What occupational therapists assess

Occupational therapists (OTs) assess how a person engages in activities of daily living and education. For a child, this includes: fine motor skills (pencil grip, cutting, drawing, handwriting), gross motor skills (balance, coordination, strength), sensory processing (how the child responds to sensory input), motor planning (ability to plan and sequence movements), self-care skills (dressing, eating, toileting), and how these impact the child's ability to participate in school and life. An OT assessment provides an objective, professional view of these skills and where support is needed.

What to ask the OT to assess

Be specific about what you want assessed. If handwriting is a concern: "Please assess fine motor skills, pencil grip, and the impact on written output." If the child is clumsy: "Please assess gross motor skills, motor planning, coordination, and proprioception." If sensory issues are a concern: "Please assess sensory processing, looking specifically at auditory, visual, and tactile sensitivities and the impact in school." If self-care is a concern: "Please assess independence in dressing, eating, toileting." A good OT will give you a comprehensive picture.

What the report should include

A strong OT report includes: standardised assessment scores (showing where the child sits relative to peers), observations of how the child tackles tasks, identification of underlying difficulties (weak hand strength, poor motor planning, sensory seeking, etc.), the functional impact (why this matters for school), and clear recommendations for strategies, equipment, therapy, or adaptations. Look for reports that give specific, actionable recommendations - not just "the child has difficulties" but "the child needs a pencil grip to improve writing; recommend daily fine motor activities; consider laptop for writing tasks."

Using the OT report in your EHCP case

An OT report strengthens your case by providing professional, objective assessment of difficulties that may not be obvious in a standard school assessment. If your child has coordination difficulties, sensory needs, or fine motor problems affecting writing or learning, an OT report is valuable evidence. In your EHCP request, reference the report: "As shown in the occupational therapy report dated [date], my child has [specific difficulty] which impacts [specific area of education]. Specialist OT support is recommended."

Private vs NHS OT assessments

If the NHS waiting list is long, a private OT assessment carries equal weight to an NHS assessment. The quality of the assessment depends on the individual therapist, not whether they're working privately or for the NHS. When requesting an OT assessment, ask specifically what will be assessed and ask for a comprehensive report (not just a screen). A good OT report can make the difference in securing an EHCP.