Occupational therapy

We offer practical occupational therapy advice, strategies and support to schools, parents/carers and other professionals in relation to a child’s/young person’s functional and independence skills

Occupational Therapy Helpline: open Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm - 4pm.

Tel: 07974 230 554

1. A whole population/universal approach delivering occupational therapy, where therapists share professional knowledge and skills with educational staff and parents to improve the engagement and participation of children in a range of school and home occupations.

2. Targeted services designed to support children and young people who are at risk of reduced participation in everyday occupations, delivered via a telephone advice line, school/nursery link visits, workshops, training and occupational therapy resource packs and advise sheets.

3. Specialist occupational therapy services provided for children and young people with identified physical and developmental learning needs which impact on their participation in life roles. Use of an individualised intervention approach to teach strategies, recommendation of specialist equipment, and advice on environmental modifications, parent coaching approaches, individualised home and nursery/school occupational therapy advice, and specialist evidence based therapy delivered individually or in a group setting.

Whole population/universal approach and targeted service can be accessed at a pre referral stage; specialist occupational therapy requires a child to be referred.

Further information is available from Social Care Occupational Therapy (Surrey) and from the Royal College of Occupational Therapy in the Children and Young People leaflet and in the School leaflet. 

The Person, environment, occupation (PEO) model is used in Surrey to focus on the child/young person’s skills, interest and motivations, the occupations they want or need to do and the environment in which they take place. These three areas all directly impact on participation in daily life.

Occupational therapy is most effective when offered in the environment where the child/young person carries out their daily life activities e.g. home, nursery or school.

Therapy approaches are most effective when the occupations and activities the child/young person’s is motivated and interested in are the main focus. They should be included in their daily routines to maximising frequency.

Occupational Therapists support sensory needs which impact daily life. We support families, educational settings, children and young people to manage sensory needs through; adapting the environment, modify the activity, develop an understanding of sensory needs and use strategies for the child/young person to self-manage.

These approaches are recommended in the literature. For example, changing the sensory environment to enable the child/young person to participate in the activity, i.e. alter the temperature, reduce visual clutter, noise level, and lighting in the environment, (College of Occupational Therapists 2015.)

Supporting the parent/carer to manage sensory needs and to improve participation of children/young people in their chosen occupations through using coaching principles has shown evidence of effectiveness (Dunn et al 2012; Graham et al 2015.) The service does not provide Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy (ASI), therapy in a clinic setting which uses equipment including swings. There is not enough evidence at this present time to validate use. Instead we provide therapy linked to occupations and environments with the intention to manage (not change) the sensory needs of a child/young person (College of Occupational Therapists 2015.)

For more information on the evidence and approaches available to support sensory needs, please visit the Council for Disabled Children website.

Current best practice identifies up-skilling those working in closest proximity to the child/young person. Occupational therapists work in partnership with parents, nurseries, schools and other professionals all working towards shared goals.

We use a family-centred approach where children and families are at the centre of goal setting as this is well evidenced. (Novak et al 2019).

The Everyday Living Skills Checklist for Early years and School aged children can support SENCOS in identifying children with potential Occupational Therapy needs across all the every day occupations we address. It is recommended that the checklist is used: 

• to gather information when calling the helpline
• when a child is moving to SEND arrangements to identify needs (and inform earlier contact with the service and referral)
• when a request for EHCP is being made (our caseworkers have suggested that the checklist is included in the request to assess paperwork). 

Occupational Therapy can transform lives.

The core purpose of Occupational Therapy for Children is to empower and enable children, young people and their families to live their lives as independently and easily as possible.  We work in partnership with families and school as part of the therapy partnership model to achieve this.

Watch the video of Alistair's story

Training to support students in schools – run by the Occupational Therapy Service

A range of free training to support schools and education professionals is on offer from the Occupational Therapy Service in partnership with the SEND teaching schools.

This training is open to all Surrey school staff, including teachers, teaching assistants, SENCO etc. and professionals working in education services.

To book a place email: courses@sendteachingschool.co.uk with title and date you wish to attend (places limited so please book early to avoid disappointment).

All training is being hosted at: West Hill School, Leatherhead, KT22 7PW

Supporting students in the school environment

Wednesday 3 June, 9.45 am – 12.00 noon

Supporting Sensory differences in the school setting

Wednesday 3 June, 12.45pm – 3.00pm

South East Surrey

Mole Valley and Banstead Team (covering Banstead, Ashtead, Leatherhead, Dorking and Tattenham)

Tel: 01372 384 395 

Reigate and Tandridge Team (covering Reigate, Redhill, Merstham, Horley, Oxted, Caterham and Lingfield)

Tel: 01737 777 711

North East Surrey (covering Spelthorne, Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell boroughs)

Tel: 01932 826 500

North West Surrey (covering Woking, Rynnymede and Surrey Health boroughs)

Tel: 01932 826 500

South West Surrey (covering Guildford and Waverley boroughs)

Tel: 01483 783 148