Help Your Class to Learn

Barbara Pheloung, B.A., Dip.Ed.(Spec.Ed.), was a resource teacher, born in Canada, who spent over 35 years specialising in working in the field of special education in Australia. In 1987 she set up a specialised treatment centre in Manly, Australia, known as 'The Beach House'. This was a private centre for those with Learning Difficulties and Hyperactivity in which Teachers, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and a Physical Education Teacher worked together sharing their expertise. Barbara's team proved that by working together, starting with the professional who met the most basic needs of a particular child, results could be quick and permanent. The success of The Beach House also demonstrated that similar centres could be set up in any community and with a minimum of financial support. Barbara went on to become a pioneer in the field of learning difficulties; authoring four books, producing two educational DVDs and working with thousands of students, parents and teachers across the world. She and her associates refined and perfected a sequential movement program that can be done with an individual, a small group or with a whole class and requires little in terms of training or equipment. The movement sequences seem to act as a 'neurological kick-start', helping children to reach learning readiness and removing the obstacles that had blocked them in the past. In 2004 Barbara was nominated for Australian of the Year.