New ‘how to’ guide published to grow school based placements
We’ve published a practical guide to setting up and running school‑based placements for occupational therapy learners – created with clinicians, educators, learners and teachers, and funded by NHS England.
Widening access to OT expertise
With more routes to registration and rising learner numbers, practice educators and education providers need additional, sustainable placement capacity. School‑based placements offer exactly that, while building a future workforce for children’s services and widening access to OT expertise in communities that need it most.
We’ve written this guide to make it easier for teams to collaborate with schools, prepare learners and deliver impactful, occupation focused placements that benefit children, staff and services.'
Carolyn Hay, Head of Education
What’s inside?
The guide brings together lived experience, case studies and ready‑to‑use advice. It covers:
- Developing a placement offer in partnership with schools, education providers and employing organisations.
- Pre‑placement preparation – including orientation, safeguarding, timetables, consent, note‑keeping and resourcing.
- Delivery and supervision models – including long‑arm support and the role of on‑site mentors.
- Advice for learners on working in education settings, applying the OT process to a whole‑school ‘client’ and planning realistic outcomes.
- Value and impact for children, teachers, services, practice educators, education providers and the profession.
- Case studies from the NHS and independent practice demonstrate the tangible outcomes of these placements.
Is this guide for you?
This guide was developed for:
- children’s OT teams – exploring or expanding school‑based placements
- practice educators – offering long‑arm supervision
- learners – preparing for role‑emerging practice in schools
- education providers – increasing paediatric placement capacity
- schools and local authorities – partnering with OT services to embed inclusive, place‑based support.
Our huge thanks to …
Development of the guide was funded by NHS England and shaped by a collaborative community of children’s OTs, practice educators, HEI placement leads, learners and school staff who have hosted placements. This would not have been possible without them!
RCOT members – strengthen your knowledge
Join the ongoing conversations on RCOT Communities in our Children, Young People and Families network and engage in community-driven CPD or log your reflections in your CPD portfolio.