Being the PMLD Newbie
What am I going to do? How?
What am I going to do? How?
These and many more questions flooded into my head when I was told that I would be teaching this class- Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities. I had done it before but that was about 8 years ago. I liked my class, Moderate Learning Disabilities (MLD) with challenging behaviour suited me, I liked the excitement and the energy, where was that going to come from now?
Oh well, a new year and a new challenge.
During the summer holiday I devised a timetable. I enjoy making lots of resources to support a story and as harvest was on the horizon 'The Little Red Hen' leant itself to a sensory story.
I gathered the props, book, PowerPoint and anything else I thought would complement the story. One hour of the week down, now for the rest….
I turned my attention to the timetable. Fixed sessions were sensory music and drama ( all Monday afternoon). Sherborne movement -the PE type session for students with PMLD Tuesday morning. 'The Whole Shabang' a communication based session. We also had hydrotherapy, rebound therapy, physiotherapy, OT sessions as well as SLT. The gaps in between I filled with sensology, Tacpac, sensory story, IEP work as well as supporting the children with their eating and drinking and most importantly with their hygiene needs. Never mind the children’s energy, what about mine.
Day one with the pupils and already my carefully crafted timetable was thrown out!! It was too much. We couldn't do it all. I was supported by two TAs each day and they knew what they were doing fortunately.
I had a lot to learn - using the hoist, helping one girl to have her drink ( 200mls of thickened juice using a small warning spoon). That first day went in a bit of a blur, I was exhausted.
There was a lot to learn but I always pushed my year 3/4 pupils out of their comfort zone, and now I was out of mine too. Loads happened in those first few weeks - some much more successful than others.
I was the 'new girl' in the PMLD team, the two other PMLD teachers, one KS3, the other 14-19 years both gave me lots of support and at the end of the year I felt it had been a successful year. The pupils are happy and enjoying the class. There is real progress made ( although minuscule steps) and each of these successes celebrated.
Would I leave the PMLD class? No, I am really enjoying the experience, now back to the timetable.
Jane Daniell is a PMLD teacher at a specialist school in Warwickshire, she holds a Masters Degree from Birmingham University and is the school lead for Design and Technology. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Jane, get in touch with us on twitter @wearetheSENco
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