Occupational Therapy in Primary Schools
Our service mirrors the graduated approach, providing a variety of strategies encompassing both preventive and intervention measures at universal, targeted, and specialist levels. We work collaboratively with teaching staff and students to provide support with skill development, recommend adaptive tools and environmental modifications to ensure students can thrive within their educational setting. We work with both students and staff at school so there is a far-reaching benefit to school and students alike. We understand that no two schools are the same or have the same requirements, therefore we offer a broad range of services which are tailored to meet your individual needs and budget.
We work with children and young people who face challenges with engaging in day-to-day activities because of difficulties with fine/gross motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, executive functioning, and social-emotional development. These difficulties can be associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder, Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, and a range of other diagnoses. Occupational Therapy can help children and young people develop essential skills for learning, including participating in daily activities that they want, need, or are expected to engage in, both at home and school.
Our Approach
Our Services
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Our universal support can involve whole school face to face or webinar training to upskill staff on areas of need and can include:
Supporting motor coordination needs within the classroom
Fine motor skills and handwriting
Sensory processing challenges within the school environment
Sensory circuits
Strategies to support executive functioning skills
Need something more bespoke? The OT team can develop training to support your individual school needs.
We offer environmental audits, considering both physical and sensory needs of staff and students.
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We can skill up school staff to become Occupational Therapy champions in your setting, identifying and providing intervention for a wide number of students.
Here’s how it could look:
Delivering parent workshops / coffee mornings.
Identification and training for school OT champions.
Supporting schools with development and set up of targeted interventions including motor skill groups, independence skills, self-regulation, sensory circuits, handwriting and typing skill groups.
Environmental and sensory advice for groups of students accessing SEN support within school hubs.
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In almost every school there will be a small cohort of children who present with significant occupational performance challenges (including students with EHCPs), impacting on academic achievement, and therefore would benefit from tailored specialist support. We will work collaboratively with school staff to identify areas of need and strength, providing support, advice and individual therapeutic programmes for skill development with the aim to reduce barriers to learning.
Tailored specialist support may look like:
1:1 assessment, including observation of student within different school environments, and engagement in therapist-led activities
Liaison with teaching staff and families to support identification of need
Provision of individualised advice and recommendations for the school and home environment. This could include activity / exercise programmes, visual supports, alternative equipment, or environmental modifications to support participation.
Contribution to the EHCP process, and attending review meetings where needed.
Engagement in direct intervention sessions which may focus on:
Building strength and stamina for fine and / or gross motor skills
Developing independence for self-care and life skills
Handwriting and alternative methods for recording work
Sensory based interventions including accessing zones of regulation / interoceptive curriculums
WMSLT also have an Hub Support Service that is dedicated to supporting mainstream schools set up or enhance an existing ‘hub’. Our multidisciplinary team with specialist experience can enable your staff to build a thriving, autonomous, safe environment for your students with early complex communication needs.
