Information on these pages is also available in various different languages, and also if you prefer you can change the background colour of the page. Click on the 'Easy Read and Translation' banner at the top of this page, click on the flag icon for languages and the colour wheel icon for background colours.
What we do
The Luton and Bedfordshire Paediatric Occupational Therapist service support children and young people to engage and participate as fully as possible in childhood occupations (activities) such as:
- Play
- Eating
- Self-care e.g. washing, cleaning your teeth, toileting
- Dressing
- School and life skills e.g. writing and alternatives to recording information and using scissors.
- Managing at school e.g. getting around the class / school, supportive seating, specialist toilet seats
- Hobbies and leisure activities
We provide universal resources, assessment, advice and treatment, where appropriate, to reduce the effects of difficulties and disabilities; and optimise a child/young person’s functional skills.
We also provide assessment and recommendations with regards to:
- Classroom seating where additional postural support is required.
- Access to the school curriculum, ie: the ability to participate in lessons or move around the school, written recording and carrying out practical lessons
Click on the links to access our pages on:
Our Sensory Processing Awareness Training is also available to listen or read a transcript in your native language - click here.
To accompany the video we have produced some helpful literature - click on the links below to access:
Visit our dedicated Planning Wheel website page for further information and video's, which are also available with subtitles and BSL.
Further information about help for children with special educational needs and disabilities can also be found on the Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough and Luton Local Offer pages.
To find out more about the Bedford Borough Local Offer training sessions please click here.
Click on the link to read our latest Service Statement.
If you are looking to make a referral to our service, please see our latest Guidelines for Making a Referral to Paediatric OT and access our OT Referral Form.
Please note we no longer accept paper referrals. Please email the referral to us on the relevant address below or use SystmOne if you have access to it. Thank you.
How can we help?
Click on our occupational therapy leaflet here.
To view a page where you can read a script of the below video and translate it into your preferred language, please click here.
Our paediatric occupational therapists will assess the child’s present ability and discuss the next stage of therapy; providing activity advice and strategies where appropriate. This aims to help the child attain the highest possible quality of life through purposeful play and activities.
Our therapists work with the child in partnership with their parents and carers to formulate a treatment plan. We encourage nursery and school settings, where appropriate, to follow a treatment programme between appointments. We support staff to understand the objectives behind the activities and feel confident in implementing the programme activities. Therapy mainly takes place at Redgrave Children and Young People’s Centre (Luton) or the Child Development Centre (Kempston); where therapists may see a child for individual or group sessions. The frequency of sessions will vary according to the child’s needs.
We work closely with other professionals including physiotherapists, and where appropriate will see your child jointly, to provide assessment, advice and treatment. Paediatric Physiotherapy Services are run by Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust - more information can be found by clicking on the link.
After occupational therapy assessment or a period of intervention, outcomes are evaluated and a clinically led decision is made in partnership with the parents/carers regarding the child’s needs. This may involve further advice, direct face to face interventions, discharge and/or referral onto other relevant services/agencies.
Sensory differences can contribute to difficulties taking part in everyday activities in different environments such as getting dressed or eating, handwriting or going to the park.
How to contact our service
How to be referred
We accept referrals from GPs, health professionals, SENDCos, the early years support team and the sensory and communication team. We do not accept self-referrals or parental referrals., but the referral forms for professionals can be found in the document list at the bottom of the page entitled 'OT referral form',
Where our service is based
Parking - Disabled parking spaces are available near the entrance at both venues and there is ample other free parking.
Which area do I come under - click on the links above to find out which area your postcode is in.
Usual hours of operation:
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Redgrave Children and Young People’s Centre, Luton: 07:30 – 16:30
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Child Development Centre, Kempston: 08:30 – 17:00
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Please note we no longer accept paper referrals. Please email the referral to us on the relevant address below or use SystmOne if you have access to it. Thank you.
Where can I get further information from?
Patient Advice and Liasion Service (PALS) - click here for full details.
Click on this link for information on all Children's Services run by Cambridgeshire Community Service NHS Trust.