What is occupational therapy?

Occupational Therapy aims to develop a child’s ability to carry out all occupations or daily activities, thereby promoting independence and quality of life.

What do we do?

The Occupational Therapy Special Schools Service can help to support you with children aged 4 – 18 years who have
physical or sensory difficulties, which affect their daily occupations and activities.

We are a physical service and cannot provide expertise for children whose primary need is related to behaviour or mental health.

We can support with:

School

  • Using hands for play and exploration, development of fine motor skills.
  • Pre-writing/Handwriting – pencil grasp, pencil control, letter formation, sizing, spacing, pressure, line placement, positioning.
  • Use of ICT for recording work.
  • Scissor skills, using a ruler, use of equipment.
  • Ability to engage in classroom activities and the school daily routine.

Self-care

  • Eating and Drinking – cutlery skills, positioning for feeding, selective eating with a sensory basis.
  • Dressing – buttons, zips, laces, sequencing and orientation of clothes.
  • Toileting – bathing/showering, hair brushing, hair washing, hair cutting, tooth brushing, nail cutting.

Leisure

  • Sports, hobbies and play

How to refer

Any member of staff at the Trust can refer by completing the referral form.

Schools will need to call parents to gain verbal consent.