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Fine motor skills

Find out how we can help

Fine motor skills are key to the development of children's handwriting and drawing

Fine motor skills guide the small movements of the hand and fingers that allow a child to write and draw, as well as manipulate buttons, zips or scissors. When these skills are under-developed, the results can include reduced independence, school performance and self-confidence.

We work with children and their families as well as school staff, using proven techniques for improving fine motor skills.

How OT's help

Whether your child's school has identified problems with their fine motor skills or you have noticed such difficulties yourself, we can help.

Childhood development is complex and not all children will move at the same pace, but some of the most common reasons that a parent will contact us with concerns about their child's fine motor skills include:

  • An awkward or immature pencil grasp
  • Messy or slow writing, drawing or colouring
  • Excessive tiredness after short periods of writing, drawing or typing
  • Difficulty when using scissors or performing precise manipulations such as fastening buttons, zips or shoelaces
  • Problems performing self-care tasks independently
  • Reluctance to engage with tasks requiring hand-eye coordination such as building Lego

Our assessment process allows a specialist occupational therapist to identify the nature of your child's difficulties with fine motor skills, and 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 fine motor skill 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 fine motor skills group at weekends or over the holidays

Common areas we work on

Through our assessment we will identify the specific fine motor skills 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:

  • Hand dominance
  • Bilateral integration
  • Finger isolation
  • Hand and finger strength
  • Working with parents and schools to ensure that the right approaches to developing fine motor skills continue even when the OT is not present

Schools, LEAs and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

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Common conditions we help with

Find out more about how our OT’s can help by visiting our pages dedicated to specific conditions associated with fine motor skill difficulties.

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

Schools

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

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LEA's

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

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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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Solicitors

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

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Case managers

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

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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

Some of our paediatric specialists

Meet a selection of our occupational therapists who are experienced in assessing and treating children with fine motor skill difficulties.

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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

Samantha

Southampton, Hampshire

Samantha is a Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist working across Hampshire supporting children with diverse developmental, sensory, and behavioural challenges.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England , Southampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability, Mental Health

Amanda

Hampshire, South of England

Based in Hampshire, Amanda is an experienced Paediatric OT helping children and their families with a wide range of needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

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

Amy

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Specialising in paediatrics and sensory integration, OT Amy possesses expertise in fine and gross motor skills.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Sheffield

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution

Fran

Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

Working in the North East of England, Fran is a dedicated Occupational Therapist specialising in housing & equipment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, North Yorkshire, Newcastle upon Tyne

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Lone

Essex, East Anglia

Specialising in Advanced Sensory Integration and both Bobath and Chailey approaches, Lone treats children at home, school, and nursery.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, Essex, Suffolk, London - Central, London - North, London - East

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, BOBATH, Train the trainer, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Splinting

Rebecca

Edinburgh, Edinburgh (City of)

Based in Edinburgh, Rebecca is a specialist Paediatric OT providing expert care for children across Lothian and Fife.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, East Lothian, Edinburgh (City of), Fife, Midlothian, West Lothian, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

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

Morven

Edinburgh, East Lothian

Morven has over 30 years' experience as an OT in paediatric and adult hand therapy, neuro rehabilitation and more.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh (City of), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow (City of), Midlothian, Perthshire and Kinross, Stirling, West Lothian, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Jasmine

Gloucestershire, West and South West of England

Jasmine offers specialised occupational therapy services for paediatrics and adults, focusing on neurological rehabilitation and functional skills.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, West and South West of England, Wales, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, PIPs, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Sensory attachment intervention, Learning disability, TBI

Shira

London - Central, Middlesex

Shira is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist specialising in Sensory Integration. She is based in London, visiting clients across the city.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Middlesex, London - North, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, School Based Therapy/Support

Emma

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Emma is an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist providing specialised care to children across the Midlands in various settings.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Derby

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management

Specialist skills

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

Ganga

Kent, South East of England

Ganga is a highly experienced OT delivering specialist rehabilitation for adults and children across the South East of England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Social integration

Ciara

Tyrone, Northern Ireland

With over 20 years of experience, Occupational Therapist Ciara specializes in pediatrics and sensory integration, serving Northern Ireland.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Tyrone

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

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

Marie

Liverpool, Merseyside

Based in Merseyside, Marie provides expert neurological occupational therapy and rehabilitation to adults and children at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Shropshire, Conwy, Flintshire, Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham, Liverpool

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

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

Helen

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Based in St Albans, Helen is a Paediatric OT working with children across North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Essex.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England, Hertfordshire, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care

Rachel

Dorset, South of England

Rachel, an expert Occupational Therapist based in Hampshire, specialises in paediatrics and handwriting assessments and treatments and EHCPs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Handwriting assessment & treatment

Diana

Birmingham, West Midlands

Trained in Sensory Integration techniques, Diana provides specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapy in schools and patient’s homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care

Katy

Birmingham, West Midlands

Katy is a dedicated Occupational Therapist specialising in pediatrics, sensory integration, and sensory attachment. across the Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Birmingham, Coventry, Derby

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Sensory Attachment Therapy

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Co-ordination, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability

Natalie

Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

Occupational Therapist Natalie specialises in rehabilitation, equipment provision, housing modifications, and paediatrics, supporting client independence through tailored assessments and interventions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation

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, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Handwriting assessment & treatment

Helena

Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Trained in both Sensory Integration and Bobath Therapy, skilled Paediatric Occupational Therapist Helena offers her services across the Northeast region.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Middlesbrough

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, BOBATH

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Mary

Oxfordshire, South East of England

Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist Mary works with children across various settings in the South East of England and Oxfordshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Oxfordshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Sam

OT Sam has 25 years experience, and specialises in pediatrics, brings a wealth of experience to her clients.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Specialisms

Paediatrics

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

London, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support

Rachel

Shropshire, West Midlands

Based in Shrewsbury, Rachel is an experienced Paediatric OT offering assessments and care to children at home and school.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Powys, Wrexham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Louise

Essex, East Anglia

Louise offers expert assessments and interventions in paediatrics, moving and handling, and housing and equipment across Essex and East Anglia.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

, Essex, Suffolk, London - East

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Certificate in Education

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support

Amber

Kent, South East of England

ADOS-trained Occupational Therapist, Amber supports children and their families across the South East of England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

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

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

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

Client feedback

Further reading

Our Experts' Blog

Stepping stones to independence – Dressing skills

Dressing is a key step towards independence for children, involving complex motor and sensory skills. This article explores typical dressing development, practical tips for parents and carers, and how occupational therapy can support children facing dressing related challenges.

Read more

Our Experts' Blog

The role of Occupational Therapy in Hand Trauma

Hand therapy is crucial for restoring function and improving quality of life for individuals recovering from hand injuries, as it addresses both the physical limitations and psychological impacts of trauma.

Read more