Helping children and young people maximise their potential
From our practice in Muswell Hill, North London, Optimal Therapy Services (OTS) offers occupational therapy to children and young people to support development in:
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Play and early learning skills
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Sensory processing skills
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Planning and organisational skills
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Core and postural stability skills
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Gross and fine motor skills
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Handwriting skills
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Visual perceptual skills
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Problem solving and strategies
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Concentration and attention
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We work with a wide range of children including those with Developmental Coordination Disorder, Sensory Processing Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Down's Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. However, many of the children we work with have no diagnosis. We work with each child as a unique individual looking at their specific needs.
For parents
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As a parent with a child who is struggling to manage daily tasks you will want to get to the heart of their difficulties, understand how to develop their skills and support them.
Assessments
An assessment teases out both functional difficulties and the foundations for those difficulties. We carry out assessments on children as young as a few months old up to secondary school age. Assessment takes about 2 hours of direct work as well as liaison with parents and school through questionnaires or consultation, after which a detailed report is sent to the parent. If necessary a detailed assessment can form part of an application for an Educational Health Care Plan. Assessments typically take place in the OTS clinic base.
For Parents
Treatment
Treatment can take many forms. Depending on the needs of the child as identified by the assessment, we develop an individual treatment plan which usually combines face-to-face OT sessions with a programme of home or school activities. OT intervention is most effective when integrated into everyday activities, so the exercises are designed to fit into the parent's and child's daily routine. Treatment sessions take place either in the OTS clinic room, school or the child's home.
Training
We have created and run a variety of training programmes that develop knowledge, understanding and practical solutions for children with difficulties such as sensory processing disorders, motor coordination difficulties and ADHD. Other training programmes support universal skills such as writing and early years preparation for school. Training is delivered to parents, teachers, SENDCos, teaching support staff and dyslexia and other specialist teachers in a variety of settings in many London boroughs and across the UK.
For Educationalists
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As a SENDCo, headteacher, Nursery Manager or Early Years Development Manager you want to ensure your staff are fully able to support all children in your setting. We are seeing many more children coming into nursery or school with subtle difficulties that can impact on their ability to access learning.
Mentoring
Our mentoring schemes are one of the most effective way of supporting staff. They facilitate a deep understanding of difficulties, opportunity to develop assessment, intervention and evaluation to support children in the most effective way. These are modelled in real life settings giving both practice and theoretical understanding. This helps embed best practice. This mentoring model has been highly successful in nursery and pre-school settings as well as in primary schools.
Testimonials
"Parenting M has been a constant uphill struggle for years...a huge thank you for all your help so far. We feel like a functioning family which I’m so grateful for." CW
"Having worked with Kate as a teacher and SENCo, her classroom strategies are always practical and easy to implement and she works closely with all teaching staff ." MP
"Kate has provided comprehensive occupational therapy assessments for each of my three children and worked closely with us to implement recommendations." LC
"Thank you so much for all of the work that you have done with B, it has been incredibly helpful and meaningful for him. OT with you has been the most meaningful therapy he has had by a very long way and it has been incredibly important for B to know that you understand him and that you are his ally." JS
Team
Kate Hesketh
Director & Lead Occupational Therapist
Kate has 25 years experience as a therapist. She is passionate about working in collaboration with parents and teachers to facilitate progress.
Lana Makdisi
Senior Occupational Therapist
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With 8 years paediatric occupational experience, Lana is also an advanced sensory integration practitioner. Has worked in the NHS and privately.
Norma-Eve Koopman
Senior Occupational Therapist
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Norma has been a paediatric occupational for over 20 years. She is also an advanced sensory integration practitioner. Has worked in the NHS and privately.
Simon Hesketh
Practice Manager
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Experienced business manager having run his own company for 25 years.
Resources
The handwriting exercise books
New clearer handwriting books
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The highlighted lines make it easier for children to orientate and size letters appropriately. The books facilitate a smooth transition to clearer writing in their English books
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A4 48 pages
Quantity 1-49 £2.20 each
Quantity 50-99 £2.09 each
Quantity 100+ £1.98 each
To order please email
Normal exercise book
The handwriting exercise book
Blue
Green - wider lines
Useful Links
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www.ipsea.org.uk advice on children and young people’s legal rights and entitlements to education provision
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www.autism.org.uk provides information and support
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www.contact.org.uk provides information, support and advice for families with disabled children
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www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk resource for parents
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www.cerebra.org.uk research, education and parental support for children with brain related conditions
FAQs
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working from other OT assessments
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working with Covid restrictions
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Contact
kate@optimaltherapyservices.co.uk (please check junk mail)
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020 3240 1080 (Practice hours 9am-6pm)
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3 Rhodes Avenue, London, N22 7UR, England, UK