Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Our in-house Paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) service helps children and young people develop the skills they need to take part in everyday life. Occupational Therapy focuses on building independence, confidence and wellbeing by supporting children to do the things that matter most to them; whether that’s looking after themselves, learning at school, or playing with friends.
Occupational Therapy Can Support With:
- Sensory processing and regulation
- Dyspraxia / Developmental Co-ordination Disorder
- Down syndrome
- Developmental delays
- Autism
- Handwriting / fine motor skills
- Balance / co-ordination
- Cerebral Palsy
- Self-care skills; for example, dressing / using cutlery / going to the toilet
- ADHD
- Organisational / daily living skills
- Social integration
- Visual perception difficulties
If your child is experiencing difficulties doing things or carrying out everyday tasks that they want to do, or are expected to do, whether this is due to illness (physical or mental), disability, life changes, or just simply because they are finding something tricky and you are not sure why, Occupational Therapy can help.
We can support babies, children and adolescents at whatever stage of life they are at.
How Can Occupational Therapy Benefit My Child?
For children and young people, “occupations” are the everyday activities that are important for their growth, development and wellbeing. These include everything from getting dressed and eating independently to playing, learning, handwriting, socialising and taking part in school and leisure activities.
The main occupations for children and young people are listed below. If your child is finding any of these activities difficult, an Occupational Therapist can assess the underlying reasons and provide practical strategies and support to help them develop the skills they need to participate more confidently and independently.
Babies & toddlers: Support with sleep, feeding and bathing routines. Advice on positioning, sensory calming, and early dressing/washing skills.
School-aged children: Step-by-step support with dressing, eating, toileting, brushing teeth, managing zips/buttons and cutlery use. Fun, motivating activities to build confidence.
Teenagers: Life skills such as personal hygiene, preparing meals, using money, travelling independently, and organising daily routines in preparation for adulthood.
Babies & toddlers: Play-based activities to encourage early movement, exploration and problem-solving.
School-aged children: Support with fine motor skills (handwriting, scissors, classroom tools), posture, attention and organisation. Classroom adaptations to make participation easier.
Teenagers: Strategies for organisation, time management and exam preparation. Advice for teachers on classroom supports, technology and environmental changes to help learning.
Babies & toddlers: Play activities that encourage sensory exploration, interaction and early development.
School-aged children: Support with joining group games, sharing, turn-taking, gross motor skills and developing hobbies and interests.
Teenagers: Helping young people access sports, social clubs and hobbies. Strategies to overcome barriers with coordination, social confidence, or planning leisure time
We believe in providing a practical approach that you can use at home.
At our clinic, we focus on everyday, functional activities that make sense for your child and your family. Instead of relying on large pieces of equipment or specialist gyms, that likely you do not have at home, our therapy sessions use activities and strategies that can be easily replicated at home or school. This means parents can continue supporting their child’s progress between sessions, using things you already have around the house; like games, toys, kitchen utensils, or simple household routines.
Our goal is to give you realistic, practical tools that fit naturally into daily life, so therapy feels achievable and meaningful, not overwhelming.
Occupational Therapy is run from our larger therapy room. Different resources and equipment will be set up depending on your child’s age and needs. Our cupboards are full of hidden activities! Sessions will involve a mix of table-top activities and mat-based programmes.
Assessment Options and Fees
Before the assessment, we will ask you to complete some paperwork to help our therapist gain a better understanding of your child, their development, and the areas where you are seeking support.
During the appointment, the therapist will spend time getting to know your child and understanding the activities, or occupations, that are important to them in everyday life. They will explore any challenges that may be affecting your child’s ability to participate confidently at home, school, or in the community.
The assessment will involve a combination of observation, play-based and functional activities, discussion with you and your child, and, where appropriate, formal standardised assessments. This allows the therapist to build a comprehensive picture of your child’s strengths, areas of difficulty, and the underlying factors that may be influencing their development. If needed, more than one standardised assessment may be used, with each one carefully selected to suit your child’s individual needs. Our therapists always aim to make the assessment as relaxed, engaging, and enjoyable as possible.
Parents and carers are welcome to remain in the room throughout the assessment, and we encourage you to ask any questions you may have along the way.
You will then receive a written report detailing all the results, outcomes and recommended next steps within 14 days. For more detailed information about stand-alone handwriting assessments, please see here.
The assessment process is the same as above, however if you are looking for a report that can contribute to your child’s Educational Healthcare Plan, this report would be more in-depth. Please note, this is not an ‘EHCP Needs Assessment’ but an assessment report to help contribute to the initial EHCP application process.
This assessment will evaluate the underlying components that support a child’s handwriting, such as muscle strength, endurance, coordination, and motor control. The results of this and any next steps can support with improving handwriting efficiency as well as any necessary school support strategies. A summary report will be sent within 7 days of the assessment date. For more information about Handwriting Assessments, please click here.
Following the assessment, your therapist may recommend a course of in-clinic therapy to support your child in working towards their individual goals and to develop the skills identified during the assessment. These are 45-minutes, usually weekly or fortnightly.
If your child has already had an Occupational Therapy Assessment elsewhere, either on the NHS, or in another private clinic and the report is less than 6 months old, we can begin straight away with Therapy sessions. If your child has not had an OT assessment before, we would need to first carry this out before beginning therapy sessions, in order for the therapist to identify exact needs and goals to work toward. It is not possible to begin therapy sessions without an assessment or a report **
Our Occupational Therapy Services are provided by our HCPC Registered Occupational Therapists; Laura Russell, registration OT71389 and Amber Burnett, registration OT73400