Astrolabe Neuro-Developmental Therapy

30/08/2025

Birth is one of the most physically demanding things a baby goes through. When it’s a smooth experience, it helps kickstart healthy brain development. But if labour is very long, very fast, involves interventions or high stress, it can leave a lasting imprint on the nervous system.

According to Dr. Tony Ebel, birth trauma can trigger a “fight or flight” response in a newborn that never properly settles.

This can lead to a hyper-sensitive nervous system, which might show up later as:
- Sensory sensitivities
- Poor sleep
- Trouble settling
- Anxiety or meltdowns
- Constant need for movement

These signs are not about what’s wrong with a child but can be clues that their system may be stuck in survival mode. With the right support, we can help the nervous system calm and reorganise - just get in touch for a chat to find out how we can help.

26/08/2025

I’m delighted to share the inspiring vision of Macosquin Primary School in leading the way by hosting the INPP School Programme Teacher Training. With the support of the Department of Education in Northern Ireland, funding was provided for more than ten schools to take part. The training was delivered by INPP UK Principal, Pauline Shannon, and warmly facilitated by our colleague and fellow INPP licentiate, Tori Sheppard of Map & Compass Neuro-Developmental Therapy.

As an educator, I see this training as essential for understanding the increasing challenges many children face in the classroom. Through an evidence-based developmental movement approach, it helps build children’s physical readiness for learning — enabling them not only to thrive in school, but also to find everyday tasks easier. I look forward to the day when this invaluable approach is recognised as a core part of teacher training across the country.

25/08/2025

Some children can’t stand labels on clothing, noisy spaces, or brushing their hair. Others constantly seek movement, pressure or rough play. To the outside world, this might seem like fussiness or defiance – but there’s often something deeper going on.

In his article on pxdocs.com, Dr. Tony Ebel explains:
“These behaviours are not attention-seeking or disobedient. They’re adaptive responses to an overwhelmed nervous system.”

Once we understand the sensory system, these behaviours make more sense – and so does the support that can help.

12/08/2025

In at least 80% of children with developmental delays, including ADD/ADHD, SPD and autism, there is a history of birth trauma.

06/07/2025

🧠💃 Want to dance smoother, stronger, and with more confidence? It’s not just about practice — it’s about how your body and brain work together behind the scenes.⁠

Here’s what really makes a difference:
⚡ Reflexes — your body’s instant reactions that keep you on beat and ready for anything.
⚖️ Balance — the foundation that helps you stay steady through every spin and step.
↔️ Bilateral integration — how your left and right sides coordinate seamlessly to create fluid, graceful movements.⁠

When these systems are sharp, dancing feels natural — every move flows, transitions are smooth, and your style shines with ease. Without them, even the simplest steps can feel tricky or off.

Think of your brain and body like a high-performance team. Train them right, and your dancing will reach new levels of grace and control.⁠

Stay tuned for tips on how to strengthen these key skills and unlock your full dance potential! 💪✨

04/07/2025

INPP's 50th Anniversary Conference, Chester 18-19th October 2025.

We are really excited to present you our complete Conference Program!
Registration is open in the website!

02/07/2025

Dreams may affect our ability to remember past travels, too.

02/07/2025

👁️💬Does your child have 20/20 vision — but they’re squinting, skipping lines, struggling to read, or constantly losing their place?

Here’s the truth most parents (and professionals) aren’t told:
✅ Perfect eyesight does not mean perfect vision.
🚫 And it definitely doesn’t mean the visual system is working as it should.

Beneath every focused pair of eyes is a network of reflexes, balance, and brain-body coordination that supports how we use our eyes — especially for tasks like reading, writing, and tracking.

If your child still struggles with:

🔸 Handwriting
🔸 Tracking words across the page
🔸 Sit still in class
🔸 Copying from the board
🔸 Coordination or catching a ball…
🔸 Make eye contact

…it may not be a “vision problem” — it could be an unintegrated reflex or an underdeveloped vestibular system disrupting the way their eyes function.

📌 Without a stable, organised foundation from the body and brain, the eyes can't do their job effectively — even if they see clearly.

🧠When these reflexes are retained, they essentially clog the sensory-motor system, preventing efficient collaboration between the vestibular and visual systems.

🧠 It’s not about trying harder. It’s about building the right neurological foundation.

✨ The good news? These systems can be assessed, supported, and developed. And the changes can be life-changing.

🌟 Why This Matters for Parents
Vision is not always behind your child's difficulties, reflexes and balance may be the root cause.

That’s why at Astrolabe Neurodevelopmental Therapy, we always look at the whole sensory-motor foundation, not just the surface symptoms.

🔁 Share this with a parent who’s been told “everything looks normal” — but knows something is being missed.

29/06/2025

Thank you for the feature Ronnie Gardiner Method UK
RGM is now available at Astrolabe Neuro-Developmental Therapy

RGM Practitioner of the Month: Taqua Imam

Meet Taqua Imam — an experienced educator and INPP Practitioner with a passion for supporting people through movement, rhythm, and structured therapeutic practice.

Taqua’s impressive background includes:
* BSc, PGDipEd, MA
* Postgraduate training with INPP (Institute of Neuro-Physiological Psychology)
* Certified Johansen IAS Practitioner, RMT Consultant, and trained in Brain Gym, Touch for Health, and Movement for Learning

She offers Ronnie Gardiner Method (RGM) sessions at the Solihull Osteopathic Practice in the West Midlands — both one-to-one and in small group settings.

Her sessions use rhythm, music and movement to support mobility, cognition and social communication — helping clients with conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and stroke recovery.
This fun, structured method has no assessment required and is tailored to suit individual needs using specially chosen choreoscores (music tracks with movement patterns).

Based in Solihull, West Midlands - get in touch with her here taqua@astrolabetherapy.com

17/06/2025

How are reflexes related to learning difficulties such as Dyslexia?

Before we rush to seek a diagnosis, let's talk about what is often missed

📌 Many children are showing "dyslexic" symptoms — difficulty reading, reversing letters, poor focus — but there might be something deeper going on:

💥 Retained ATNR reflex
🤸‍♀️ Vestibular (Balance & Movement) Dysfunction
👁️ Immature Visual System

Things like the Moro reflex, ATNR, or underdeveloped eye tracking skills can often mimic dyslexia.

Here’s what that might look like:

Skipping lines or words when reading

Complaining that "words move on the page"

Poor posture or fidgeting when trying to focus

Struggling to copy from the board

❗️Children aren’t struggling because they can’t learn.
They’re struggling because their brains and bodies are working overtime just to stay still and process the page.

✅ Before jumping to a diagnosis, assess the neurological foundation:
• Are reflexes integrated?
• Is the vestibular system balanced?
• Are visual tracking and convergence where they should be?

🔍 The right kind of screening and remediation can change everything. Especially when remediation is through a simple two minute exercise home programme.

Let’s shift the narrative:
🧠 What looks like dyslexia might just be a brain still finishing its setup.

➡️ Parents, educators, therapists — this needs to be part of the conversation.

To learn more, please contact us for a free 30minute discovery call at: www.astrolabetherapy.com

18/05/2025

https://www.jci.org/articles/view/189842?fbclid=IwY2xjawKW-VRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKY28wV3ZPT0JZVU45eTJyAR7U56c0lvLZl3VnFVO2E-ZXKbZcHxAOBJtBxURGHhhxM-klojAy57jq5IdfiQ_aem_RIQDO4NLZfeoUq778Zzy8g

20/04/2025

NEWS!

Sally Goddard Blythe's book "Neuromotorische Schulreife: Testen und fördern mit der INPP-Methode" is in the TOP 10 Paediatric Books in Germany.

This highlights the growing recognition of neuromotor readiness as a crucial factor in children's educational development.

The book is the German language translation of Assessing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning: The INPP Developmental Screening Test and School Intervention Programme

German: https://amzn.eu/d/isjOQ0J

English: https://amzn.eu/d/32rv3RF

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UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITY 📚

Join Sally Goddard Blythe for an exclusive one-day training session designed specifically for teachers and educational professionals to deliver the INPP Developmental Movement Programme in schools:

📅 Date: 19th September 2025
📍 Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester

Limited spaces available
For more information about the One-Day Course and to book your place:

https://www.inpp.org.uk/onedaycourses