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Dyspraxia Screening Tool

Understanding Coordination & Organisational Strengths & Challenges

Section 1: Introduction & Purpose

Welcome to the Dyspraxia Screening Tool. This resource is designed to help individuals, parents, and professionals gain a clearer understanding of potential difficulties with coordination, motor skills, and organisation, alongside identifying unique strengths.

Who is this Screening Tool For?

This screener is for individuals of all ages (children, young adults, and adults) who experience persistent challenges with motor coordination, planning movements, organisation, or sequencing tasks in daily life, education, or work.

It is managed by a professional (e.g., teacher, SENCo, occupational therapist, support worker, or career advisor) to help guide the process and discuss the results.

What Will This Tool Do?

This tool will help to:

Identify if experiences align with common indicators of dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder - DCD).
Highlight individual's strengths (e.g., verbal, creative, strategic thinking) which can coexist with coordination challenges.
Provide practical insights into learning preferences and effective support strategies for motor and organisational skills.
Guide recommendations for further assessment, educational adjustments, or workplace accommodations.

Important Information:

It is vital to understand that this is a screening tool, not a formal diagnostic assessment for dyspraxia. It is designed to inform support and identify the need for further investigation, not to label.

A formal diagnosis of dyspraxia can typically only be provided by a paediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified medical professional, often in collaboration with an educational psychologist.

Our Strengths-Based Approach:

We believe everyone has strengths and unique ways of thinking. This screener, in line with The Dynamic Development Plan framework, focuses on understanding the individual's whole profile. It is not just about identifying challenges, but about recognising their resilience, practical skills, creativity, and other talents that can help them succeed.

Let us begin to explore their unique potential!

Section 2: Background & Developmental History

This section helps us understand the individual's developmental history and how they manage coordination and organisational tasks now. Please complete all relevant fields or mark 'N/A' (Not Applicable).

Individual Details & Current Context

1. Full Name of Individual Being Screened:

2. Age:

3. Relationship to Individual (if completing for someone else):

4. Current Education Level / Main Activity:

5. Name of Professional Administering Screener:

6. Date of Screening Tool Completion:

Developmental History & Motor Skills

7. Were there any delays in achieving motor milestones (e.g., sitting, crawling, walking, riding a bike, tying shoelaces)?

Yes, delays noted No Not sure

8. Is there any family history of difficulties with coordination, motor skills, or organisation (e.g., dyspraxia, DCD)?

Yes No Not sure

9. Has the individual received any previous support or interventions for motor skills or coordination (e.g., occupational therapy, physiotherapy)?

Yes No Not sure

Section 3: Core Motor & Organisational Skills Observations

Observe or discuss the individual's performance in tasks involving coordination, movement, and organisation. Note any specific patterns of difficulty or strength.

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY: Observe/discuss and record observations/notes below.

1. Gross Motor Coordination (Age-Appropriate)

Observe/discuss: Balance (e.g., standing on one leg), catching/throwing a ball, running, jumping, navigating crowded spaces, learning new physical skills (e.g., sports, dance).

Overall Level of Skill:

2. Fine Motor Coordination (Age-Appropriate)

Observe/discuss: Handwriting legibility/speed, drawing, cutting with scissors, fastening buttons/zips, using cutlery, typing, fine assembly tasks (e.g., LEGO, intricate crafts).

Overall Level of Skill:

3. Planning & Sequencing Movements (Praxis)

Observe/discuss: Ability to follow multi-step physical instructions (e.g., "stand up, turn around, touch your toes"), learn new routines, perform complex sequences of actions (e.g., cooking steps, assembly instructions).

Overall Level of Skill:

Organisational & Spatial Skills

10. Does the individual struggle with organisation, planning, or time management?

Yes, often Sometimes Not really

11. Are there difficulties with spatial awareness or navigation (e.g., telling left from right, map reading, judging distances)?

Yes, often Sometimes Not really

12. Overall Observations from Professional (Optional, but highly recommended):

Note any general observations during this section: signs of frustration, fatigue, compensatory strategies used, engagement.

Section 4: Impact & Strengths

This section explores how coordination and organisational challenges impact the individual's life and highlights their unique strengths.

13. How confident does the individual seem about their motor skills or organisational abilities in daily life, education, or work?

Very low confidence Low confidence Average confidence High confidence

14. How do any difficulties with coordination or organisation impact the individual's emotional well-being, learning, or daily functioning?

(e.g., frustration, anxiety, avoidance of physical/organisational tasks, feeling clumsy, affecting self-esteem)

Your Strengths & Adaptive Strategies

15. Describe the individual's cognitive strengths (e.g., verbal reasoning, creativity, strategic thinking, empathy, strong visual memory if not motor-related):

16. What strategies or tools does the individual currently use to manage coordination or organisational difficulties?

(e.g., using digital planners, dictation, asking for verbal instructions, avoiding certain tasks, relying on others, breaking tasks down)

Section 5: Findings & Recommendations

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY: Use this section to interpret findings and outline actionable recommendations based on the individual's responses and observations.

Overall Profile & Strengths:

Based on all sections, what are the individual's unique strengths and preferred ways of learning?

Potential Indicators of Dyspraxia (DCD):

Based on the screening observations, are there consistent indicators of dyspraxia (DCD)? (Refer to specific observations from Sections 2, 3, and 4). Avoid definitive diagnosis. Note age-specific manifestations.

Immediate Practical Strategies & Support (The Dynamic Development Plan in Action):

Suggest immediate, practical strategies for home, education, or workplace. Focus on leveraging strengths and accommodating motor/organisational challenges.

Recommendations for Next Steps & Future Success:

What should happen next? Choose one or more options below and provide details.

Recommended Next Steps: Refer to Occupational Therapist (OT)
Consider Physiotherapy referral
Discuss with SENCo/Inclusion Manager
Explore assistive technology (e.g., dictation, organisational apps)
Consider workplace/educational adjustments
Recommend a formal diagnostic assessment for dyspraxia
Other (please specify below)

Thank you for completing the Dyspraxia Screening Tool.

This tool is designed to empower you with understanding and practical pathways for your future.

Created by Lane Anthony

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Dyspraxia Screening Tool

Section 1: Introduction & Purpose

Who is this Screening Tool For?

What Will This Tool Do?

Important Information:

Our Strengths-Based Approach:

Section 2: Background & Developmental History

Individual Details & Current Context

Developmental History & Motor Skills

Section 3: Core Motor & Organisational Skills Observations

1. Gross Motor Coordination (Age-Appropriate)

2. Fine Motor Coordination (Age-Appropriate)

3. Planning & Sequencing Movements (Praxis)

Organisational & Spatial Skills

Section 4: Impact & Strengths

Your Strengths & Adaptive Strategies

Section 5: Findings & Recommendations

Overall Profile & Strengths:

Potential Indicators of Dyspraxia (DCD):

Immediate Practical Strategies & Support (The Dynamic Development Plan in Action):

Recommendations for Next Steps & Future Success:

DDP Generated Report

Sign up for Newsletter

Dyspraxia Screening Tool

Section 1: Introduction & Purpose

Who is this Screening Tool For?

What Will This Tool Do?

Important Information:

Our Strengths-Based Approach:

Section 2: Background & Developmental History

Individual Details & Current Context

Developmental History & Motor Skills

Section 3: Core Motor & Organisational Skills Observations

1. Gross Motor Coordination (Age-Appropriate)

2. Fine Motor Coordination (Age-Appropriate)

3. Planning & Sequencing Movements (Praxis)

Organisational & Spatial Skills

Section 4: Impact & Strengths

Your Strengths & Adaptive Strategies

Section 5: Findings & Recommendations

Overall Profile & Strengths:

Potential Indicators of Dyspraxia (DCD):

Immediate Practical Strategies & Support (The Dynamic Development Plan in Action):

Recommendations for Next Steps & Future Success:

DDP Generated Report

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