At The Owl Centre, our team of dedicated Occupational Therapists work alongside teachers in mainstream, specialist, alternative, and independent schools to help children and young people overcome barriers to learning and development. Whether it’s supporting them to access education, play, or social interactions with their peers, our therapists tailor their approach to meet each child’s individual needs.
Children with additional needs or sensory processing difficulties may find it harder to engage in everyday school activities. Our Occupational Therapists step in to make the school environment more accessible, often by adapting spaces and routines to reduce overwhelm. They provide fun, engaging programs that help children build essential skills, from handwriting and physical play to independence in daily life skills like dressing, washing, and eating.
We are proud to work with local authorities, schools, education services, and parents across the UK, providing support that helps children thrive both academically and socially. But our work doesn’t stop there. One of the core areas of expertise at The Owl Centre is Sensory Integration Therapy, which plays a vital role in supporting children’s development and wellbeing.
What is Sensory Integration?
Effective learning relies on a child’s ability to process and make sense of sensory information from their environment. This includes input from the traditional five senses—touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing—as well as additional senses such as body awareness, movement, and interoception (feedback from internal body senses).
When a child has difficulty integrating sensory input, it can impact their ability to regulate emotions, maintain focus, and develop motor skills. This can also lead to emotional dysregulation, making it harder for them to engage in daily activities and interact with others.
Sensory Integration Therapy is designed to address these challenges by using structured sensory input to help children process and respond to sensory stimuli in a more balanced way. By engaging the child’s natural sense of playfulness, sensory therapy encourages movement and physical activities that are tailored to their specific sensory needs, helping them build skills that are essential for their development.
How Sensory Integration Therapy Helps
Sensory Integration Therapy includes a range of carefully designed activities that help children build and strengthen their sensory processing abilities. These activities are developed based on the individual child’s sensory profile, taking into account their unique needs and challenges. Examples of activities include balance treatments, movement therapy, and customized physical exercises.
Our experienced team of specialist Occupational Therapists provides sensory integration assessments and treatment, working closely with schools and parents to ensure children receive the best possible support.
The Foundation Senses in Sensory Integration Therapy
To understand the role of sensory integration therapy, it’s important to explore the key senses involved in processing sensory information:
1. Vestibular Sense (Movement and Balance)
The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, helps us maintain balance, spatial orientation, and stability during movement. It provides vital information about where our body and head are in space. Children with vestibular processing difficulties may struggle with movement, experience motor delays, or feel “lost in space.” These challenges can make everyday activities, such as walking or playing, more difficult.
2. Proprioception (Body Awareness)
Proprioception is the sense that informs us about the position and movement of our body parts. This system helps us coordinate movements, maintain balance, and understand where our limbs are in space. Children with proprioceptive difficulties may tire easily, use excessive force, or engage in behaviours such as jumping, crashing, or chewing objects to seek sensory input.
3. Tactile System (Touch)
The tactile system is responsible for processing information about touch, including pressure, temperature, pain, and vibration. This system is key to developing body awareness and motor planning skills. Children who are over-responsive to touch may have an exaggerated reaction to sensations like a label in the back of a shirt. Conversely, children who are under-responsive may not notice sensations such as a scratch or cut. Tactile defensiveness can also make children avoid busy environments due to a heightened sensitivity to unexpected touch.
How Occupational Therapy Can Help
Sensory integration therapy supports children in managing their sensory processing challenges through structured activities that are both fun and therapeutic. By targeting the specific sensory needs of each child, our occupational therapists help them develop the skills they need to function more comfortably in their environment, whether it’s at school, home, or out in the community.
Why Choose The Owl Centre for Occupational Therapy?
At The Owl Centre, we are proud of the positive outcomes that sensory integration therapy can achieve for children and young people. Our experienced Occupational Therapists work with children across the UK, providing tailored therapy that promotes emotional regulation, social participation, and improved motor skills. We focus on each child’s individual sensory needs and create interventions that support their overall development.
If you’re interested in learning more about how our Occupational Therapy team can help your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information or to discuss how we can support your child, contact us at: occupationaltherapy@theowltherapycentre.co.uk
