Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy at Parayhouse School
Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping our students with their physical, sensory or cognitive needs to be as independent as possible in all areas of their lives.
At Parayhouse, we have a part time [3 days a week] Occupational Therapist and part time OT assistant who deliver therapy in a variety of ways, as follows:
- Providing advice and support in the classroom on students’ fine and gross motor skills, i.e. setting handwriting targets and providing suitable aids in the classroom to support optimal learning.
- Joining our students at lunchtime and running a lunch group (‘The Lunch Bunch’) which aims to support our students in their eating and drinking skills and promotes independence and safe practices.
- Working closely with team members to set targets and together implement ways to help students access their learning and develop their activities in daily living.
- Assessing and establishing a baseline for new students of their strengths and needs in a range of activities in daily living.
- Supporting students who are preparing for transition to further education, and promoting independent living skills.
The OT prioritises students for 1:1 support when provision is detailed in their EHCP, there is need for extra support in accessing their curriculum and where students in receipt of Pupil Premium require intervention.
Our school year culminates in residential camps for all students. Fun and adventures aside, this provides a perfect opportunity for our students to practice their independent living skills in context.
In preparation for camp our OT meets with each class team to set individual targets specifically for the residential trip. Our OT provides advice and support for developing dressing, self-care and eating and drinking skills.
Following the residential camp, the students’ progress will then be discussed and this will be shared with individual parents at an end of year workshop, planned and delivered by the OT.