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Occupational therapy

Some children may struggle with getting dressed and ready for school, using cutlery, joining in with ball games or using playground equipment in the way their friends do.

Our aim is to support children and young people who are experiencing difficulties with participating in everyday activities or occupations. Our service is child and family focused and works in partnership with the individual, their family and with any other relevant professionals involved in the child’s care.

Children's Therapies OT

Universal and general advice

If you are worried about your child's progress

Find out more about how to help your child to dress and undress themselves, making school days less stressful!

 

Find out how to help your child maintain an upright, stable and comfortable sitting position.

All children sometimes need a little extra help to master a new skill like tying their laces, getting dressed or using a knife and fork.

All children sometimes need a little extra help to master a new skill like using a knife and fork. Find out more about how to support them.

All children develop their movement and coordination skills at different rates and learn new skills in different ways. If you would like to know more about how children develop and how you can support them as they grow we have created an online workshop for you to watch.

When children start to learn to scribble and draw they try lots of different grasps and often change hands. You can help!

Sensory processing is the way that our brain sorts out sensory information so we understand the world and can manage our everyday life.

As occupational therapists, we consider children and young people’s skin integrity, especially related to equipment that we may have provided within your home or a school.

How can an Occupational Therapist (OT) support my child?

Our occupational therapy service supports children and young people (CYP) that are struggling to participate in the activities that they need and want to do at home, school and in the community.

Referrals to the service are accepted where clear functional difficulties exist which prevents the child joining in with essential daily living activities. For example, getting dressed, getting washed and using cutlery.

Occupational therapists work with children, their family and school using a solution-focussed approach to support each child to reach their goals.

Referral

The following pages have advice on how to help your child. If you would like further advice please follow the link to our referral page which has information on referral guidelines and service criteria as well as access to our online form.

How to support your child

Follow the links above  to useful information about activities, apps and websites (detailed below) that can help your child develop the skills they need for home and school.

FAQs

If you have other questions, please contact one of the team.

Organisations

Royal College of OTs logo

Information bout occupational therapy services for children and young people from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Family fund logo

Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.

Scope logo

This website provides information about Cerebral Palsy.

Whizz kids logo

We're here to transform the lives of disabled children by providing the vital equipment, support and life skills they need to reach their full potential.

CPtoys logo

Using knowledge from research, clinical experience and teaching, the CPtoys™ app provides individually tailored treatment programmes by matching developmentally appropriate toys to specific upper limb treatment goals. CPtoys™ understands that toys are an essential part of upper limb therapy programmes.

CHASA logo

CHASA is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and families living with hemiplegia, hemiparesis, or hemiplegic cerebral palsy

C4L logo

Information about healthy eating, useful recipes, activities in your local area to get involved in, 10-minute shake up and lots more.

Downs Syndrome Association logo

Information about Downs Syndrome including facts, advice, support and local events and support.

Dyspraxia Foundation logo

The Dyspraxia Foundation is a countrywide charity, founded in 1987 as the Dyspraxia Trust by two mothers who met at Great Ormond Street Hospital for sick children.

JIA logo

This website provides information on Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, what it is, how it’s managed and living with the condition.

Hemi Help logo

HemiHelp is a UK based charity for people with hemiplegia and their families. The website has lots of useful information for people with this condition.

HMSA logo

Hypermobility.org  provides help and advice across the spectrum of problems seen in the ‘heritable disorders of connective tissue’ – joint hypermobility syndrome, Ehlers Danlos, Marfan syndrome, Stickler Syndrome and  Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Eye Can Learn logo

The website is to provide parents with fun eye exercises to enhance their children’s visual processing skills for better school performance and sustained attention.

Boparan logo

Set up in 2009, we have undergone massive transformation, priding ourselves on being one of the country’s most efficient charities. Our streamlined application process means that once fully completed applications are received, they are individually reviewed within a 14 day period, by our specialist board and Trustees, allowing us to reach out to those children most in need of our help and support.

Muscular Dystrophy UK logo

This website provides information and support to those and campaign to improve the quality of life of people who live with a muscle wasting condition.

Cerebra logo

Charity for children with neurological problems. Details of projects, jobs available and how to volunteer. Support network for parents and a collection of links.

SNAAP logo

SNAAP is unique: there are no other local organisations which provide the extensive range of services to children with every kind of disability, aged from 0-25 years, in partnership with parents. The focus of the services is upon all of the child's needs including educational, social, developmental and emotional. We focus upon the whole family and not just on the child with disabilities.

Newlife logo

About Us: Our Nurses support families, our researchers work to improve children’s health, our dedicated team campaign for a fairer deal and our volunteers and supporters know that 100% of every penny they donate or fundraise will be used for equipment to change a child’s life.

British Red Cross logo

A service providing help and advice, for short term wheelchairs loans in your local area. They also run first aid courses.

Contact a family logo

Charity for families with disabled children including information on local services.

Bliss logo

Information regarding a range of services offered to families of premature and sick babies.

Mencap logo

A UK  charity for people with learning disabilities, including information on a range of services and access to a helpline.

National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society (NAS) is a British charity for people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including Autism and Asperger Syndrome. The purpose of the organisation is to improve the lives of people with Autism in the United Kingdom.

Epilepsy action logo

Information and advice about epilepsy and local support.

Encephalitis logo

Information and advice as well as local events.

Remap logo

Remap is a national charity that works through local groups of skilled volunteers. We help disabled people achieve independence and a better quality of life by designing and making equipment for their individual needs. This tailor made equipment helps people to carry out essential daily tasks without having to ask for help, or helps them take part in leisure occupations or sports that would otherwise be impossible.

MERU logo

Meru is a charitable organisation that offer a switch toy adaptation service where families can send in up to 5 interactive toys at a time to be adapted for use with switches. This service is offered free across the UK, with a flat rate £8 charge made to cover return postage costs.