New Horizon Special School has developed a needs-led curriculum that integrates physiotherapy into day-to day learning. We have a beautiful and serene modern physiotherapy room which is a welcoming setting for students. Physiotherapy at New Horizon involves a lot of practicing handling skills.
​
Our program is run by Ms. Belinda Boateng and focuses on assessments, individualised treatment plans, and therapy sessions – all of which are designed to restore, maintain, and make the most of student mobility, function, and wellbeing. Using a SMART approach (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound), Ms. Boateng devises treatment plans and regimes that focus on the prevention and rehabilitation of problems caused by primary or secondary injuries, some diseases, and/or various disabilities.
​
How Our Physiotherapy Works:
​
Students have daily opportunities to practice functional movements. ‘The three “Rs” – which are the core principles of therapy at New Horizon – are Repetition! Repetition! Repetition! Because that is how neural pathways develop. We work hard to incorporate an individualised program plan of physical exercises into the school and home schedules for each student.
​
These plans set clear short and long-term goals, to be achieved through individual or group session activities such as Positioning and Handling through play, and individualized exercise programs.
​
Therapies are unique to each student but will have commonalities within domains.
​
-
Students with autism usually undergo therapies to develop physical and motor skills through massage and muscle-manipulation and may require regimes to improve movement and strengthen muscles.
​
-
Students with Down’s syndrome often have plans that target gross motor skills utilising repetition and practice to increase muscle strength and ability.
​
-
Students with cerebral palsy are normally involved in muscle training exercises to improve strength, flexibility, balance, motor development and mobility.
