Routes for Learning (First published 2006)

Routes
for Learning
&
Quest
for Learning
Carmona Special National School, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
November 2009

Children with Profound learning disabilities all have, in
addition, a complex range of other physical, motor,
sensory, behavioural or medical difficulties .
Conventional planning and assessment materials have
always assumed that all children will follow a “normal”
pattern of development; these materials tend to follow
linear, box-ticking formats.
Teachers working with PMLD children have historically
felt intuitively that the existing curricula, with their
product-based, behaviourist approaches were inadequate
for these children; what they need is process-based,
interactive approaches.
In other words, children with PMLD need a holistic,
flexible approach. We must not try to fit them into a
“one-size-fits-all” framework.
We shouldn’t be teaching sequential steps, controlled by
the teacher, but rather focusing on broader attainment
that is not necessarily easy to measure or record.

Routes for Learning was developed between 2001 and
2006 to assess the early communication and cognitive
skills that are crucial to all future learning and improved
quality of life.
It is an assessment for learning and an assessment of
learning. The focus is on the pupil and his/her abilities
rather than disabilities, and allows for measurement of
the often very subtle steps in their development and
progress.
It is process-based and looks at the relationship between
the pupil and his/her environment.
The Routemap identifies key milestones of early cognitive
development, communication and social interaction.
These are:
• noticing stimuli
• responding consistently to a stimulus
• contingency responding
• contingency awareness
• object permanence
• selecting from two or more items
• initiating actions to achieve desired results
(exerting autonomy in a variety of contexts)

The routes that individual children will take to go
through these milestones may vary according to
their physical, sensory and intellectual needs.
The “Routes for Learning Assessment Booklet” takes
each milestone and gives practical suggestions about:
• setting up suitable assessment activities
• signs to look for during the activities
• teaching strategies to move the child on
The “Additional Guidance” book gives an excellent overview
of the principles behind the Routemap and discusses
the various approaches and processes involved. It also
has useful appendices.
A DVD shows illustrations of all the behaviours on the
Routemap.
PROBLEM:
All this excellent material is no longer
available!!!

QUEST FOR LEARNING
http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/inclusion_and_SEN/SEN/pmld.asp
The Northern Ireland Council for Curriculum,
Examinations and Assessment bought the rights to
Routes for Learning in 2007. They made some
adaptations to it, and re-named it “Quest for Learning”
“Quest” follows exactly the same principles and methods
as “Routes”. It also has more detailed guidance,
assessment and monitoring materials.
The Quest for Learning materials are currently being reprinted,
and can be found on the above website. When
the new copies are available, the NICCEA will send them
directly to each Comenius Partner school.