Skip to content ↓

Therapy

Therapy

Woodfield School provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Wellbeing Therapy as outlined below. Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy utilise an evidence-based, collaborative approach which seeks to unite teachers and therapists in joint planning and delivery of lessons, working with whole classes and upskilling the teaching staff. 

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and Language Therapy services are provided to pupils enrolled at Woodfield School. ​

The Speech and Language Therapy Team works collaboratively to integrate across the school in order to enable students to access communication support throughout the school day. This supports our ethos that therapy is most effective when fully embedded throughout the day and that communication is fundamental.

Our three-tier approach to speech and language provision ensures best practice and improved learning outcomes for pupils. Our onsite therapy team delivers support as outlined in each child's Education, Health and Care Plan. This can typically involve:

  • Working closely with the classroom staff and school senior leadership team to create an optimum communication environment (e.g. use of visuals such as timetables, schedules; Makaton; PECS; AAC etc)
  • Upskilling teaching and support staff on topics of speech, language and communication.
  • Ongoing thorough assessment and detailed reports of your child’s language and communication skills.
  • Jointly setting targets with teachers that link to identified therapy and curriculum outcomes.
  • Direct working with children in a whole class and/or small group (depending on your child’s individual needs) in collaboration with teaching staff. This enables the therapist to model strategies and activities which can then be repeated and embedded by school staff across the week.
  • Frequent liaison with teaching and support staff regarding your child’s needs and progress.
  • Liaising with and working in collaboration with relevant healthcare professionals (occupational therapists, psychotherapists, physiotherapists).
  • Provision of training to communication partners in relevant strategies and approaches.
  • Attendance at or provision of written information for relevant school based meetings e.g. annual review meetings.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy services are provided to pupils enrolled at Woodfield School. ​  

The Occupational therapist (OT) works collaboratively to integrate across the school in order to focus on assisting our pupils to access their optimal learning environment. This supports our ethos that therapy is most effective when fully embedded throughout the day and that participation in the pupil environment is fundamental. This includes assessing and treating pupils who have difficulties that affect their ability to complete everyday tasks in a functional manner.   

OT Pyramid

Our three-tier approach to Occupational therapy provision ensures best practice and improved learning outcomes for pupils. Our onsite therapist delivers support as outlined in each child's Education, Health and Care Plan. This can typically involve:  

  • The OT using either an individual, group or consultation approach to therapy.  Therapy is based on goals, which are either identified in the classroom and/or from parents.     
  • Therapy programmes may be provided for class staff to carry out for the whole class, or as individual programmes, or students may be taken outside of the classroom environment for specific therapy.  
  • The OT works closely with class staff to ensure that occupational therapy is embedded into the school curriculum.  Ensuring occupational therapy is embedded throughout the school day is imperative for our students to learn and consolidate functional skills and to achieve goals. This also ensures success by providing a consistent approach to the goal.  
  • The OT also works in a multi-disciplinary team with the Speech and Language Team and Wellbeing therapist within the school.  This is to ensure we are all working holistically towards common goals for our students.  
  • The school OT can sign post parents to NHS Occupational Therapy Services and Social Services Occupational Therapy in Brent and with other boroughs where appropriate.  

Mental Health Well-being

Woodfield School aims to create and implement a Mental Health and Well-being strategy for both the pupils and staff. The therapy teams’ mission is to ‘cultivate an environment conductive for learning and growth, through fostering a whole school approach to healthy relating’.

All referrals are processed through the referral team. The therapy team then work systematically as part as a multi-disciplinary team to provide a weekly, safe, contained confidential space. Interventions provided include both individual and group therapy. The provided therapy is process oriented and not goal oriented with the approach being client led and non-judgmental.

The work of the therapists is based upon the assumption that the body and the mind are connected and are always moving towards wholeness. The school therefore promote healthy relationships and find safe and creative ways to express all feelings. The work is also non-interpretive and often uses the metaphor of play and imagination to explore different topics. This avoids potential re-traumatization and unnecessary exposure.