We have two Occupational Therapists at Peterhouse.
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps individual children and young adults with additional needs to achieve their maximum level of independence in all areas of daily living, play, leisure, self-care, domestic tasks, travel and school work.
At school, the Occupational Therapists focus on the pupils’ daily occupations. They work with pupils to achieve success across all school environments as well as at home. They may help pupils to develop the underlying skills needed as the building blocks of learning, physical skills and functional ability such as developing fine and gross motor skills, visual motor (eye-hand coordination) skills, emotional control and sensory regulation.
The Occupational Therapists carry out assessments of each pupil’s needs in Sensory Processing, Fine and Gross Motor Skills, Self Care, Visual Perception and Handwriting. Assessments may include standardised tests, observations and discussions with staff, families and carers. Where appropriate, the Occupational Therapists will
- Drawn up individual O.T. programmes
- Analyse and adapt daily activities
- Assess for and recommend equipment to facilitate independence.
The Occupational Therapists work to promote, maintain, and develop the skills needed by young people to be functional in school, home or in the community and beyond into adult life. They use a holistic approach in planning programmes, which take into account the physical, social, emotional, sensory and cognitive abilities and needs of pupils.
Promotion of life skills and maximising a pupil’s potential will enhance their lives in many ways including independence, self-esteem, academic learning and social interaction.
