Team Lead

Integrated therapy

The therapy team is multi-disciplinary and includes Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), Physiotherapists (PTs) and Multi-Therapy Assistants (MTAs).  Our therapy team has strong links with other agencies including Social Care, Community Teams and other specialist services like Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The therapy team provide assessment and intervention for students who attend Paddock School as well as training and support for school staff, parents, and carers.
The therapists work closely with teachers and parents to set and review appropriate therapy goals for each student’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

We offer an integrated approach to therapy; therapy programs are planned and introduced by therapists or MTAs who are skilled in the approach under the therapists’ guidance. Programmes are then implemented by trained staff throughout the school day and by trained parents/carers at home. This approach to therapy maximises the number of opportunities that students have to work on their goals, ensures therapy is delivered by those who know the students best and allows them to reach their full potential.

The therapy team support students in the following ways:

• Working directly with students in 1:1 or group sessions (with school staff or parents present)
• Supporting class staff to carry out therapy programmes
• Providing training and support to educational staff and families
• Setting joint goals for students’ EHCPs, including their termly IEPs
• Providing home support to students and their families
• Consultation and liaison with the wider Team around the Child (TAC)

Speech and Language Therapy

Our team of Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) provide support to enable our students to communicate to the best of their ability.  SLTs provide support with the following:

• Speech, language and communication
• Social communication
• Eating, drinking and swallowing (from a Dysphagia trained therapist)

The SLT team uses a variety of assessment methods both formal and informal to identify appropriate support for each student. The SLT team aim to help all students reach their communication potential to access information, develop social relationships and develop independence.

Many of our students need some form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system to help them communicate. The SLT team has experience with a wide range of AAC systems, including (but not limited to):

• PECS communication books
• Aided Language Displays (ALD)
• Pixon boards
• iPad apps, including Grid 3
• Makaton signing

Occupational Therapy

Our team of Occupational Therapists (OTs) support students to develop and maintain their skills in order for them to increase their independence and participation in everyday activities at school, home and in the community. OTs provide support with the following:

• Sensory processing differences which impact on participating in daily activities of play, learning and self-care and behaviours
• Regulation strategies
• Activities of daily living; including toileting, feeding, dressing, personal care, etc.
• Physical gross motor and fine motor skills

To support your child to meet their goals, the OT may trial and recommend equipment for the class team to use in school with your child. Typically, this can be to:

• Regulate levels of alertness to improve concentration and attention and reduce anxiety
• Improve balance and postural security
• Adapt a task so your child can participate to their best ability

Examples of equipment trialled include weighted products such as jackets and lap-pads, compression clothing such as ‘bear hugs’, types of seating, ‘move ‘n’ sit’ cushions, chewy products and pen grips

Physiotherapy

Our Physiotherapy (PT) team supports students’ physical and gross motor development to promote independence and participation. PTs provide support in the following ways:

• Developing the PE curriculum
• One-to-one physiotherapy assessment of students’ needs
• One-to-one physiotherapy treatment sessions, based on prioritisation criteria
• Developing programmes that are integrated into daily routines, both at home and school
• Provision of equipment as part of a student’s postural management
• Liaison with outside professionals, including other therapists and healthcare professionals, consultants and social care teams
• Referrals to other services, such as Orthotics
• Joint physiotherapy clinics with Orthopaedic and Orthotic teams

 Contact information

The therapy team can be contacted by email or telephone:

Email: therapist@paddock.wandsworth.sch.uk

Paddock School Tel No: (020) 8878 1521

Primary School Therapy Team: Extension 225

Secondary School & Sixth Form Therapy Team: Extension 313