Following on from the results of our children’s survey, launched last week, we have written to Kelly Tolhurst MP, Minister for Schools and Childhood, Department for Education to outline how occupational therapists are the key to resolving the difficulties facing children’s services in England. We also reiterated the need for every school in the UK to have an occupational therapist.
Our key recommendations are that:
- Children’s occupational therapy services must be resourced to meet the needs of their local community and to support children and young people with increasingly complex needs.
- Every school should have access to a children’s occupational therapist to address children’s needs early.
- Equipment and adaptation services require investment and should be streamlined to minimise delays in provision.
- Occupational therapists should be included in school mental health teams to prevent difficulties escalating and employed in roles enabling them to support children’s physical and mental health
- Strong occupational therapy leadership is required to ensure our skills and workforce are used effectively.
More information about the results of our survey into children’s services are on our website.