Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
NEW SERVICE FOR CHILDREN WITH SENSORY
DIFFICULTIES
We are delighted to announce that in Warwickshire we are
establishing a traded specialist service for children with sensory
difficulties. This will be available from April 2013.
There will be pupils in your school experiencing some of the
following difficulties:
 Challenging Behaviour
 Problems with learning
 Significant resistance to the unfamiliar and making transitions
from one situation to another
 Motor coordination difficulties
 Poor hand eye coordination
 Impulsiveness with short attention span
 Problems with Social integration and developing/maintaining
relationships
It is likely that many of these pupils have underlying sensory
difficulties.
What is Sensory Integration (SI)?
Sensory Integration is the ability to respond appropriately to sensory
information in our environment and is a neurological process that
occurs within all of us. When the SI system is not functioning
effectively the impact on learning, behaviour and social skills can be far
reaching.
Most commonly a high proportion of children with Autism Spectrum
Disorders, Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder will have sensory difficulties, alongside other children who do
not have a formal diagnosis.
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Help is at hand
There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that specialist
sensory assessments, and intervention approaches can result in
significant improvements in a child’s behaviour, ability to learn, and
general well being. (Please see John’s story at the end of this
document)
In our newly established service, we are able to offer a range of
training packages to support schools, and develop classroom staff’s
expertise in supporting children with a range of sensory difficulties.
In addition we are able to offer individual specialist sensory
assessments, and intervention packages (sensory diets), to enable
schools to support individual pupils.
Please see attached menu of training packages, and intervention
packages.
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
What can schools buy?

Training packages to develop expertise in school to
support children with sensory difficulties.

Specialist Assessments of a child’s sensory needs,
together with report, and recommendations.

A follow-on intervention package, together with informal
staff training, and monitoring of programme.
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
TRAINING
Course Title: Making Sense of it all!
Introduction into Sensory Integration
This course introduces the theory and practical approaches that can be
used within the classroom to begin to make ‘sense’ of children’s sensory
needs. This course is recommended as the foundation training for any
member of staff wanting to develop skills in sensory difficulties in
children, and should be undertaken before the other 2 courses on offer.
For:
Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Early Years Practitioners,
Children’s Centre Staff, and parents.
Size of groups: Up to 12 or up to 20
Duration: 3 hours
Location: This course will be delivered in house
The course will:


Provide an overview of our senses – including the 2 ‘hidden’
senses, proprioception and vestibular.
Demonstrate how Sensory Integration is the foundation for
behaviour and learning.
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



Explain the difference between a sensory modulation disorder
and a sensory based motor disorder.
Equip staff to identify signs of sensory processing and sensory
motor difficulties and how it may impact on play, self care and
school skills.
Introduce the concept of a sensory diet and practical strategies
to trial in the classroom with a child showing signs of sensory
processing difficulties.
Raise awareness of products/resources that can be used to
meet a child’s sensory needs in the classroom.
Cost: £250 for a 3 hour course for up 12 participants
£300 for a 3 hour course for up to 20 participants
NB If you require us to provide a training venue this will incur an
extra charge
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
TRAINING
Course Title: Sensory Processing Difficulties in Preschool Children
For:
Early Years Practitioners, Children’s Centre staff, parents.
Duration: 2 hours
Size of groups: Up to 12 or 20
Location: In house
This course is recommended for any member of staff wanting to develop
skills in Sensory Difficulties in Preschool Children, and should be
undertaken after the introductory course.
There are issues specific to Preschool Children with Sensory difficulties.
If appropriate intervention is offered in the early years, this can prevent
many later problems, and optimise a child’s ability to participate and
learn.
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This course aims to:

Demonstrate how sensory input affects an infant/toddler’s state
and how to avoid sensory overload.

Explore ‘normal’ crying, fussing, colic and regulatory disorders.

Discuss the impact of sensory integration on feeding, sleeping,
enhancing development and toilet training.

Introduce the concept of a sensory diet based upon Timing,
Environment, Activities and Toys (TEAT framework).

Raise awareness of products/resources that can be used within
the nursery environment to meet an infant/toddler’s sensory
needs.
Cost: £190 for a 2 hour course for up 12 participants
£230 for a 2 hour course for up 20 participants
NB If you require us to provide a training venue this will incur an
extra charge
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Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
Course Title: Encouraging our children to come out of their shell
Sensory Defensiveness: Do you have children in your class/setting
who show avoidance, fear, anxiety, sensory seeking or aggressive
behaviours that disrupt their performance in everyday school activities?
This course will help you to understand Sensory Defensiveness and
what it means for those children.
For:
Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Early Years Practitioners,
Children’s Centre Staff, and parents.
Duration: 2 hours
Size of groups: Up to 12 or 20
Location: In house
The course will:

Provide an overview of Sensory Defensiveness and how it
disrupts participation in a range of daily activities within
school/setting.
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
Equip staff with knowledge on how to recognise a child who
may have Sensory Defensiveness and require a specialist
assessment.

Provide practical strategies to trial with a child showing signs of
Sensory Defensiveness in the classroom/setting.

Raise awareness of products that can be used to meet a child’s
sensory needs in the classroom relating to Sensory
Defensiveness.
Cost: £190 for a 2 hour course for up 12 participants
£230 for a 2 hour course for up 20 participants
NB If you require us to provide a training venue this will incur an
extra charge
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
Specialist Assessment of a Child with Sensory Difficulties
This includes the completion of an appropriate standardised
sensory assessment, classroom/school observation and
completion of a report.
This will provide information on the child’s:

Underlying sensory processing difficulties and how these are
impacting on participation in daily activities at school.

Sensory responses within the classroom environment and its
impact on the child’s performance.

Recommendations/advice for meeting child’s sensory needs within
school.

Specific targets for IEP (if appropriate)
Estimated time in school: 2- 2½ hours
Cost of assessment includes the provision of a report= £175 per child
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
Specialist Sensory Programme/Intervention Package
NB: In order to provide this programme, a specialist assessment
will need to have been undertaken initially
This will include:

A written programme for implementation in school (a ‘sensory
diet’). This will include structured activities and strategies for use
in school, to be delivered by school staff.

A school visit to introduce the programme, and provide informal
training to school staff who will be involved in its implementation
(approximately 2 hour school visit).

Loan of specialist equipment if appropriate.

Weekly ½ hour monitoring either via a school visit or phone call
depending on need for a 4 week period.
Total cost of above programme/monitoring = £300 per child
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
BOOKING FORM / EXPRESSION of INTEREST TRAINING
Name of budget holder/administrator:
School/cluster:
Please indicate the Training you are interested in:
Name of Training
Cost
Introduction to Sensory Integration
£250 or
£300
Sensory Processing Difficulties in
Preschool Children
£190 or
£230
Sensory Defensiveness
£190 or
£230
No. of
trainees
Preferred
date
Do you have other training needs related to Sensory Difficulties, fine motor
skills, handwriting or activities of daily living? If yes, please specify:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Signed:
Date:
Print Name:
Telephone/email:
Please photocopy and return to: Sue Jones, Manager of Children’s Therapy
Services, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Cape Rd Clinic,
Warwick CV34 4JP
Tel: 01926 400001
Email: sue.jones@swft.nhs.uk
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
BOOKING FORM/EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Sensory Assessments and Intervention Programmes
Name of budget holder/administrator:
School/cluster:
Please indicate the Sensory sessions you would like to purchase:
Length of session
Cost
Assessments
@ £175
Intervention
Programmes
@ £300
No. of
Sessions
Summer Term
2013
Signed:
No. of
Sessions
Autumn Term
2013
No. of
Sessions
Spring term
2014
Date:
Print Name:
Telephone/email:
Please photocopy and return to: Sue Jones, Manager of Children’s Therapy
Services, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Cape Rd Clinic,
Warwick CV34 4JP
Tel: 01926 400001
Email: sue.jones@swft.nhs.uk
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
REGULAR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT)
SESSION FOR YOUR SCHOOL
Some schools have indicated that they would be interested in
purchasing OT on a regular sessional (half day – 3 ½ hours) basis for
their school. This session could be utilised to meet needs, as
determined by the school. As this would represent a regular
commitment for a minimum of 1 year, the pricing would be different
from the ad hoc pricing for the sensory service. Unlike the sensory
service, the session would need to include administration, and indirect
client related activities such as completion of records, and writing of
reports.
The areas of assessment/intervention/training that could be offered
include:

Activities of daily living

Handwriting

Fine motor skills

Developmental Coordination Difficulties

Seating

Moving and handling
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR REGULAR OT SESSIONS IN
SCHOOL
Name of School:
Administrator:
Frequency of
session
(Session=3 ½
Hours)
Cost for 12
months
Cost per
session
1 per week in
term time
£4200
£110.52
1 per fortnight in
term time
£2,400
£126.31
1 per month – in
term time
£1,300
£130.00
Interested?
Please tick
Please photocopy and return to: Sue Jones, Manager of Children’s Therapy
Services, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Cape Rd Clinic,
Warwick CV34 4JP
Tel: 01926 400001
Email: sue.jones@swft.nhs.uk
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Warwickshire Children’s Therapy Services
Buy-in Services for children with Sensory Difficulties
John’s Story
John finds eating a range of textures difficult. He relies heavily on adult
support to manage daily tasks and often gets upset and angry when he forgets
something. He doesn’t cope well with touch in social situations, unless it is on
his terms. He is rigid in his routines and likes to finish any task before moving
onto the next activity. This can cause disruption to the whole class, and he is
frequently removed from the classroom.
When assessed using the sensory profile John was found to be emotionally
over reactive, to have difficulties with inattention and distractibility. He is more
sensitive to sensations than is expected for his age. Observations, parental
and teacher report and this profile assessment indicates that John is sensation
avoiding/sensory sensitive.
Children who are sensation avoiders engage in disruptive behaviours. Only a
small amount of sensation quickly becomes uncomfortable or frightening to
John. He has developed a coping strategy to avoid these sensory experiences
by withdrawing or engaging in an emotional outburst which result in him being
removed from the threatening situation.
A specialist therapist provided advice to limit John’s exposure to unfamiliar
sensory input and gradually broaden his sensory processing experiences.
This was provided through a ‘Sensory Diet’ which enabled John to remain in a
calm, alert and organised state throughout the school day. This maximised his
opportunity for learning and positive social interaction. John was also given
the ‘language’ to understand why he feels the way he does, to increase his
awareness of how to meet his own sensory needs.
John’s teacher and parents now report that he is much more settled during the
school day, has fewer outbursts, transfers more easily between tasks, and is
rarely excluded from the classroom. They feel that they better understand
John’s needs and can incorporate the sensory diet activities easily into the
classroom/home setting.
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