Occupational Therapy Assessment

An Occupational Therapy assessment explores a child's strengths and challenges in everyday, meaningful activities. It uses theory and evidence to understand how a child manages daily life, drawing on psychological, cognitive, behavioural, neurological, occupational science and sensory integration approaches. Standardised assessments are used to capture a clear picture of a child's functional skills, participation and the areas where they may need support.

Our role is to understand what helps your child feel regulated, confident and able to take part in the activities that matter most, and to offer clear, practical guidance that supports them across home, school and the wider community.

ASSESSMENT OPTIONS

Our Assessment Pathways

Bronze Assessment

A focused, child centred assessment offering a clear snapshot of everyday function, sensory processing and participation. It highlights key strengths, emerging challenges and practical recommendations that can be used at home or in school to guide meaningful change.

Silver Assessment

A thorough, child centred assessment exploring daily function, sensory processing and participation across settings. It identifies strengths, challenges and tailored recommendations, giving a clear picture of what supports your child’s wellbeing, development and meaningful progress.

Gold Assessment

An in depth, child centred assessment examining functional skills, sensory processing and participation at home and in school. It outlines strengths, barriers and detailed recommendations, offering a comprehensive foundation for meaningful change and future planning.

Sensory Integration

A sensory integration assessment is a core part of every Occupational Therapy assessment and explores how a child registers, modulates and responds to sensory information from all systems, including touch, movement, body awareness, vision, hearing, taste, smell and internal signals. Effective sensory integration supports everyday activities such as self care, play, social interaction and learning, while difficulties can affect sleep, eating, personal care, school participation and behaviour. Research shows strong links between sensory challenges and day to day functional performance, making it essential to understand a child’s sensory needs.

Therapists use gold standard tools, clinical observations and information from parents, carers and education staff to build a clear picture of how sensory processing affects daily life. The findings from the assessment are brought together in a clear report outlining strengths, challenges, the functional impact of sensory processing differences and tailored recommendations to support meaningful progress.

Before the Assessment

You will receive forms that help your therapist understand your child’s needs, and these must be returned at least two weeks before the appointment. Your therapist will review the information to determine the most suitable assessment, and reasonable adjustments can be made if needed.

During the Assessment

You and your child will attend one of the OT4me clinics, where standardised assessments are carried out in a fun and playful way. Your child may also use the therapy equipment while the therapist observes their engagement and functional skills.

After the Assessment

Your therapist will prepare a detailed report based on the package selected, and Silver, Gold and Tribunal packages include a training video to support your understanding. You will also be offered a 30 minute feedback call to discuss the report and ask any questions.

What to Expect

To help you feel prepared and informed, here is an overview of what to expect from the assessment process.