Why I studied Conductive Education

Studying Conductive Education was a decision that has changed my perspective and career aspirations.

Initially, after I left college, I wanted to study nursing. I took a gap year and worked in the NHS as a support worker while I figured what I wanted to do. After nearly two years, I no longer wanted to do nursing, but I still wanted to help people and that's when I found Conductive Education.

I found out about Conductive Education (CE) because my boyfriends mum got a job within the service I now work at. She spoke about how amazing it is and the tasks they completed within a day, and it really fascinated me. Whilst she was on holiday, a job opportunity came up, so I applied and got the job. From there, my manager approached me after 10 months working there as a conductive assistant and asked me if i would be interested in studying CE at university. 

I was drawn to CE by its unique approach to holistic development and a learning environment that encourages independence for those with motor disorders. It is about fostering cognitive, emotional and social growth, empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives. The course combines theory and practice and will give you a foundation in the underlying principles of Conductive Education. The course goes in depth into various aspects of human development, motor learning and learning strategies.

The practical placements and experiences on the course are brilliant, offering opportunities to work directly with children and adults, witnessing firsthand the impact Conductive Education has on their lives. This experience also helped to solidify my theoretical knowledge and helped to understand the individuals I was working with. The tutors and lecturers are incredibly supportive, which has helped me to gain more confidence and independence. Moreover, the collaborative nature of the course has helped to build a sense of community with other students.

We learn from each other, challenge each other and celebrate each other’s successes. I recommend this course to anyone seeking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, building a supportive community which celebrates achievements and builds an environment where adults and children are encouraged to explore and learn to be independent.

The things I like the most about the course and CE is that it enables children and adults with motor neurone disorders to learn to live as independently as possible. The tasks that the conductors set and movements they teach are made so that the individual is able to adapt when they are living their everyday life and therefore are able to become more independent and feeling safe when doing so. It is also very rewarding when you witness and see the progress of an individual and being a part of their learning process.

I am now in year two. Following graduation, I will be working at the service I am employed at, leading programmes and enabling adults and children to be as independent as possible. In the future, I aspire to open my own service, offering sessional services for both adults and children with various motor neurone disorders.