At Sketchley School, each student receives the therapy specified on their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Students are also assessed by the Speech and Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist, once they have settled into school, which enables us to re-assess their needs in our setting. By doing this, we can identify the need for additional therapy services, which have not been specified on their EHCP.
Through access to well-qualified and experienced in-house and off-site therapists, Sketchley School provides bespoke therapy packages for our students. Therapists work closely with parents to support needs, not only in school but in the home too. We are also able to provide some therapy services remotely, which is useful for students who are not able to attend school full-time or not able to engage face-to-face.
Sketchley School provides students with a wide range of therapy services, including:
- Speech and language therapy (SALT)
- Occupational therapy (OT)
- Counsellors
- Art therapy
- Clinical Psychology
- Yoga
- Reflexology
Each therapy supports students in different ways. Please see below for more information:
- SALT will support with emotional literacy, executive functioning, social communication, semantic difficulties etc. Our autistic students all have difficulties in these areas and benefit greatly from SALT input. Sessions are provided both one-to-one and in small groups
- OT will support with sensory needs, executive functioning, interoception, self-care and occupation tasks. Our students with autism all have sensory issues that can lead to them becoming dysregulated. Sensory circuits and sensory diets are put in place to help regulate our students and enable them to engage with learning. OT input also helps our students to plan and organise their day/tasks in order for them to become more independent
- Counselling supports emotional and mental health, through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), talking therapy, play therapy etc. Many of our students have mental health issues that are supported through counselling. It helps our students to talk to a counsellor that is not a member of their class school staff. They are provided with strategies to use in their everyday life to manage their emotional/mental health
- Art therapy supports emotional and mental health, using art as a method of communication. This method of therapy is especially effective for our students with autism, as they can express their feelings without the need to talk directly to a therapist
- Clinical psychology supports our student’s mental health needs including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinical Psychology input is crucial to support the often complex mental heath needs of our students. Advice from the Clinical Psychologist is implemented by class staff and also at home through parents to support the student
- Yoga supports with flexibility, core strength development, relaxation and breathing techniques to calm and manage anxiety
- Reflexology supports with relaxation, realigning body systems and general wellbeing. Many of our students struggle with being able to relax and manage their anxieties. Reflexology enables them to experience relaxation and to manage their anxieties in a natural, holistic way