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global development delay.

Discussion in 'Early Years' started by 1428202, Jan 25, 2009.

  1. one of my children in the nursery has been diagnosed with global development delay. She is 4 in september.

    what does this mean and what things can i help her with.
    We are in moscow so shopping for specialised equipment could be a problem

    any help is greatfully received
  2. This is my own experience and so please do not take this as being the only interpretation.

    Global developmental delay seems to be a term used when a child functions in all areas of development below that which is considered to be normal for her chronological age.

    There could be a number of reasons and it could be temporary.

    Premature. babies might have global delay during their early years and then catch up. There maybe a medical reason or brain function reason. leading to a specific learning difficulty and sometimes this term is used when a diagnosis is pending.

    Think of stage of development rather than ages for development. Flip through EYFS or the profile and ascertain where you think she might be and then what you would consider to be her next steps.

    I know we knock the EYFS 0-5 document, but I think in this case you will find it useful..
  3. katycustard

    katycustard Occasional commenter

    I think Hedda has given you some good advice. It will probably he helpful to think in small steps with this little girl. She will be thinking and doing at a younger level than her peers and will be operating at a younger age than her chronological age. Whatever you plan for her will need to be broken into small steps and she may need much more time to play/explore resources rather than do whatever you had planned for her to do.

    Depending on how delayed she is, she may have a poor attention span or she may play for ages with what she wants to. Children don't normally progress in their development until they have had sufficient time and opportunities in the stage they are at. So, again depending on her delay, she may need to be quite repetitive in her play before she can move on.
  4. Msz

    Msz Established commenter

    Some good advice already. I'd also suggest if you can get portage materials from your upport team you may find it helpfulin understanding her needs. Good Luck

  5. NellyFUF

    NellyFUF Lead commenter

    We have a mite with global delay. She likes scarves and tactile materials, songs and rhymes, repetitive games with familiar materials, things to touch and squeeze like sponges and balls, she also likes to join in with what the others are doing at her own pace and in her own way, which might just be watching and hearing her name occasionally.
  6. thanks to you all for all the information.
    dont really have any support in moscow so need to do things by myself.

    she is a lovely little girl so i want t help her and her mum the best i can. Her language is very poor but getting better( 2 languages going on to complicate things further )
    At the moment she plays by herself . She loves art and craft and making pictures. Her fine motor skills are quite poor and her gross motor skills also.
    I just want to do the best that i can. I will have her in my class for at least the next 2 years. She has made huge progress just from september. I need to get her ready for school the best that i can as moscow does not have special schools and it is a country that does not help anyone with any disability at all. Her only hope is that she gets into the international school, and to be honest with you they accept who they want to accept so i need to give her the best chance she has.

    sorry for the long ramble.
  7. Hi I work with a little boy in nursery who has Global Delay amongst other issues. I have started using shoebox tasks with him. They focus on what he can do and can be modified to extend his ability. Each task only takes a few minutes. You don't have to buy them, you can make them quite easily.

    Hope this helps.
  8. Ibuzzybea

    Ibuzzybea Occasional commenter

    As others have said global developmental delay is usually a "delay" in all areas of development. However global developmental delay is usually diagnosed when their is no other obvious cause of developmental difficulties or is added to a diagnosis to highlight the child's impaired development. Delay suggests the child will catch up, but this is not usually the case. Unlike other diagnosis' global developmental delay has no "classic" child and can relate to a HUGE variety/ continuum of need (which is in common with other conditions) ranging from immobile, no language, no conventional communication, limited anticipation etc. to a child that is functioning about a year below expected, with a few areas of strength.
    The early support materials may be of great help, (general)
    All the best, baby steps and make sure you get all info you can from parents.
  9. inky

    inky Lead commenter

    Our lovely little seven-year-old globally delayed boy [whom I taught in nursery] still has NO SUPPORT because 'global' is too vague a term to, um, err, erm, warrant it.
    Global delay is not a label like autism, so you'll be lucky to get any support for a child wo has it.
  10. inky

    inky Lead commenter


    Sorry if that's not your experience but that's what we've found in our Authority.
    Makes me mad.
  11. Ibuzzybea

    Ibuzzybea Occasional commenter

    That's interesting Inky, why is that different Local Authorities have such different thresholds etc. In my county if the child's needs warrant it they will get support, but would agree that you often get less than other diagnosis' . I don't think the op was asking for "support" though, lets hope they got/ get it.
  12. inky

    inky Lead commenter

    Our lot don't give support unless there's a definite diagnosis.
    Catch 22: a child is diagnosed with the indefinite diagnosis of global delays so gets not support.
  13. inky

    inky Lead commenter

    Child is in Yr 3 now. Innocent little soul and getting bug.ger all out of school.
  14. Ibuzzybea

    Ibuzzybea Occasional commenter

    It's sooo sad isn't we fail so many kids in the name of inclusion (not to say we don't fail a lot just in the name of education)
  15. inky

    inky Lead commenter

    You said itX
  16. Hi, I worked as an NNEB before I became a teacher.
    One year I worked all year with a 9yr old girl with 'Global Development Delay'. She was about the level of a very difficult 2/3 year old. She was toilet trained but that was after she started school at 5. She had very limited language, could almost say her name but not much else. She had poor coordination, used to make dashes for it and fall over a lot. Sadly for her she'd been placed in a Year 3 class at my previous school. I can't think of many places worse for her! She needed space, sensory experiences, reassurance and lots of exercise. As well as a load of language support.
    As for the label 'Global development delay' that is pretty vague, as it depends how delayed the child is. The Educational Psychologist called her a little enigma, because they didn't really know what was wrong with her or what had caused it.
    Working with her was extremely rewarding, as well as stressful. But she was in the wrong environment.
    I hope that you get lots of support with your little girl as you will need it.
  17. We have a little boy in our nursery with global delay and foetal alchol syndrome. He has to have a key worker glued to him as he has no sense of danger or fear. We had loads of meetings with all the agencys involved back in june and sept and assessed his needs. Currently we are going through the statementing nightmare but getting all the professionals together is a headache. He was recieving loads of support when in a sure start centre but now he is with us everything disappeared including speech and language it's so annoying. We have not recieved extra funding even though I have had to get another body, bought specfic equipment etc.. He is a lovely little boy but is like a toddler with toddler tantrums, nappy changing etc. I am lucky I have TAs who are prepared to do above and beyond.

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