systems for managing large, complex caseloads efficiently and ethically. Applies service delivery models from Chapter 4 at a programme scale.