Maude Le Roux's course, 'The Developmental Hierarchy of School Readiness,' offers South African psychologists a important framework.
School readiness is more than age or academic exposure, it reflects a complex interplay of neurodevelopmental maturity and foundational skill acquisition. In this insightful talk, Occupational Therapist Maude Le Roux explores the developmental milestones that underpin a child’s ability to succeed in the classroom environment.
Drawing on the work of Posner (on attentional development) and Baddeley (on working memory), this talk outlines the stepwise hierarchy of cognitive and sensory integration required to build executive functioning. The talk helps participants recognise how gaps in early development can impact attention, learning, and behaviour - often forcing students into compensatory strategies that diminish cognitive resources.
This presentation is ideal for psychologists, school-based clinicians, and allied health professionals seeking a clearer framework for assessing school readiness and understanding the neurodevelopmental building blocks that precede formal learning.
YouTube links
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Describe the hierarchical model of school readiness from a developmental and neurological perspective
Identify the role of nervous system maturation in supporting executive function in the classroom
Understand how disruptions in foundational development can impair academic performance
Apply key insights to improve assessment and intervention strategies for school-age children
Collaborate more effectively with occupational therapists in supporting struggling students