Occupational Therapy Provision for Targeted Provisions and Tribunals

The NYC SEND Strategic Plan is committed to the roll out of Targeted Mainstream Provisions at primary and secondary. The purpose is to provide a suitable education provision for children and young people whose needs cannot be effectively supported in a typical mainstream environment and who require smaller group teaching from staff with additional specialist training whilst still able to access a broad and balanced National Curriculum offer. In addition, there is an increased pressure on including Occupational Therapy provision within section F of the Education Health care plan post tribunal and an increased number of families commissioning private OT assessments around sensory needs and provision to include this provision within section F. This means the Local authority are then duty bound to deliver the provision. This has led to an increased requirement for Occupational Therapy Assessments to provide advice and witness testimony within tight Tribunal timescales. At times, Occupational Therapy input may be mandated by the Tribunal and the provision may fall outside NHS criteria for the service. The number of cases requiring mandated provision that sits outside of the NHS criteria for services would also need to be delivered through this service to ensure compliance with the Tribunal mandated input. Some of this input requires sensory integration trained practitioners.