The BUSS Model

The Building Underdeveloped Sensorimotor Systems (BUSS) model, developed by Sarah Lloyd, brings together an understanding of how a baby and young child’s sense of themselves on a bodily level develops through experiences of being touched, held and of moving, all within the context of nurturing relationships.

Sitting alongside a neurodevelopmental understanding of the impact of trauma on the developing brain, attachment theory, child development theory and drawing on sensory integration theory, the model focuses on the development of foundation sensorimotor systems.

It takes as its starting point the understanding that without nurturing relationships babies don’t progress through the stages of movement that are needed to feed the brain and central nervous system with enough information to build an internal map of the body and lay the foundation for well coordinated movement. Clinical experience suggests that these systems aren’t broken in the way that might be seen in children with sensory processing disorders, rather they are underdeveloped because of a lack of adequate movement experiences at critical stages of development.

The BUSS model explores the potential for rebuilding the gaps in these systems left by early adversity, using games and activities within relationships that offer the child a loving, attuned base to grow from. This in turn gives a stable platform for the development of emotional regulation, relationships and learning.