Occupational Therapy is about participation and supporting individuals to do what they want to do, need to do or are expected to do.  I’m passionate about facilitating participation in school and supporting all our teaching staff and learner’s families to help our learners fulfil their fullest potential. 

At the core of the work is a universal provision approach whereby each learner has access to a therapeutic learning environment infused with a wide and growing range of approaches, including but not limited to: 

• Sensory Integration, Sensory Attachment Intervention & The Just Right State Group (E. Bhreathnach), 
• Interoception Curriculum (Kelly Mahler), 
• Fun Fit & High Five – a gross and fine motor programme from Vranch House
• Reflex Integration principles, Eyes Matter, and therapeutic use of equipment, e.g. flexible seating, equipment and adaptations as needed, e.g. sloping boards, handwriting supports, sensory supports. 
• Principles from Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine) and Neuroaffective Touch (Aline La Pierre) 

We recognise that learners spend most of their time with teaching staff and so, alongside therapy colleagues, we prioritise INSET training and staff coaching to ensure that our dedicated staff team are supported to understand our learners through a wide range of ‘therapeutic lenses’.  

Understanding our learners more fully by building relationships with parents through coffee mornings, parents evenings and school events is really important, as well as making connections with other professionals working with learners outside of our school environment, e.g. physiotherapists, OTs etc.