Occupational Therapy is about participation and supporting individuals to do what they want to do, need to do or are expected to do.  I’m passionate about facilitating participation in school and supporting all our teaching staff and learner’s families to help our learners fulfil their fullest potential. 

At the core of the work is a universal provision approach whereby each learner has access to a therapeutic learning environment infused with a wide and growing range of approaches, including but not limited to: 

• Sensory Integration, Sensory Attachment Intervention & The Just Right State Group (E. Bhreathnach), 
• Interoception Curriculum (Kelly Mahler), 
• Fun Fit & High Five – a gross and fine motor programme from Vranch House
• Reflex Integration principles, Eyes Matter, and therapeutic use of equipment, e.g. flexible seating, equipment and adaptations as needed, e.g. sloping boards, handwriting supports, sensory supports. 
• Principles from Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine) and Neuroaffective Touch (Aline La Pierre) 

We recognise that learners spend most of their time with teaching staff and so, alongside therapy colleagues, we prioritise INSET training and staff coaching to ensure that our dedicated staff team are supported to understand our learners through a wide range of ‘therapeutic lenses’.  

Understanding our learners more fully by building relationships with parents through coffee mornings, parents evenings and school events is really important, as well as making connections with other professionals working with learners outside of our school environment, e.g. physiotherapists, OTs etc.

Lucy - Occupational Therapist

Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 1997, it’s always been my goal to work with children and families and have been doing so in Devon since 2001. My previous roles have included SEN and mainstream schools and working with children and their families in the community as part of Devon’s children’s services team, and for the last few years at Magdalen Court School two days per week during the term time in addition to a small caseload supporting fostered and adopted children and their families, through the Adoption Support Fund. 

Abbie - Therapy Assistant

I am the Therapy Assistant but also an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) and Sensory Inclusion Facilitator for education (SIF).  

I am based primarily in the Therapy room and support the learners to understand themselves better through group and individual sessions. 

I have recently completed my Sensory integration facilitator for education training and plan to use this throughout my work and continue to build knowledge throughout the school to make us even more sensory informed.