What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy focuses on enhancing a child's ability to perform everyday activities and to participate in different environments. Occupational Therapy should result in increased functional skills which will improve quality of life, independence, self-esteem, learning and achievement for the child/young person.

Who can be referred to the Occupational Therapy Services?

Children who have needs and difficulties within:

• spatial awareness, 
• self-care 
• postural motor function e.g. weak muscle tone
• sensory processing functions e.g. sensory seeking behaviour or hyperactivity to external stimuli etc.
• gross and fine motor skills, e.g. balance, ball skills, hand grasp, activities of daily living, e.g. self-dressing, self-feeding
• where there is evidence of significant and severe functional impairment and where the functional impairment is significantly out of line with the perceived potential of the child

Who can I speak to if I am concerned and/or need advice?

If there are concerns regarding your child’s fine motor skills, the first point of contact is the class teacher. You can also speak to your GP and a member of our Inclusion team to ask for advice. If your child meets the criteria for a referral, then we can discuss making a referral to the NHS Occupational Therapy Services.