AR - OT report recommendations

[claw2]

What do you think, passing the buck or not?

Recommendations
Occupational therapy

Ongoing weekly OT at school.

For parents to consider sensory integration therapy in a specialist clinic with specialist equipment.

OT to provide home with 'sensory diet'

Classroom

Optimal seating - explains how ds should sit

Movement breaks - gives examples

Carry out sensory diet as taught to LSA

Limit visual distractions

If ds does not appear to hear the instruction, get his attention first and repeat

Eat snacks - give examples

sensory touch activities - give examples such as painting

Pen - what kind of pens ds is to use

Afternoons- Says that ds is likely to be more emotionally disregulated, encourage snacks, sports etc

Mind maps and spider diagrams - for planning

Goal, plan, do, check - planning to help with organising work.

Touch typing - gives websites

Fine motor skills - hand strengthening exercises gives examples

Motor planning - obstacle course during PE.

Pretty much the sort of stuff our private OT recommended, though she gave lots of suggestions for real world stuff that would be helpful and she didn't suggest SI therapy.

I think the thing with sensory OT is, when you live with sensory processing difficulties central in your life, in some way, none of it is rocket science, so it all seems pretty obvious and simple, to us.

sensory integration therapy can be an educational need so should be provided by la and included under part 3.
touch typing should be taught directly by the ot I would have thought.

For parents to consider sensory integration therapy in a specialist clinic with specialist equipment.

I don't think so. DS either needs SI therapy or he doesn't. If he does, it's an educational need, and should be provided in school. Likewise, if he needs a sensory diet he needs it both at home and at school.

also with regards to the SI therapy needing to take place within a clinic, the LA will probably argue that as its not at school its not an educational provision. it clearly is, just needs to be done within a clinical setting due to use of equipment.

If the aim is for your child to be able to tolerate the school environment then SI needs to be part of educational provision.

Or at least that's my perspective after experimenting for a year of homeschooling and seeing the difference in anxiety levels in my lad. Without it I can't see him ever returning to school now.

Thanks guys, that's the problem, NHS sensory trained OT's in 'clinic' wont accept a referral, due to understaffing!

dont worry about the nhs, if you get it written into part 3 of statement the LA have to fund it and provide it. do you have an indie ot? I expect they could clarify within their report that it is an educational need and so needs specifying within part 3.

This OT is an indie OT who the school use.