Call on 0330 024 9910

Call for more information and costs or if you are enquiring for yourself or a family member you can use our online cost guide for individuals.

Self-care skills

Learning to perform basic self-care tasks such as dressing, teeth cleaning and using cutlery are important milestones on the journey towards independence.

We regularly assist parents and school staff concerned about a child's development towards their self-care. And when we help children with these skills, we typically observe improvements in other areas of development too, including their academic progress and behaviour.

How OT's help

Whether your child's school has expressed concerns, or you have noticed difficulties yourself, we can help. Some of the most common reasons for approaches to us include:

  • Avoidance of certain tasks
  • Changes in behavior at certain moments of the day such as bath-time
  • Difficulty using cutlery or other basic tools
  • Problems with dressing, especially with buttons or zips
  • Over-reliance on adults, siblings or friends

Our assessment process allows a specialist occupational therapist to identify the nature of your child's difficulties, 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 offer 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 children's independence group at weekends or over the holidays

Common areas we work on

Through our assessment we will identify the specific areas of self-care 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 are:

  • Visual perception and sensory processing
  • Body awareness
  • Sequencing and planning
  • Gross and fine motor skills
  • Balance and dexterity
  • Working with parents and schools to ensure that the right approaches to handwriting continue even when the OT is not present

Schools, LEAs and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

Find out more

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.

Find out more

LEA's

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

Find out more

Case Managers

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

Find out more

Healthcare concierge

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

Find out more

Solicitors

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

Find out more

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

Chia-Chien

London - South, Surrey

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

View profile

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

Mamta

London - North, Middlesex

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

View profile

Profession

Speech and Language Therapy

Regions covered

London, Middlesex, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

School Based Therapy/Support

Charlotte

Birmingham, West Midlands

Charlotte is a dedicated Occupational Therapist specializing in Pediatrics and Sensory Integration, serving the community in Birmingham, West Midlands.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Motivational issues, 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, Social integration, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability, Mental Health

Sarah

Swindon, Wiltshire

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

View profile

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

Louise

Bradford, West Yorkshire

Occupational Therapist Louise specializes in pediatrics, sensory integration, and Chailey postural management. She is fluent in Cantonese.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Wakefield, Salford

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Chailey Postural Management

Specialist skills

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

Rachel

Shropshire, West Midlands

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Dawn

Cornwall, West and South West of England

Dawn is an OT based in Cornwall, providing expert assessments and therapy for both adult and paediatric clients.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, The Listening Programme

Specialist skills

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

Mairead

Belfast, Down

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

View profile

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

Rachel

Shropshire, West Midlands

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

View profile

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

Kathy

Londonderry, Northern Ireland

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Katy

Birmingham, West Midlands

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

View profile

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

Maire

Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Maire is an experienced and knowledgeable Paediatric OT who support children of all ages across Northern Ireland.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Lynsey

Birmingham, Staffordshire

Paediatric OT Lynsey specialises in sensory integration and supports children with complex conditions.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Derby

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

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

Ciara

Tyrone, Northern Ireland

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

View profile

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

Shira

London - Central, Middlesex

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

View profile

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

Rachel

Hampshire, South of England

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Hampshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Handwriting assessment & treatment

Elizabeth

London - South, Surrey

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London , London - South

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory 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.

View profile

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

Zandri

London

Based in London, Zandri is a Paediatric OT specialising in Sensory Integration, providing support for children at home and school.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, The Listening Programme

Specialist skills

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

Niamh

London - East, London

Niamh, a London-based Occupational Therapist, specialises in paediatrics with a broad skill set.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

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

Dani-Lee

London - West, Surrey

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Surrey, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Sensory integration

Sally-Ann

Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

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

View profile

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

Emily

Cornwall, West and South West of England

Emily is a dedicated Occupational Therapist with a specialization in pediatrics, she works in the West and Southwest of England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability

Alison

Coventry, West Midlands

Based in Coventry, Alison has been a Paediatric OT for over 10 years, specialising in fine motor skills and handwriting.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Coventry

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

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

Elana

Plymouth, Devon

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Victoria

Cardiff, Newport

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

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation

Helen

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

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

View profile

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

Lucy

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Lucy is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist offering expert advice and treatment. She visits clients across London, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Surrey, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Conductive education

Specialist skills

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

Jessica

Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

Jess supports children and adults with functional rehabilitation, equipment adaptations, moving and handling, and complex paediatrics clients.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Pain management

Sue

Gloucestershire, West and South West of England

As an OT with nearly 40 years of experience, Sue is an expert in paediatrics; vocational and functional rehabilitation.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, West and South West of England, Wales, Avon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Worcestershire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

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

Client feedback

Further reading

Our Experts' Blog

Self-Care and Mental Well-Being: Do we practice what we preach?

OT Claire specialises in enduring and complex mental health conditions. In this Expert Blog she shares her reflections, insights and advice on mental well-being, stress and resilience as a health professional.

Read more

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.

Read more