Assessing the Level of Motor Skills Development in Preschool Children with Special Educational Needs

The aim of this research project (conducted from 2015 to 2017) was to investigate and chart the development of motor skills in preschool-aged children with special educational needs, and to create a developmental scale tailored to these skills. The study focused on a case sample of children enrolled in special education units and integration classes within primary education settings in the Achaia region of Greece, using the assessment tool PDMS-2 (Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - Second Edition). This research is directly aligned with the official curriculum of special education schools and integration units, supporting the implementation of the preschool special education programme. Upon completion of the research, the final developmental scale produced will be available for use by early childhood educators (certified under categories PE60 and PE61) to design targeted motor skill development programmes for children in their care. By extension, it will also support informal in-service training among educators.