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Balance & coordination

Balance and coordination go hand-in-hand during a child's development. Difficulties with these essential yet challenging skills are a common reason that children can struggle with day-to-day activities such as dressing, using cutlery, riding a bike, running or playing sport.

We regularly help children struggling with balance and coordination skills, and through collaborative assessment, treatment and/or advice we ensure improvements in all areas of their daily life including school, home and play.

How OT's help

Whether your child's school has identified that they are struggling with balance and coordination, or you have such noticed difficulties yourself, we can help. When a child is experiencing developmental difficulties, proactive and early intervention will minimise the impact on their confidence and self-esteem.

Childhood development is complex and not all children will move at the same pace, but some of the most common reasons why a parent will contact us include:

  • Lack of coordination in gross motor skills during running, jumping and climbing (often demonstrated by not enjoying going to the park or playing outside)
  • Difficulties with handwriting, or in using tools like pencils or scissors
  • Slow development of skills for more complex tasks such as swimming or riding a bicyle
  • Problems at school relating to completing work or participating in sports
  • Confidence and self-esteem around physical activity in the playground

Our assessment process allows for a specialist occupational therapist to identify where your child's difficulties lie as well as the reasons for them. Once identified, we can work with you and your child to put in place a plan to address them.

Packages of care

We are flexible around the needs of your child and family, and have a variety of treatment packages to ensure we provide the right solution for you. All of our interventions are oriented towards ensuring that you and your child see measurable improvements.

This might include one or more of the following:

  • An eight-week block of one-to-one bespoke treatment sessions delivered to your child at home or school, after which we will review and plan the next steps with you
  • An intensive block of treatment delivered over the holidays - this is popular with overseas families, or those with limited weekend or after-school capacity in term time
  • A home and school programme providing practical, everyday techniques, with advice and support to ensure that the approach is consistent throughout your child's day
  • Attendance at a balance and coordination group at weekends or over the holidays

Common areas we work on

Through our assessment we will identify the specific areas of balance and coordination that your child is struggling with, and the source of these difficulties, allowing us to plan a targeted treatment programme.

Some of the most common areas that we would expect to be working on include:

  • Strengthening of the core muscles in the trunk and upper limb
  • Development of stamina during physical activity
  • Exercises to improve visual perception
  • Improving sensory processing, to ensure the body is receiving and interpreting correct information from their muscles about their position, speed and force
  • Working with parents and schools to ensure that the right approaches to balance and coordination continue even when the OT is not present

Schools, LEAs and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

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Why The OT Practice

We recognise the importance of knowing that you and your child are in safe hands. That is why, when you first make contact with us, you will straightaway be able to explain your concerns to a member of our client management team who will be able to provide relevant information about our services, answer any questions you may have and provide guidance on next steps. This dedicated paediatric team will then remain in charge of your case through any subsequent assessment and treatment we provide.

Other reasons to rely on The OT Practice include:

  • We visit you and your child at home or school at a time convenient for you, with no clinics or waiting lists, offering after-school and weekend appointments where necessary
  • We devise home and school-based treatment plans to ensure that our assessment and advice is relevant to each child’s unique environment
  • Our nationwide network of registered children’s occupational therapists allows us to find you the right local therapist
  • Intensive treatment available during the school holidays
  • We believe our role is to equip you and your child to become as autonomous as possible – ultimately independent of, and not dependent upon, the help we provide

Services for businesses, organisations and the public sector

Case managers

Providing OT to families & children with complex or multiple needs to achieve optimum independence.

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Local education authorities

Occupational therapy provision on behalf of LEA's at home or school as recommended in an EHCP.

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Schools

Delivering individual or group therapy for children, or advice and training to up-skill members of staff.

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Solicitors

We provide solicitors with professional reports for educational tribunals or rehabilitation needs.

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Healthcare concierge

Assessment and treatment services for clients in their own homes both in the UK and internationally.

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Charities

Working with charities to provide reports & recommendations for grant funding applications.

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Next steps

Initial enquiry

During your initial call to us you can discuss your concerns with a member of our paediatric client management team, who will be able to understand what your child's difficulties are, provide information and advice on our services and identify the right OT from our team.

Quote

If therapist input is recommended, we will send you a detailed quote via email or in writing explaining what, after a full assessment, we propose and how much it would cost, as well as rates for further work that might be recommended in the future.

Referral

Once you have had time to consider the options and costs, and if you would like to go ahead, the next step would be to fill in our online referral form. In the meantime, if you have further concerns or questions then our client manager will be happy to discuss them with you.

Assessment

Our therapist will then contact you within 24 hours to arrange an assessment visit at home or school, a mixture of formal and observational methods - as well as conversation with yourself, your child and their school - after which you will receive a comprehensive written report.

Advice

The report will include a clear record of our findings and recommendations, together with practical advice on how to help your child. Where additional involvement is required, we will follow up the report with a detailed quotation so that you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.

As Private Occupational Therapists our aim is to provide choices and guidance to help you decide what the best options are for you

Lucy

Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham

With over 10 years’ experience, Lucy is an experienced Paediatric OT visiting children and their families across the North East.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Chailey Postural Management, The Listening Programme

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Nikki

Renfrewshire, Scotland

Based in Renfrewshire, Nikki is a highly skilled Paediatric OT with over 25 years’ experience.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow (City of), North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Lothian, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Mairead

Belfast, Down

Occupational Therapist Mairead, specializing in pediatrics and neurological rehabilitation, brings over a decade of expertise since qualifying in 2009.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Ireland, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone, Belfast

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH, CBT, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

PIPs, Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, DMO (Lycra) Splinting, Splinting, Sign Language, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation

Camila

Cornwall, West and South West of England

Having qualified as an OT in 2012, Camila, dedicated and passionate, specializes in pediatrics, and works in Cornwall.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Pain management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, DMO (Lycra) Splinting, School Based Therapy/Support, Splinting, Sensory attachment intervention, Learning disability

Julie

London - West, Berkshire

Julie, an Occupational Therapist, specialises in functional rehabilitation, neurology, complex paediatrics, and handwriting assessments.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Berkshire, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Handwriting assessment & treatment

Sarah

Swindon, Wiltshire

Based in Swindon, Sarah is a Paediatric OT visiting children in a home or school setting across the South-West.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Berkshire, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Swindon

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Makaton, Learning disability

Chia-Chien

London - South, Surrey

Chia is an occupational therapist fluent in Mandarin who specialises in paediatrics and neurology.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Surrey, London - South

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Splinting, Sensory attachment intervention, Learning disability, TBI

Kathy

Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Based in Northern Ireland, highly skilled occupational therapist Kathy specialises in paediatrics where she helps children with various conditions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Katie

West Yorkshire, North West England

Specialising in autism and learning difficulties, Katie is an experienced OT based in West Yorkshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Wakefield, Salford

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Katy

Durham, North East England

Katy is a Paediatric OT based in Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, experienced helping with a variety of physical and sensory needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Cleveland, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Chailey Postural Management, The Listening Programme

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, School Based Therapy/Support

Terri

Coventry, West Midlands

Working in the Midlands Terri is a highly skilled OT specialising in paediatrics, sensory integration, behavior management, and mental health.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Marie

Worcestershire, West Midlands

Based in Evesham, Worcestershire, Marie is a Paediatric OT specialising in neurological conditions and brain injury.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Elana

Plymouth, Devon

With expertise in Sensory Integration, Elana supports children and their families across the South West of England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Lorna

Shropshire, West Midlands

Lorna is a Paediatric OT located in Shropshire, supporting with sensory and motor needs for clients across the West Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Powys, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Counselling, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation

Claire

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Trained in advanced handwriting and sensory integration techniques, Claire is an experienced Paediatric OT helping children across the South East.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, South East of England, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Counselling, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment

Deborah

Brighton, East Sussex

Deborah is a skilled Occupational Therapist residing in the South East of England. She specialises in Paediatrics and Seating.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, London - South

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management

Deborah

Middlesex, London

Debbie is an expert Speech and Language Therapist, delivering specialist assessments and treatment to children at home, school, and nursery.

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Profession

Speech and Language Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support

Sally-Ann

Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

OT Sally-Ann specialises in paediatrics and sensory integration, and has a wealth of experience.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability

Mamta

London - North, Middlesex

Mamta is an expert Paediatric Speech & Language Therapist, working with children and their families across London.

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Profession

Speech and Language Therapy

Regions covered

London, Middlesex, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support

Rachel

Shropshire, West Midlands

Rachel, an Occupational Therapist, specialises in paediatrics and sensory integration, and has expertise in providing school-based therapy.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Postgraduate cert. Vocational Rehab

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Elizabeth

London - South, Surrey

Elizabeth is a dedicated Pediatric Occupational Therapist with a specialization in Sensory Integration. She practices across London and Surrey.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London , London - South

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Janet

London - South, Kent

Janet is an expert Occupational Therapist specialising in paediatrics and neurological rehabilitation, she works with children at home and school.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Kent, London - Central, London - South, London - East

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Sylwia

Surrey, South of England

Sylwia works in Surrey delivering Paediatric services and is familiar with a variety of conditions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Surrey

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Daily living skills

Lana

London - North, London

Lana is an expert Paediatric OT, specialising in Sensory Integration. She works with children and their families across London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support

Lucy

Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

Lucy delivers expert Functional Rehabilitation and Housing & Equipment assessments for clients across East Anglia.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Behaviour management, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration

Joni

London - South, London

Joni, an experienced OT with a passion for pediatrics, sensory integration, and therapeutic listening, makes a positive impact in London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London , London - Central, London - South, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Victoria

Cardiff, Newport

Based in Newport, Wales, Vikki is a Paediatric OT specialising in Sensory Integration and hearing impairments.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, South East of England, Wales, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Birmingham

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation

Dani-Lee

London - West, Surrey

Dani-Lee is an experienced sensory integration paediatric occupational therapist.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Surrey, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Sensory integration

Naima

Bedfordshire, South East of England

Naima is a Speech and Language Therapist offering expert interventions for children of all ages, across London and the South-East.

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Profession

Speech and Language Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support, Makaton

Natasha

London - Central, Essex

Natasha is a highly skilled occupational therapist specialising in paediatrics and sensory integration.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Essex

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration

Client feedback

Further reading

Our news & press

How Can Occupational Therapy Help Reduce the NHS’s Bed Capacity Problem?

With the public sector currently in crisis, considering a deeper relationship between the private sector and the NHS is essential. Utilising the independent sector fully will significantly reduce the bed capacity challenges facing the NHS today.

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Our news & press

Our YouTube channel is live

We are delighted to announce the launch of our YouTube channel. The first videos are focused on our paediatric developmental services. Told through OT Practice Kids clients and their families, we explain our ethos for working with children is to focus on resolving their difficulties not their diagnosis.

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