Why Assessments Matter
Occupational Therapy (OT) assessments are vital for identifying functional challenges and evaluating an individual’s ability to participate in everyday activities. Using comprehensive, evidence-based assessment tools, OTs can accurately understand a person’s needs and tailor interventions to improve independence, safety, and engagement in self-care, work, education, and leisure. By addressing both limitations and participation barriers, OTs help individuals overcome challenges and lead more fulfilling, independent lives.
Types of Assessment
Our assessments support children and young people of all ages, from early years through to teenagers, helping each individual build the skills and confidence they need at their stage of life.
Why have an assessment?
An Occupational Therapy assessment helps you understand why your child is finding things difficult. Instead of guessing, you get professional insight into their sensory processing, motor skills, regulation, and daily routines. From there, we create a personalised plan to support their confidence and independence.
Get started
Book a free 30-minute consultation call with one of our Occupational Therapists.
Occupational Therapy Assessments
Choose from three levels of assessment which provide different levels of support. Press the plus icon to expand the assessment type and learn more about what is offered.
Bronze Assessment
This is package is ideal if you want a snapshot of your child‘s current strengths and areas of development.
This includes:
A basic assessment of a sensory profile – approximately 1 hour assessment.
Short report provided including:
- Strengths and challenges
- Overall day to day functioning
- Assessment findings
- Recommendations for home or school depending on your choice.
- Signposting to any further assessment needs or intervention needs.
Silver Assessment
- Follow up telephone discussion with your therapist
- Training video package
- If required, full sensory integration assessment
- If required, dyspraxia assessment
If required, a full sensory integration assessment will include:
- Standardised assessment tools assessing sensory processing (if clinically appropriate)
- Clinical Observations
If required, a dyspraxia assessment will include:
- Standardised assessment tools assessing movement
- Liaison with other professionals
- Clear indication if the child meets dyspraxia criteria
- Includes a full assessment and report
This includes:
- Comprehensive assessment of occupational functioning – taking up to 2 hours
- Analysis of individual in relevant environments
- Information gathered from various sources including parents/carers, educational setting and other professionals
- School assessment forms
Detailed report provided including:
- Strengths and challenges
- Overall day to day functioning
- Assessment findings
- Detailed recommendations
Gold Assessment
- Functional Assessment – Including full Sensory Assessment
- NOT suitable for EHCP or tribunal
- This is for more complex children who need a more comprehensive assessment
This includes:
- Comprehensive assessment of occupational functioning – taking up to 3 hours
- Analysis of individual in relevant environments
- Information gathered from various sources including parents / carers
- Educational setting and other professionals
- School visit and assessment forms
- Detailed report provided including strengths and challenges
- Overall day to day functioning
- Assessment findings
- Detailed recommendations
- Follow up telephone discussion with your therapist
- Training video package
- If required, full sensory integration assessment
- If required, dyspraxia assessment
If required, a full sensory integration assessment will include:
- Standardised assessment tools assessing sensory processing (if clinically appropriate)
- Clinical Observations
A clinic and a school visit will be completed on the same day.
Sensory Integration Assessments
Sensory integration assessments form part of every Occupational Therapy Assessment. We look at how a child or young person processes and responds to the sensory information around them. This includes everyday experiences such as movement, touch, sound, sight, taste, and body awareness. When the brain has difficulty organising these sensations, it can affect behaviour, learning, attention, and emotional wellbeing. The assessment helps to identify patterns in how a child experiences the world, highlighting both strengths and the areas where support may be needed.
At OT4me our assessments are carried out by specially trained occupational therapists using recognised, evidence-based tools. We combine structured testing with observation of play and everyday activities to build a clear picture of a child’s needs. The outcome is a detailed report with practical recommendations for home, school, and community settings, as well as therapy goals if further support is required. This gives families, schools, and professionals a shared understanding and clear strategies to help the child feel more regulated, confident, and able to participate in daily life.
Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI)
Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between a child or young person’s sensory processing and their emotional regulation, exploring how each affects the other. This therapy also takes into account the child and their key adults—such as parents, foster carers, teachers, siblings, or any significant person in their life. The approach looks at the child and their family’s daily routines in a holistic way.
Humans are inherently social beings, forming relationships even before birth, which are crucial for survival, learning about safety and danger, playing, exploring the world, and experiencing joy. In early childhood, we typically learn to co-regulate with a trusted adult, and as we grow, we develop the ability to self-regulate. This means that when we feel dysregulated, we can choose whether to rely on co-regulation or self-regulation, depending on what feels right at the time. Our capacity to both co- and self-regulate is deeply linked with how we process sensory information.
Why might you want a sensory attachment service?
We are a specialist provision in assessing and treating attachment difficulties and trauma that can be associated with children who are have had experienced adverse childhood experiences, adopted, fostered or looked after.
OT4me is an accredited provider of adoption support services for all Local Authorities throughout Yorkshire and the Humber. These services are funded by the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) and we work closely with our social care colleagues to ensure that our clients receive a comprehensive, joined up service. We also work privately with families.
Diagnostic Services
Autism
Our Autism diagnostic services are coming in late 2025. Register for our webinar on this topic.
Dyspraxia
We offer Dyspraxia diagnostic services for both children and adults, providing a clear understanding of how Dyspraxia affects coordination, planning, organisation, and everyday life.
Our assessments are carried out by experienced Occupational Therapists who use evidence-based tools to identify strengths as well as areas of difficulty. The outcome of these assessments gives families, schools, and workplaces practical recommendations and strategies to support learning, independence, and participation. By recognising the impact Dyspraxia can have on both daily routines and confidence, we help create tailored support that makes a meaningful difference.
What is included in an assessment?
- Comprehensive Assessment Process – taking between 2-3 hours. This can be in our therapeutic clinic setting or home environment if more appropriate
- Information gathered various sources including parents/carers, education setting and other professionals
- Standardised assessment tools
- Liaison with other professionals
- Clear indication if the child meets Dyspraxia criteria
- Evaluation
- Detailed report provided – which includes:
- Strengths and challenges
- Overall day to day functioning
- Assessment findings
- Detailed recommendations
- Follow up telephone discussion with your therapist
When exploring dyspraxia (also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder), we refer to the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). These criteria help us understand how coordination differences present in everyday life and ensure that our approach remains consistent and evidence informed.
As part of this process, we collaborate with the individual’s GP to formally recognise the diagnosis and ensure that the information is reflected accurately in their health records. We also complete a cognitive assessment to build a fuller picture of the person’s learning profile, identifying both strengths and areas where support or adjustments may be helpful.
Our aim throughout is to recognise and value each person’s unique way of moving, learning, and processing the world, ensuring that the assessment experience is supportive, respectful, and empowering.
Sensory Environment Audit
We offer a bespoke sensory environment audit service that goes beyond a simple checklist. This service looks in detail at how a space feels, sounds, and functions for the people using it, ensuring environments are truly inclusive, accessible, and responsive to sensory needs. Our team of qualified Occupational Therapists, all with postgraduate qualifications in Sensory Integration (SI Education or CLASI), work alongside Lived Experience Consultants to bring both professional expertise and real-world insight. Together, we assess how factors such as lighting, noise levels, layout, textures, and movement opportunities affect comfort, regulation, and participation.
These audits are tailored to the setting, whether that is a school, residential home, corporate workspace, or NHS service. We identify barriers that may be causing stress or reducing engagement and provide clear, practical recommendations to make the environment supportive for everyone. For education providers, this could mean adapting classrooms to reduce sensory overload and improve focus. In healthcare or residential settings, it could involve creating calmer spaces that aid recovery and wellbeing. For businesses, our audits can help design workplaces that enable staff and clients to feel at ease and perform at their best. By focusing on both inclusion and impact, we help organisations create environments that not only meet sensory needs but also improve learning, recovery, and daily experience.
Sensory Integration Assessments
A Sensory Integration Assessment looks at how a child or young person processes and responds to the sensory information around them. This includes everyday experiences such as movement, touch, sound, sight, taste, and body awareness. When the brain has difficulty organising these sensations, it can affect behaviour, learning, attention, and emotional wellbeing. The assessment helps to identify patterns in how a child experiences the world, highlighting both strengths and the areas where support may be needed.
At OT4me our assessments are carried out by specially trained occupational therapists using recognised, evidence-based tools. We combine structured testing with observation of play and everyday activities to build a clear picture of a child’s needs. The outcome is a detailed report with practical recommendations for home, school, and community settings, as well as therapy goals if further support is required. This gives families, schools, and professionals a shared understanding and clear strategies to help the child feel more regulated, confident, and able to participate in daily life.
EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) Assessments
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment is a detailed process that looks at a child or young person’s needs across learning, health, and social care. It is designed to identify the support they require to thrive in education and daily life. At OT4me, our role in EHCP assessments is to provide in-depth occupational therapy input, focusing on areas such as sensory processing, motor skills, regulation, and independence. These assessments help evidence the child’s unique profile of strengths and needs, giving families and schools a clear understanding of how to put effective support in place.
For many families, an EHCP assessment is a crucial step in securing long-term support for their child. Our team at OT4me works closely with parents, carers, and education professionals to ensure reports are practical, accessible, and tailored to the child’s real-world challenges. By highlighting both barriers and solutions, we help shape plans that make a genuine difference to everyday life, whether that is feeling calmer in the classroom, building confidence with peers, or developing essential skills for independence at home and school.
Handwriting Assessment
Handwriting is a multifaceted skill that involves several critical components. Occupational therapists are trained to assess these components to identify where your child may be experiencing difficulties.
Key components of handwriting that will be assessed:
- Postural Stability: The ability to sit upright at a desk.
- Visual Perception: Accurately interpreting visual information.
- Fine Motor Coordination: Using fingers and hands in a coordinated manner.
- Pencil Grasp and Pressure: How the pencil is held and the pressure applied.
- Pencil Control and Fluency: Smooth and controlled pencil movements.
- Letter and Number Recognition: Identifying letters and numbers.
- Formation of Letters and Numbers: Correctly forming letters and numbers
If your child struggles with slow or messy handwriting, OT4me offers detailed assessments to evaluate handwriting legibility and speed. These assessments include a variety of standardised and observational tasks conducted in our clinic. Bringing a sample of your child’s schoolwork can also be helpful.
Benefits of Assessment:
- Tailored Treatment Program: The assessment results can be used to create a personalised treatment plan aimed at improving handwriting speed and legibility
- Support for Special Provisions: The information can support applications for Special Provisions for support plans, EHCPs or other requirements
Handwriting assessments typically take about one hour to complete.
School Ready Assessment
Beginning school is a significant milestone in a child’s life. As parents, we aim to make this transition positive, allowing our children to thrive and build confidence throughout their school years. There are several ways we can prepare our children for this exciting journey.
The key areas that our School Readiness start covers include:
- Pencil grasp
- Scissor skills
- Dexterity and manipulation skills
- Pre-writing and drawing skills
- Organisational skills
- Self-care skills
- Attention/ concentration
- Regulation
Tribunal Assessments and Support
Tribunals can often feel overwhelming for families, especially when they involve decisions about a child or young person’s education, health, or care. At OT4me, we understand the complex nature of these proceedings and the importance of presenting clear, professional evidence that reflects a child’s individual needs. Our team can provide expert occupational therapy reports and input that support your case, ensuring the tribunal has a full understanding of how sensory, motor, and regulation needs impact daily life and learning.
Because every case is unique, we encourage you to contact our team directly on 01904501601 or [email protected] to discuss your situation in detail. A member of our experienced team will talk you through how we can help, whether that involves preparing specialist assessments, offering written evidence, or attending tribunal hearings. By working closely with families, schools, and legal representatives, we aim to make the process clearer, less stressful, and focused on achieving the right outcome for the child or young person.
Vocational Occupational Therapy Assessments
This is ideal for individuals in employment, or requiring adjustments to enable them to access work, in supported internships/internships.
Purpose:
- Interview: Work history, medical background, vocational goals
- Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE): Assesses physical abilities (e.g. strength, endurance)
- Sensory processing needs in relation to environments
- Cognitive & Psychological Assessment: Evaluates memory, attention, stress tolerance, etc.
- Work Simulation or Task Observation: Tests job-specific tasks in a simulated or real environment
- Environmental Assessment: Reviews physical/workplace conditions and needs
Key Components:
- Assess a person’s ability to perform work-related tasks
Outcome:
- Detailed report with findings and recommendations – reasonable adjustments Used by employers, rehabilitation providers, or insurance companies
Client Testimonials
Hear from our customers, some of which have been with us for many years.
We are rated 5-star on Google
3 Simple Steps to Get Started
Step 1: Book a free call with an OT
Your first step is simple: book a free 30-minute call with an occupational therapist to talk about your child's needs.
Step 2: Personalised therapy plan
We listen to your concerns, complete assessments where needed, and design a tailored plan of therapy sessions and strategies for home and school.
Step 3: Progress you can see
Watch your child grow in confidence, independence, and regulation - while you feel supported with clear tools, guidance, and hope for the future.
Our Clinics
OT4me has two convenient locations – Our Headquarters is located in Bishopthorpe and we have a satellite clinic located in Derwent.
OT4me Bishopthorpe
OT4me Derwent
FAQs
1. What issues do you commonly help with?
At OT4me, we support babies, toddlers, children, teens, and young adults who need extra help to overcome barriers and reach their full potential. Many of the children we work with experience burnout, mental health challenges, school non-attendance, sensory processing difficulties, or developmental differences.
We provide comprehensive, tailored assessments and therapy, delivered in our clinic, at home, in preschool or school settings, or through group sessions. Our aim is to help each child build confidence, develop independence, and achieve their goals, creating opportunities that have a lasting impact.
We also focus on helping children become school ready, ensuring they have the emotional, social, and practical foundations to succeed in education and daily life. Families and professionals benefit from our training sessions, which cover topics such as sensory integration awareness, play development, and readiness for school, empowering them to provide effective support.
2. How does OT4me differ from the NHS?
The NHS provides excellent free resources and advice, but families often face long waiting lists and limited hands-on support. At OT4me, we offer more than fast access. We provide a personalised, hands-on approach designed to empower each child’s unique strengths, help them overcome barriers, and build long-term confidence and independence.
You benefit from:
Assessments within 4–6 weeks (not months)
A practical, tailored treatment plan for your child
Specialist expertise in sensory integration, mental health, trauma, and attachment work
Evidence-based practice, applying the latest emerging research
Specialist OT groups in areas such as social participation and feeding support
Ongoing family support through therapeutic parent coaching
Access to our free monthly Ask the Expert groups, where parents and carers can learn and ask questions
Clinical leadership, including co-facilitation of Mental Health & Sensory Training Workshops with ASI WISE, an internationally recognised UK training provider of Ayres Sensory Integration®
3. What does the journey from assessment to discharge look like?
Our structured pathway typically spans 6–8 months, creating opportunities for lasting progress and independence. It may include:
A comprehensive assessment of your child’s needs, strengths, and environment
Tailored treatment such as sensory integration therapy, interoception training, handwriting support, sleep strategies, positive behaviour approaches, Sensory Attachment Intervention, aquatic therapy, Theraplay, environmental audits, and more
Specialist OT groups focusing on social participation and feeding skills
Therapeutic parent coaching, giving you practical tools to support progress at home
Regular reviews to ensure strategies are embedded in daily life, building confidence, independence, and long-term outcomes
4. Why is OT4me considered a worthwhile investment?
Families choose OT4me because we offer more than short-term therapy. We provide specialist, evidence-based interventions that create lasting positive change:
Specialist services in sensory integration, mental health, trauma, and attachment work
Use of the latest research-informed approaches
Internationally recognised clinical leadership, with team members co-facilitating training through ASI WISE (a UK and international provider of Ayres Sensory Integration® training)
Support to help children become school ready, building the skills to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally
A holistic approach combining direct therapy, group interventions, parent coaching, and school input
Free monthly Ask the Expert groups, giving families ongoing guidance and empowerment
This combination ensures every child receives care that celebrates their uniqueness, helps them overcome barriers, and builds the foundations for life-long confidence.
5. Do you offer continued support after diagnosis?
Yes. Beyond therapy, OT4me continues to support families with:
Hands-on post-diagnostic support, tailored for children, teenagers, and young adults
Therapeutic parent coaching, giving parents and carers practical strategies they can use every day
Free monthly Ask the Expert groups, covering sensory needs, emotional regulation, sleep, school strategies, and more
Support with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and ongoing liaison with schools
Opportunities to join specialist OT groups, such as social participation and feeding, offering targeted, peer-supported progress
This continued support ensures children and young people gain confidence, operate more independently, and achieve positive long-term outcomes.
6. Do you work with local authorities, schools, or businesses?
Yes. In addition to supporting families directly, OT4me partners with professionals and organisations to create opportunities for children and young people to thrive in education and later in the workplace:
EHCP assessments, reports, and ongoing support to ensure children’s needs are clearly identified and met in education
Specialist occupational therapy for children and families post-adoption and within foster services, delivered as a registered Adoption Support Fund provider
Tailored assessments, therapy, and training delivered directly within schools and colleges through individual contracts with education providers
Sensory environment audits for businesses and workplaces, helping employers design inclusive spaces that promote wellbeing, focus, and productivity.
Let's turn everyday experiences into extraordinary steps forward.