Service overview
Our Occupational Therapy team is part of our Children and Young People’s Integrated Therapies Service. We help children who have difficulties doing everyday activities, such as dressing, feeding, writing, socialising, and playing. These challenges may be linked to fine motor skills, coordination, or the ability to make sense of the world around them.
We also provide advice and guidance on sensory strategies, and specialist equipment such as off-the-shelf hand splints, adapted cutlery and plates, writing aids and specialist seating for schools.
Accessing our service
For East Berkshire (covering Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough, and Bracknell), we accept referrals for children and young people aged 0 to 19 who are registered with an East Berkshire GP or live in the area.
You can make a referral using our online referral form below. Referrals can come from parents, carers, teachers, Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO), GPs, or other healthcare professionals.
For West Berkshire (covering Reading, Wokingham, and Newbury), we only accept referrals for school-aged children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
If your child has an EHCP, you can make a self-referral using our online form. Referrals can also come from parents, carers, teachers, SENCOs, GPs, or other healthcare professionals.
For children in West Berkshire without an EHCP, please refer to Dingley Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Please note, you will have to go through a GP or consultant for this.
Preparing for an assessment
Assessments may take place in a clinic, school, or at home depending on your child’s needs.
You’ll receive a letter, email, or phone call with details of the appointment. Most appointments last between 30-60 minutes.
Please bring any relevant reports or equipment your child uses, and make sure to dress them in comfortable clothes. You don’t need to bring their medication with you, but a list of what your child takes is helpful.
You're welcome to bring a family member, friend, or carer with you for support.
Managing your health
Fine motor skills
Learn about everything from bilateral coordination (coordinating left and right side) to in-hand manipulation, and reversing letters and numbers in writing.
Handwriting
Explore our resources and workshops designed to provide practical strategies for developing handwriting skills and building confidence in children and young people.
Sensory processing
Discover what sensory processing is and join our workshops designed to help parents, carers, and educators understand sensory needs and learn practical strategies to support children and young people.
Neurodiversity in schools videos
Explore our videos covering everything from inclusive classrooms to movement breaks, balance and coordination, and supporting younger children.
Contact us and FAQs
Erlegh House
Children's and Young People’s Integrated Therapies
Contact number: 0118 904 3700 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
Email: CYPIT@berkshire.nhs.uk
Post Address: RG6 6BZ
Location detailsWhitley Health Centre
Children's and Young People’s Integrated Therapies
Contact number: 0118 904 3700 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
Email: CYPIT@berkshire.nhs.uk
Post Address: RG2 7PJ
West Berkshire Community Hospital
Children's and Young People’s Integrated Therapies
Contact number: 0118 904 3700 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
Email: CYPIT@berkshire.nhs.uk
Post Address: RG18 3AS
Location detailsWokingham Community Hospital
Children's and Young People’s Integrated Therapies
Contact number: 0118 904 3700 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
Email: CYPIT@berkshire.nhs.uk
Post Address: RG41 2XR
Location detailsFrequently asked questions
Do I need a diagnosis to access the service?
No you don't need a diagnosis to access our service. Our support is based on your child’s needs, not on their diagnosis.
Can I refer my own child?
Yes, parents and carers can make referrals using our online form. You can also ask your child's school to make a referral for you.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
Waiting times depend on the service and the urgency of your child’s needs. After your referral is reviewed, we’ll contact you with the next steps.
We can also help you with
Is there any information for friends, family and carers?
If you’re a family member/carer or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available to you from a range of local communities and national organisations.
How do I request an interpreter?
We can provide language translation and interpretation support whenever you visit or contact us.
Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.
We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:
- telephone interpreting
- video remote interpreting (VRI)
- face‑to‑face interpreting
- written translation
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting
How can I get information in an accessible format?
Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to receive information in a format that meets their needs. Under the Accessible Information Standard (AIS)—a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers—we must ensure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand the information we provide and communicate effectively with us.
We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- large print
- braille
- audio
- easy Read
- text message
- face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present
If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.
Are service dogs allowed to my appointment?
Yes. You are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.
These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.
To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.
Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.
Treating our team with respect.
Respect is important.
We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.
Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.
We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.
This includes contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.
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