Occupational Therapists can work in many different settings to support your child’s development. There are three main settings: the clinic, school, at home and in the community. Each of these environments have different benefits, and also unique barriers or considerations. We’re going to unpack what school-based occupational therapy looks like and what you can expect as a parent.
What is school-based occupational therapy?
As the name suggests, occupational therapists come to your child’s school to conduct their sessions. OTs may see your child in their own classroom or take them out of the class into a separate therapy space. Your OT will pick the setting based on your child and their goals. School-based therapy offers opportunities to address various developmental needs, from handwriting and gross motor skills to social and emotional well-being within one of your child’s main environments – school. However, it is essential to understand whether school therapy will benefit your child and what is needed to support your child in their OT journey best.
School based occupational therapy can open the door to many opportunities in your child’s intervention.
The main benefits of school-based occupational therapy
Using a Familiar Environment
One of the benefits of school-based occupational therapy is that it allows children to work towards their goals in a familiar environment. Being in a familiar environment can support participation in therapy if your child requires support to adapt to new environments. It can provide children with a greater sense of comfort and security, boosting their motivation and participation in therapy sessions.
Additionally, being in a familiar setting can support integrating therapeutic strategies into the child’s daily life. The OT can observe and address specific challenges within the child’s natural context, making interventions practical and applicable. This facilitates the transfer of skills from therapy sessions to the particular context. However, the school environment can be a busy and overwhelming environment. If you believe your child may benefit from a quieter and more controlled environment or might require support with transitioning between OT and classroom activities, clinic-based OT may be more suitable as the environment is more easily adapted to support your child’s needs.
Collaboration with Educators
Further, at school, the OT is able to work closely with your child and their teacher to set goals and work on practical strategies that address academic tasks, social interactions, and emotional regulation. The OT will be able to check in with teachers more frequently, collaborate to ensure strategies are effective, and provide opportunities for practising skills and strategies in their specific environment.
Things to keep in mid
When considering school-based occupational therapy, it is important to remember there are some barriers to navigate.
Communication amongst OT and parents
It is important to consider that if your child sees an OT at school, there is less opportunity for face-to-face communication between parents and OTs. While not necessarily a problem, it can limit your ability to discuss how to support your child at home.
The OT can email you updates on your child’s sessions and provide resources and strategies for home-based activities that complement school-based sessions. To best support your child, it is essential to update the OT on how your child is progressing at home, any new challenges they may be facing or any changes that would impact themselves and their goals. This will allow the therapist to tailor the intervention plan to meet the child’s needs. By communicating regularly with your child’s OT, you will best be able to support them in their therapy goals and ensure greater therapy outcomes for your child.
Suitable OT Goals for School Based Intervention
Contrary to common perceptions, not all goals in school-based OT need to be tied directly to academic tasks. It’s true handwriting and gross motor skills are the most frequently addressed. However, school is also a space for working on social goals, emotional regulation, and executive functioning. Like in a clinic setting, the OT will work with your child’s strengths and interests to achieve various goals. However, while the school setting is conducive to many developmental goals, it may not be suitable for specific self-care-related objectives, such as toileting-related goals. These goals rely heavily on a parent coaching model and involve face-to-face contact between parents and OTs. Hence, they are not able to be worked on at school due to the restrictions of the environment and the need for parent involvement.
Understanding school-based OT will support you to make the best decision regarding your child’s OT services. It’s important to remember each child is different so speak to your OT about your child’s specific needs. If you’re looking for a school-based OT, consider OTHC. We work across seven schools in Sydney supporting children of all ages. Want to know more? Call us on 9913 3823 or email us at hello@occupationaltherapy.com.au.
