Competences

a. Employ a range of play skills and creative art modalities to foster children and young people’s creativity and imagination, and allow them to express themselves authentically;

b. Develop play and creative sessions that establish pathways to communication and offer opportunities for self-expression;

c. Develop creative interventions that address learners’ individual motor, communication, psychosocial, cognitive and emotional goals;

d. Reflect, evaluate and assess the learners’ responses, reactions, and insights through their engagement with play and the range of expressive art modalities offered;

e. Respond and give effective feedback to learners on their participation and engagement in play/creative sessions.

Knowledge 

a. Understand the benefits of using play and multiple modalities of creative expression in an integrated way (such as using imagery, storytelling, play, art, dance/movement, drama and music) in various combinations to address the different needs of the children and young people with disabilities;

b. Develop an understanding of how the multisensory nature of play and the creative arts can:
            – stimulate the senses and promote sensory regulation,
            – support psychomotor development,
            – reinforce students’ sense of self,
            – foster meaningful interaction with others;

c. Recognise that play and the expressive arts can be tailored to an individual student’s responses, thus providing opportunities for nuanced expression and connection.

Skills

a. Apply knowledge on the benefits of using play and multiple modalities of creative expression to address the different needs of children and young people with disabilities;

b. Apply a combination of play and creative mediums so as to stimulate and encourage new behaviours, skills, expressions and emotions in students with disabilities;

c. Demonstrate knowledge of the various aspects of play and multiple modalities of creative expression and how to engage and stimulate children and young people with disabilities effectively through these expressive arts;

d. Communicate effectively with children and young people with disabilities through a combination of play and creative mediums;

e. Demonstrate knowledge of potential barriers when providing play and expressive arts opportunities for children and young people with disabilities;

f. Plan sessions to help children and young people with disabilities access and engage effectively in play and the expressive arts.