How do I find an occupational therapist?
       Schools should contact their local children’s 
       occupational therapy service to discuss how                             For leisure, learning, living or working
       occupational therapy could assist their organisation.                             Occupational therapy                                                                                                     SCHOOL
       Parentscarers should as their school’s learning support                 Helping people to live life their way                                                                                             
       teacher, class teacher, P, social worer or other health 
       or social care professional for a referral to occupational 
       therapy. Selfreferral may also be available in some areas.                                                                                                                                                apy in
       To arrange a private consultation with an independent 
       occupational therapist, who will charge you a fee, 
       please visit www.cotssip.org.u. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Occupational ther
                                                                               For more information about occupational therapy, visit 
                                                                                  the College of Occupational Therapists website.
            For leisure, learning, living or working                                  College of Occupational Therapists Limited
                     Occupational therapy                                             The professional body for occupational therapy staff
              Helping people to live life their way                                     106–114 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LB
                                                                                                   Tel: 020 7357 6480
                       COT.co.uk                                                                www.COT.co.uk
                                                                                      The ollege of ccupational Therapists Liited is a registered charity in England 
                                                                                            and  ales o  ­€‚11ƒ„ and in Scotland o  S…ƒ‚€…„
                                                                                                                 Specialist Section                                Occupational therapy
                                                                                                                 Children, 
                                                                                                                 Young People                 CON0053    Helping people to live life their way
                                                                                                                 & Families
                                                                          What areas do occupational therapists 
                                                                          focus on in the school?
                                                                          •  School wor – including following instructions, 
                                                                             woring with others,  eeping on tas, writing, 
                                                                             drawing, cutting and pasting, using the computer or 
                                                                             playing sport.
                                                                          •  ‰ife sills – for e€ample, putting on and taing off 
                                                                             coats or shoes, changing for sport, using the toilet, 
                                                                             eating lunch and managing belongings.
      Occupational therapy enhances                                       •  Šrea time and play – such as ‹oining in games,                  How can occupational therapy services 
      engagement and participation in                                        taling with others and maing friends, or using                 be provided? 
      school life                                                            brea times to recharge for the rest of the day.
                                                                                                                                               whole class or whole school universal 
      Children and young people learn, play and socialise in              •  Transitions – such as stopping one tas and starting             approach
      school. hilst most children find participating in activities          another, moving between classes, or changing                     Collaborating with teachers and staff by providing 
       or occupations­ such as writing a story, playing in the               settings from primary to secondary school,                       relevant training and consultation for whole school 
      playground or finding their way around the school                      or transitioning to further and higher education                 or whole class approaches. Occupational therapists 
      manageable, these present challenges for some children                 or wor.                                                         can advise on reasonable ad‹ustments, support the 
      and young people.                                                                                                                       school’s handwriting policy development, suggest 
      Why use an occupational therapist?                                  Occupational therapists may also be ased to contribute             environmental adaptations to support the canteen 
                                                                          to a child or young person’s Special Œducation Žeeds                routine, or ensure the playground is inclusive. 
      Occupational therapists are trained to understand                   assessment or learning support plan.
      the whole person, including physical, mental health, 
      emotional and behavioural needs and their impact on                                                                                      targeted or group approach 
      school life. Occupational therapists have the e€pertise to 
      wor in both mainstream and specialist school settings.                                                                                 oring with individuals or groups of children or 
      When is occupational therapy needed?                                                                                                    young people on activities such as improving dressing 
                                                                                                                                              or writing sills, eeping focused on a tas, maing 
      Occupational therapy is needed when established                                                                                         friends or planning transitions. 
      school support is in place and the child or young 
      person continues to e€perience issues with their school 
      occupations. ‚n partnership with the school staff, child                                                                                 specialist approach 
      or young person and parentscarers, strategies for                                                                                      ‚ncluding individualised services with focused 
      enhancing participation will be e€plored, for e€ampleƒ 
      •  Changing the way the school tas is done                                                                                             support for a child or young person in the school. ‘n 
      •  Outlining modifications to the environment                                                                                           occupational therapist can provide a specialist chair 
      •  …ecommending or providing e†uipment                                                                                                  so the child or young person can access tabletop 
      •  Teaching the child, young person or staff new                                                                                        activities, woring with technology providers to support 
         techni†ues                                                                                                                           a child or young person’s access to the curriculum or 
      •  ‡eveloping the child or young person’s sills and                                                                                    develop sills to play with peers during brea times. 
         abilities