The Developmental Hierarchy of School Readiness

United States · CE points & talks · Psychologists

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

• Ayres' Sensory Integration - Part 1 - InfOT - YouTube
• Dyspraxia Explained - Learn the 3 parts of dyspraxia and how this relates to the SPD model. - YouTube

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

Calabash
Calabash Articles
Calabash Partners
Calabash Contributors
Calabash Speakers
Calabash Talks
Calabash Sign up
Calabash Sign in
Talk · Emotionally dysregulated clients: Supporting families - 1. The distress cycle
Allied Health Professionals CPD talks
Article · COVID-19 and Anxiety
post-graduates CPD talks
Privacy Policy
Calabash · South Africa
Calabash Articles · South Africa
Calabash Partners · South Africa
Calabash Contributors · South Africa
Calabash Speakers · South Africa
Calabash Talks · South Africa
Calabash Sign up · South Africa
Calabash Sign in · South Africa
Talk · Cultivating a Neuro-affirming Practice: Sensory Processing Consideration In Therapy Setting (Part 2) · South Africa
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy CPD talks · South Africa
Article · The Pursuit of Goldilocks: Why working collaboratively with Allied Early Intervention Therapists offers children the best chance to develop effectively · South Africa
Human Rights CPD talks · South Africa
Privacy Policy · South Africa
Calabash · Australia
Calabash Articles · Australia
Calabash Partners · Australia
Calabash Contributors · Australia
Calabash Speakers · Australia
Calabash Talks · Australia
Calabash Sign up · Australia
Calabash Sign in · Australia
Talk · Assessment & Treatment for Sensory Modulation Difficulties in Children with Cerebral Palsy · Australia
Mood Disorders CPD talks · Australia
Article · Why Would a Baby Need a Psychiatrist · Australia
Sleep CPD talks · Australia
Uploading an Article · Australia
Calabash · New Zealand
Calabash Articles · New Zealand
Calabash Partners · New Zealand
Calabash Contributors · New Zealand
Calabash Speakers · New Zealand
Calabash Talks · New Zealand
Calabash Sign up · New Zealand
Calabash Sign in · New Zealand
Talk · Cultivating a Neuro-affirming Practice: Ethics and Neurodiversity (Part 1) · New Zealand
Children, Teens & Families CPD talks · New Zealand
Article · Understanding sensory processing disorder · New Zealand
Medication CPD talks · New Zealand
Terms of Use · New Zealand
Calabash · United Kingdom
Calabash Articles · United Kingdom
Calabash Partners · United Kingdom
Calabash Contributors · United Kingdom
Calabash Speakers · United Kingdom
Calabash Talks · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign up · United Kingdom
Calabash Sign in · United Kingdom
Talk · Executive Functions: How do they develop and what do we do about it? · United Kingdom
Neuro CPD talks · United Kingdom
Article · What is PND and how is our understanding of this illness changing? · United Kingdom
Perinatal Mental Health CPD talks · United Kingdom
Privacy Policy · United Kingdom
Calabash · United States
Calabash Articles · United States
Calabash Partners · United States
Calabash Contributors · United States
Calabash Speakers · United States
Calabash Talks · United States
Calabash Sign up · United States
Calabash Sign in · United States
Talk · HPCSA Guidelines on the Keeping of Patient Records · United States
Imago Relationship Therapy CPD talks · United States
Article · Live Webinar: Incel Culture, the Online World & Our Children · United States
Jungian Analysis CPD talks · United States
About Partners · United States
Calabash · Canada
Calabash Articles · Canada
Calabash Partners · Canada
Calabash Contributors · Canada
Calabash Speakers · Canada
Calabash Talks · Canada
Calabash Sign up · Canada
Calabash Sign in · Canada
Talk · The Dopamine Brain · Canada
Neurodiversity CPD talks · Canada
Article · Literature & Mental Health · Canada
Vestibular Disorders CPD talks · Canada
Uploading an Article · Canada
Psychologist in Sydney