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Therapists

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Therapists

Contents

What therapists do
Types of therapy
How therapy supports learning and development
Therapy for SEND
Working in schools, homes and EOTAS packages
Regulation, safeguarding and professional standards
Related guidance

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What therapists do

Therapists provide clinical and developmental support that helps children and young people communicate, move, regulate emotions, manage health needs and access learning.

They assess needs, create intervention plans, deliver therapy sessions and train those around the child to use strategies effectively.

Therapists work in schools, clinics, homes, community settings, specialist provision and EOTAS programmes.

Related guidance

  • Health
  • SEN Support
  • EOTAS
  • EHCP Process
  • Alternative Provision
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    Types of therapy

    Therapists may specialise in:

    • Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) – speech sounds, communication, social interaction, understanding language
    • Occupational Therapy (OT) – fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, daily living skills
    • Physiotherapy – coordination, mobility, posture, strength and rehabilitation
    • Educational or Child Psychology – cognitive assessment, emotional health, behaviour
    • Mental Health Therapy – counselling, psychotherapy, CBT, trauma support
    • Creative therapies – art, drama, play or music therapy for emotional expression
    • Dietetics and feeding support – nutrition, feeding difficulties, food aversion
    • Specialist medical therapists – respiratory physio, hydrotherapy, AAC practitioners

    Many children require a combination of therapies depending on their needs.

    How therapy supports learning and development

    Therapists help children:

    • improve communication and social interaction
    • regulate sensory input and emotions
    • build fine and gross motor skills
    • access curriculum activities more confidently
    • increase independence in daily tasks
    • develop resilience, confidence and wellbeing
    • manage physical health needs that affect school attendance

    Therapeutic support is often essential for school progress, home education success or EOTAS delivery.

    Therapy for SEND

    Therapists frequently support children with:

    • autism and social communication differences
    • ADHD and emotional regulation difficulties
    • speech sound disorders, language delay or stammering
    • sensory processing disorder
    • cerebral palsy and physical disabilities
    • Down’s syndrome
    • dyslexia, dyscalculia and learning difficulties
    • anxiety, trauma and mental health needs
    • epilepsy, diabetes and long-term medical conditions

    Therapists contribute to EHCP assessments, write professional reports, and deliver provision specified in Section F, G or H depending on the type of input.

    Working in schools, homes and EOTAS packages

    Therapists work across multiple environments to support generalisation of skills:

    • Schools: classroom observations, intervention groups, teacher training
    • Homes: family coaching, sensory strategies, communication programmes
    • Clinics: formal assessments and targeted therapy
    • Community settings: social communication practice, life skills
    • EOTAS: integrated therapy within home or community-based learning packages

    They collaborate with SENCOs, teachers, tutors, mentors and medical teams to ensure consistency and measurable progress.

    Regulation, safeguarding and professional standards

    Therapists must comply with strict professional standards:
    • enhanced DBS checks
    • safeguarding and child protection training
    • professional registration with HCPC, RCSLT, RCOT, BACP, UKCP, depending on discipline
    • adherence to professional codes of conduct
    • clear clinical governance and recordkeeping
    • regular supervision and continuing professional development

    Many therapists also follow NICE guidelines, NHS pathways and local SEND protocols.

    Find therapists and specialists

    Connect with registered therapists experienced in supporting SEND, home education, school provision and EOTAS packages.

    Search for SLTs, OTs, counsellors and clinical practitioners