A NURSERY group using once-controversial methods to help children with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy has passed an Office for Standards in Education inspection.
The group uses techniques developed by Hungarian physician Andras Peto that were considered controversial a decade ago. It forms part of Birmingham’s National Institute for Conductive Education, which opened in 1995.
The OFSTED inspector found that the nursery promoted “desirable outcomes” in all six required areas of development and praised the quality of the teaching and the partnership between staff and parents.
The staff are British and Hungarian but OFSTED found that those with Hungarian as a first language speak English well and “teach with a refreshing vitality and enthusiasm, which is reflected in the children’s behaviour, sustained attention and enthusiasm”.
Andrew Sutton, director of the institute, said that the report indicated for the first time that a fully conductive system could meet national inspection standards.
He said: “Our staff have worked very hard to accommodate the formal requirements of OFSTED. We shall continue developing within national guidelines as long as this does not compromise our fundamental educational philosophy.”
Cerebral palsy is the most common childhood motor disease. About 1,500 babies each year are diagnosed as having the condition.
