The Learning Pyramid

When we think about the word “learning”, we often picture reading, writing and maths, and I’m willing to guess a child sat at a desk with a pencil in their hand. However, according to Taylor and Trott’s Pyramid of Learning (1991) (as cited in William’s & Shellenberger, 1996), these academic skills sit at the very top of the ‘learning pyramid’ – built upon a much deeper developmental foundation. The Learning Pyramid reminds us that before children can focus, read, write or problem-solve, their brains and bodies must first develop strong sensory and motor systems. Understanding this model can help parents, teachers and practitioners support children more effectively.

The Learning Pyramid shows that development builds from the bottom up. A visual will be posted next week to print/download.

1. The Sensory Systems (The Foundation)

At the base of the pyramid is the central nervous system, supported by the sensory systems that help children understand the world. These include:

• Touch (tactile)

• Balance and movement (vestibular)

• Body awareness (proprioception)

• Vision

• Hearing

• Taste and smell

These systems constantly send information to the brain about the body and environment. If these systems are not well integrated, children may struggle to regulate attention, movement, or behaviour.

2. Sensory-Motor Development

Once sensory systems are functioning well, children can develop:

• Body awareness (including midpoint awareness and body scheme)

• Postural security

• Motor planning

• Reflex maturity

These skills allow children to sit upright, balance, move confidently and interact physically with their environment.

3. Perceptual-Motor Development

With strong sensory-motor foundations, children develop more complex abilities such as:

• Hand-eye coordination

• Visual spatial perception

• Auditory language skills

• Postural adaptation

• Attention centres

These are the building blocks for classroom tasks like writing, reading, and following instructions.

4. Cognition and Academic Learning

Only at the top of the pyramid do we see:

• Behaviour regulation

• Academic learning

• Daily living skills

In other words, becoming a competent, capable and deep thinking learner depends on the strength of the levels beneath it. If the foundation is weak, children may find academic learning much harder.

Why This Matters for Children in this Modern Era

Modern childhood often includes less outdoor play and more screentime. There have also been concerns raised by the British Psychological Society regarding the reduced playtime for children in school settings. This means that there are arguably reduced opportunities for movement for the children of today. These changes in childhood experience can limit the sensory experiences that children need in order to develop higher order learning skills. The good news is that these foundational skills can be developed and strengthened, and one way to do this is by implementing a programme called Cool Kids.

Supporting Development Through the Cool Kids Programme

The Cool Kids programme was developed by Joy High after years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. It aims to support children’s development by strengthening the foundations described in the Learning Pyramid. Through structured play and movement-based activities, children build the sensory and motor skills that underpin successful learning. Rather than focusing only on academic outcomes, the programme recognises that development happens from the bottom up and encourages a playful, fun way for children to lay down new neural pathways. The programme considers, “are the foundations strong enough to support learning?” and aims to build confidence and resilience.

For more information on setting up and developing the Cool Kids Programme in your setting, we have a training course written and delivered by experienced Children’s Occupational Therapist, Roz Roscoe. This course includes information on the theoretical underpinnings of the programme, information on how to assess children and set up the sessions, and case studies to work through at your own pace. For more information, click here.