Assessments / Advice & next steps
What does an occupational therapist assess?
You do not need to be an expert on OT to start. Focus on the everyday tasks your child finds challenging, and a professional can help determine if an OT assessment is the right fit.
Quick answer
An occupational therapist assesses how physical, sensory, cognitive and environmental factors affect everyday activities. For a child, this may include self-care, handwriting, play, school routines, coordination, organisation, regulation, equipment or access to the environment.
What this means
Assessment should be linked to a functional question. A therapist may observe tasks, discuss routines, use selected measures and consider the fit between the child, activity and environment. Occupational therapy does not diagnose every condition or replace medical investigation of pain, sleep, feeding or neurological concerns.
OTs are HCPC-registered professionals. An assessment may involve observing how a child interacts with their environment, checking muscle strength, coordination, or how they respond to sensory stimuli like noise or touch.
Not every struggle is a sensory processing disorder. Sometimes, challenges with daily tasks can be addressed through environmental adaptations suggested by an OT without the need for extensive formal assessment.
Questions to ask
Which activities and environments will be assessed? • What is outside the therapist’s scope? • How will recommendations be tested in daily life?
Local Northamptonshire route
Ask school, GP or the current service about local access and consult the relevant North Northamptonshire or West Northamptonshire Local Offer. Availability and referral criteria can change.
Free support and useful links
External free resource
West Northamptonshire SENDIASS
Free, impartial SEND information, advice and support for families in West Northamptonshire.
External free resource
North Northamptonshire SENDIASS
Free, impartial SEND information, advice and support for families in North Northamptonshire.
External free resource
Northamptonshire Local Offer
Local SEND information, services and support routes for children and young people.
External free resource
GOV.UK SEND information
Official information about special educational needs, EHC plans and support.
External free resource
IPSEA
Free SEND law information and resources for parents and carers.
External free resource
Council for Disabled Children
National resources and information about SEND support and policy.
Professional help is available if you need it
Seek occupational therapy where participation in meaningful activities is the main question. Private input is optional and should have a clear scope, fee and follow-up plan.
What happens next?
Use the report to make specific environmental or task changes. Review whether the child can participate more comfortably, safely or independently.
Support that may help
HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist, School SENCO, NHS Community Paediatrics.
Related guidance
SEND Lantern provides general information to help families understand possible next steps. It does not replace legal, medical or local authority advice.
Independent guidance for families
SEND Lantern is an independent guidance platform operated by SEND Lantern Ltd. We help families explore special educational needs and disabilities support, possible next steps and relevant services. SEND Lantern is not part of the NHS, a local authority, a school or any individual service provider. Information on this website is general guidance and should not be treated as medical, legal or educational advice.