Occupational Therapy for Schools
Senara provides commissioned paediatric occupational therapy support for schools, trusts and specialist education settings across Cornwall.
We work within settings across the academic year, developing an ongoing relationship with staff and becoming part of the wider team around the children and young people. This allows occupational therapy to be embedded into everyday practice rather than provided only in response to individual difficulties.
Commissioned support across the year
Regular occupational therapy input can include:
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Consultation and problem-solving with teaching and support staff
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Observation of children and young people within their everyday environment
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Practical sensory, regulation and participation strategies
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Modelling approaches and activities alongside staff
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Advice about classroom environments, routines, equipment and resources
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Staff coaching, supervision and training
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Support with sensory provision and whole-setting practice
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Contributions to EHCP provision and review meetings
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Liaison with families and other professionals
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Monitoring progress and adapting support throughout the year
We work particularly closely with specialist settings, where children and young people may have complex sensory, physical, emotional, developmental or relational needs.
Building confident and sustainable practice
Our approach is needs-led, neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed. We help staff understand the needs underlying a child’s presentation and consider how the environment, relationships and daily demands may be affecting their participation.
Through regular consultation, observation, modelling and review, we support staff to develop their knowledge and confidence. Our aim is to create practical approaches that can be used consistently across the school day and sustained between occupational therapy visits.
Individual and targeted support
Alongside commissioned whole-setting work, we can provide:
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Occupational therapy assessments and functional observations
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Individual or small-group occupational therapy
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Sensory processing and regulation support
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Fine-motor and functional-skills assessment
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Environmental recommendations
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Advice about specialist equipment and resources
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Staff and parent consultation
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Written reports and recommendations
A confirmed diagnosis is not required to access our support.
Flexible packages for schools
Support can be commissioned as regular half-day or full-day visits across a term or academic year. We can also provide one-off consultations, staff training, assessment packages and targeted programmes of intervention.
Each package is tailored to the needs of the setting, its staff and the children and young people it supports.
Discuss commissioned support
To discuss regular occupational therapy input or a commissioned package for your setting, email info@senaraot.com. We would be happy to talk through your priorities and explore what level of support would work best.
Testimonial
Luke Bolsin SENCO at Oak Tree, Special Education School
We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Senara to another school or organisation. They are so very positive with a real solution focussed approach to working with some of the most vulnerable and challenging children we have referred to them. They have a wealth and depth of understanding of their respective clinical areas but have also been incredibly imaginative and forward thinking when helping us to problem solve for other young people within our Internal Multi Agency planning meetings. They have responded really well to the needs of not only our learners but also our staff, in delivering excellent training specifically tailored for individual young people or small classes they are responsible for. I would have absolutely no qualms in recommending them to other settings. Thank you so much for all your hard work.
