Midlands OT
Practical, specialist Occupational Therapy support for schools
Midlands Occupational Therapy provides face-to-face Occupational Therapy services to schools across the West Midlands.
We are a small, experienced team of Occupational Therapists who understand the realities of working in education. We work alongside school staff to help children and young people participate more fully in learning, daily routines and school life.
Our Approach
We believe Occupational Therapy works best when it is integrated into everyday school practice.
Rather than working in isolation, we collaborate with teachers, teaching assistants, SENCOs, families and other professionals. We take time to understand the pupil, the environment and the demands being placed upon them before recommending realistic strategies that can be used throughout the school day.
Our aim is not simply to provide a list of recommendations. We help schools understand what may be contributing to a pupil’s difficulties and identify practical, achievable ways to support them.
How we can help
Our Occupational Therapists can support children and young people experiencing difficulties with:
sensory processing and regulation
motor skills, coordination and handwriting
independence and self-care
attention, engagement and participation
organisation and completing everyday tasks
accessing the classroom and wider school environment
emotional wellbeing where sensory, physical or functional needs may be contributing
Our focus is always on the functional impact of these difficulties and helping each child participate more fully and independently in everyday activities.
Support may include assessment, observation, individual or small-group intervention, staff consultation, written recommendations, environmental advice and contributions to review meetings.
Occupational Therapy provision for schools
We provide regular, planned Occupational Therapy input within schools. This may range from an agreed number of visits to an ongoing weekly service, depending on the needs of the setting.
Having a regular Occupational Therapist enables schools to develop a more joined-up approach. Alongside supporting individual pupils, we can help staff build their knowledge, review provision and identify changes that may benefit a wider group of children and young people.
We can work across universal, targeted (and targeted plus) and specialist levels of support, helping schools use their Occupational Therapy provision where it will make the greatest difference.
A small and experienced team
Midlands Occupational Therapy is led by Ali Neal, an experienced Occupational Therapist who has worked within the profession for more than 30 years, including over 20 years supporting schools.
Ali works alongside a small team of qualified Occupational Therapists who share a commitment to providing thoughtful, evidence-informed and practical support. Keeping the team small allows us to get to know the schools we work with and provide a personal, consistent service.
All Occupational Therapy services are delivered by qualified Occupational Therapists registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Each member of our team holds appropriate professional indemnity insurance and an enhanced DBS check. Our team members have undertaken advanced training in sensory processing, alongside specialist training in areas including attachment and trauma.
Working in partnership with schools
Every school is different. We do not offer a one-size-fits-all package.
We begin by listening to what your school needs and considering how Occupational Therapy can complement your existing SEND and inclusion provision. We can then agree a model of support that is manageable, purposeful and appropriate for your setting.
Talk to us?
If you are considering Occupational Therapy provision for your school, please get in touch. We would be happy to arrange an initial conversation about your pupils, your current provision and the type of support you are looking for.
Looking for training or ready-to-use sensory resources?
Visit School Sensory Solutions to explore practical, CPD-accredited training for schools and other education settings. Courses include the Sensory Champion Award, How to Run Sensory Circuits and The BREAD Approach® - a practical framework for inclusive practice - alongside shorter courses and ready-to-use sensory resources.
You will also find ready-to-use resources, including Sensory Circuit Activity Cards to help schools plan varied, purposeful sensory circuits and movement activities.
Training is available online, making it accessible to individual practitioners, whole-school teams and organisations across the UK. Face to face training is also available in your setting and can be bespoke to your school or educational setting.
Award-winning Occupational Therapy
In 2026, Ali Neal received two Occupational Therapy Excellence Awards: Effectiveness in Training and Best Start-Up.
These awards recognise her commitment to providing high-quality, practical training through School Sensory Solutions and developing responsive, specialist Occupational Therapy services for local schools through Midlands Occupational Therapy.
Email: ali@midlandsot.co.uk
Address: Dovefields, Tutbury, Little Bridge Staffordshire DE13 9LW
Visit School Sensory Solutions to explore practical, CPD-accredited training for schools and other education settings.
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