BCP Council Schools Occupational Therapy (OT) Sensory Outreach Team

The key focus of the new OT Schools Sensory Outreach service is to provide advice, support and strategies into Schools where we know there are many children with/without a diagnosis of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, who are experiencing sensory processing difficulties which are severely impacting on their ability to participate and engage in their learning and wider school life.

The team comprises of Specialist Occupational Therapists (OTs) and an Occupational Therapy Assistant. The Specialist Occupational Therapists are also Sensory Integration practitioners and have a wide skillset of assessment and interventions unique to the Occupational Therapy profession. All OTs are registered with the Health Care & Professions Council.

The Schools Sensory Occupational Therapists work with Children, School leaders, SENCOs, Assistants and wider education professionals to ensure all BCP Council schools receive a consistent understanding of how sensory processing difficulties may impact a child or children within their school or education setting.

Their role includes:

• Delivering Sensory Processing Training/Education sessions focusing on a whole school approach
• Sensory Circuit Training sessions for BCP schools
• Providing a consultative approach to problem solving sensory challenges in the classroom
• Support educators to complete environmental audits to ensure, where possible, that the environment meets the sensory needs of children and young people
• 1-1 work with identified children to enable, facilitate and increase participation in everyday school life
• 1-1 work may include clinical observations, standardised OT assessments, intervention plans/recommendations and progress reviews
• Assessing the sensory needs of the child and providing robust strategies and interventions to enable the child to progress
• Recommending appropriate sensory resources for schools, using a tailored and cost-effective approach (supporting sustainability through recycling options and sharing ways to make straightforward sensory resources/toys)
• Contributing to Education Health Care plans
• Tribunal casework for specific identified children in collaboration with the wider SEND services

Referral Information:

Referrals to the outreach team for training, sensory circuits, consultations, or to discuss 1-1 assessments, please use the link to the portal below:

https://bcp-school-referrals.powerappsportals.com/

For any other enquiries please do email:

schools.otsensoryoutreachteam@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

The service is accessible for all BCP Council mainstream schools. We are unable to accept referrals directly from parents/carers.

*Please note information on eligability critieria can be viewed on the below attachment links:

Flow Chart- Schools OT Sensory Outreach Team January 2024

Information on universal, targeted and specific levels Jan 2024 FINAL

Busy Bees leaflet for educators

Sensory detectives part 1

Sensory detectives part 2

Sensory circuits poster