Frequently Asked Questions

We have over a decade working within a number of communities supporting children and families with a wide range of difficulties.

We have worked in a Specialist Developmental Coordination Disorder Team, supporting children & families at home, school and  in after school activities.

We have worked within Child Development Centres for babies & toddlers with physical or specific learning disabilities.

We have managed Education Collaboration Projects including working in schools for children with profound & moderate physical and learning disabilities.

We have worked in an international, specialised environment, supporting children using a Sensory Integration Approach to practice.

We will never stop learning and stay ahead of the practices that will allow us to support your child, and family, with the skill, care & attention it deserves.

We may feel that your child needs some 1:1 intervention to maximise the development of their skills.

Intervention allows the child various experiences through play; this helps your child to build on core skills that may be preventing them from accessing some aspects of their everyday lives.

Not every child needs intervention, and any agreed plan will be tailored in length to specifically suit their needs.

The active therapy session lasts 45 minutes leaving 15 minutes for discussion and questions.

We ask that children come along to these sessions in comfortable clothing. The child where possible will have a degree of input into designing the treatment sessions.

We work collaboratively with all parents/guardians – and ask you to join into the sessions – to help you and your child as best we can. Our Family-Centred approach means you will receive guidance and support throughout the Intervention journey.

Throughout the process, we provide the family with a range of activity suggestions to continue with at home.

This is worth repeating! We ask that parents & guardians join into the sessions as much as possible.

This will allow you to learn how to support your child’s development in greater detail. Don’t underestimate your importance in all of this, we see you as the expert when it comes to your child and how Occupational Therapy will fit into your child’s world. 

Research shows that isolated 1:1 sessions in a clinic with no follow through of activities at home will have little impact on improving their skills. Do not underestimate your importance in this process. Repetition at home could make the world of difference to your child’s confidence, motivation and self esteem and this is why we are so passionate about having you on board our team. 

The Pre- Assessment is a consultation that lasts no longer than an hour. We will chat about everyday life for your child & family and focus on your areas of concerns.

We use this time to offer advice, strategies, top tips & resources for you to trial for a few weeks / months with your child to ascertain if a full assessment is required.

This is ideal if your child is perhaps struggling in a few specific areas, or you are seeking some insight and guidance on how best you can support your child’s development. Here our focus is on positive health promotion of wellbeing and improving your child’s participation in the areas of life they are finding tricky.

We offer a full range of child centred standardised and non- standardised assessments that are completely child and family focused.

These include Sensory, Mental Health, Movement, Visual, Handwriting, Life Skills Assessments.

This is not a one size fits all approach; therefore we can adapt all assessments to suit your child.

We strongly feel that the aims of the therapy should be directed by you and your child; each goal is focused on what is important to YOUR life.

We design & deliver a tailored program that endeavours to help your child in whatever aspect of their life that they are finding challenging. This includes mental health symptom management strategies, sensory intervention, sensory attachment intervention, gross and fine motor skills organisational skills to name but a few…

Once agreed to the block of intervention (how often & how many), here is the process of what happens:

1. GOALS

We will agree the therapy goals from what was covered during the assessment. This is about what is important to your child and you! The therapist is there to facilitate, guide and mentor along the way. Remember this is a collaborative journey. The goals will be reviewed regularly.

2. PARENTS & GUARDIANS ALL ARE INVOLVED

Our Family-Centred approach means developing, as a family, together. That is why we strongly encourage parents & guardians to attend each session and get involved; the reason for this is you get to see and learn ways to follow up with the therapy at home.

3. HAVING FUN

Yes, this is can be a serious or stressful time in your families life. In particular for your child. We want to make our sessions as enjoyable and fun as possible. All of our sessions are designed to develop skills through play.

4. TIME TO TRY THIS AT HOME

Intervention is focused on helping your child, and the wider family, achieve their goals. But this is not a magic trick, the key is keeping up the work at home within the reality of your own life- whether it is between each session, or long after intervention has concluded, we cannot stress strongly enough that this is a continuous journey.