Some pupils at Northway require input from an occupational therapist; this is to help with day to day life skills to improve independence. A child may be referred to the occupational therapist if they show a distinct need for the following:

• Aids and Adaptions: finding appropriate specialist equipment to help with day to day tasks e.g. wheelchairs, cutlery, writing tools
• Developing Skills and Modifying Tasks:  improving basic motor functions e.g. with dressing, eating or writing.

Following from a referral Northway's occupational therapist can provide assessments in the following areas:

• Developmental Skills
• Play Skills
• Self-care and Life Skills
• Fine Motor Skills
• Sensory Processing Skills - linked with our school sensory lead
• Gross Motor and Co-ordination Skills - linked with our physiotherapy team and PE teacher
• Visual Perception Skills
• Specialist Equipment Needs

These assessments are carried out by observing the pupil around school and obtaining information from parents and staff.

The occupational therapy input at Northway may be provided in the form of:

• Individual Therapy Sessions
• Groups in Class
• Sessions run with other professionals working in the school (ie physiotherapist, speech and language therapist, etc)
• Classroom Programmes, delivered by the class team
• Provision of Assistive Equipment, where appropriate 
• Liaison and Monitoring with school staff
• Training for Staff and Parents