How OT supports schools
We can give advice to teaching staff on strategies and approaches that may help if a child you work with needs support in areas of daily life such as eating a meal, using the toilet or playing with friends.
OT support may come in the form of:
- Modelling new skills and techniques or recommend different ways of completing tasks.
- Working closely with school staff (e.g., learning support assistants, teachers, SENCOs) to understand the needs of students and collaborate on implementation of strategies.
- Offering staff training (e.g. on topics like motor skill development, sensory regulation, and self-care skills) and workshops.
- Providing advice on adapting the classroom environment, equipment, and activities to support students' participation.
The video below gives an introduction to the SEN Occupational Therapy Team for new SENCos and Learning Support Assistants and explains how SEN OTs provide therapy in schools and how teachers and LSAs can implement OT programmes in the classroom.
Children’s Occupational Therapy services across Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea are working in new ways to help schools achieve better outcomes for their pupils.
Occupational Therapists have expressed a desire to see children more frequently, while school staff are asking for more support to understand how best to help children in the classroom day to day.
Starting in September 2025, selected schools will be invited to participate in a Pilot Study running throughout the academic year. Each participating school will work closely with an Occupational Therapist over the course of one full term to develop and deliver small, evidence-based groups (2–3 children per group).
Goals of the Pilot
This initiative aims to:
- Provide more intensive support and practice opportunities for children and young people
- Equip school staff with effective strategies to use not only in the group sessions, but also in the classroom, playground, and lunch hall
How It Works
During the Autumn and Spring Terms 2025/2026, schools and nurseries will be contacted by their current OT to discuss participation. If your school is selected, the process will begin with an initial meeting to plan group timetables and staffing.
The OT will discuss with school staff the targeted children who may benefit from group-based provision. These children’s goals and targets will be reviewed, and the OT will share effective approaches for delivering the sessions. The OT will also provide modelling and feedback for staff, with visits scheduled at the midpoint and end of the 12-week programme.
Looking Ahead
This initiative is designed to continue over multiple terms and become a sustainable resource for schools, helping them embed effective strategies for developing key everyday skills.
The downloadable Targeted Groups Pack for Schools can be accessed here.
If you are interested in registering your school for the pilot, please email c.brundle@nhs.net to express your interest.
If your school takes part, your feedback will be requested and greatly appreciated to help shape future delivery.
Our team also provides training in the following areas:
- Introduction to SCERTS +C168:C178(Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support)
- Practical Sensory Strategies
- Autism Training for Early Years and Private, Voluntary or Independent settings (2 day training)
- Supporting Autistic Learners in Secondary School - Q&A session
- Fostering Emotional Regulation
- Autism and Puberty
- Practical Strategies to support Handwriting
- Toileting and independence skills
- Navigating mealtimes with Sensory Challenges
- Sensory Circuits
- Emotional Regulation Early Years Practitioner Training (delivered jointly with SLT, psychology)
Check our Events section for more details on upcoming training.
