Independent paediatric occupational therapy
Helping children take part in the everyday things that matter to them.
Occupational therapy supports children to take part in the everyday occupations of childhood: self-care, handwriting, mealtimes, play and the demands of the school day. Where participation is affected, I assess the underlying factors and work collaboratively with the child, family and school to identify practical strategies that make a difference.
Parents & carers
These are some of the areas I can help with. Every child is different, so if you’d like to talk about your own, please get in touch.
How a child takes in and makes sense of sound, touch, movement and everything else going on around them. This shapes how settled or overwhelmed they feel in busy places such as the hall, the playground or the supermarket, and how easily they recover afterwards.
Dressing, fastenings, cutlery, scissors, riding a bike. These skills rely on coordination, planning and strength, and knowing which of those is getting in the way makes all the difference to how we practise.
Letter formation, pencil grip, speed and stamina, copying from the board, and how the eyes and hands work together.
Toileting, eating, sleep routines and getting out of the house in the morning. These often rest on a child’s awareness of signals from their own body.
Sitting for carpet time, moving between lessons, managing equipment, joining in at break. Small adjustments to the environment and routine can help a child feel regulated when in school.
Occupational therapy is concerned with what a child wants to do as much as what they have to do. Being able to join a game, use the park equipment or keep up with a club matters.
What happens
Three steps from the first conversation to a plan.
A free half-hour call to hear what is happening and what you are hoping for. If occupational therapy is not the right thing, I will say so, and suggest what might be.
Usually in school, where the difficulties arise. Standardised assessment, observation in class and at break, and conversations with the staff and the family who know the child best.
A written report setting out what I found and what I recommend, with strategies the adults around the child can realistically use.
Assessment & support
Every assessment includes a written report with findings and practical recommendations.
Up to thirty minutes, free of charge and with no obligation. A chance to talk through what is happening and work out whether an assessment is the right next step.
A full day in your child’s setting: standardised assessment, observation in class and at playtime, a conversation with staff, and a summary report.
Standardised sensory questionnaires completed for home and school, with interpretation, a written profile and strategies you can use in both places.
School visit with standardised assessment, classroom and unstructured-time observation, discussion with the SENCo and teaching staff, and a report setting out needs, recommended outcomes and quantified provision.
Fine and gross motor skills, sensory integration, visual perception and visual processing, and handwriting or typing.
A written update for an annual review, and attendance at reviews, EHCP meetings, multi-disciplinary meetings and school meetings, in person or online.
Up to an hour without your child present. Useful for planning strategies, thinking something through, or between blocks of support.
Half-day sessions tailored to your setting: regulation, handwriting, sensory strategies, motor skills and more.
Fees are available on request.
Bespoke packages. Not every child fits a standard package. Quotes are available for bespoke work: combined assessments, blocks of support, work across two settings, or an ongoing arrangement with a school. Please get in touch and we can put something together.
About
I hold a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy from St George’s, University of London, and work with children and young people to support their participation in education and everyday life.
My clinical interests include autism, sensory integration, and developing the practical skills and confidence children need day to day. As a parent of three, I work in close partnership with families and take the time to understand what matters most to them.
Assessment, consultation and intervention are offered at home, at school and in the community, across East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent, depending on location. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (OT093958) and with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and hold an enhanced DBS.
Fees are available on request. Get in touch.
Get in touch
The first call is free and there is no obligation. Tell me a little about your child, or about the child your school is concerned about, and we can work out together whether an assessment is the right next step.
Email is the quickest way to reach me. I aim to reply within two working days.
