Therapy

The role of Occupational Therapy within Pegasus School provides direct therapeutic interventions, or consultations with members of inter-disciplinary teams with primary focus upon maximising young people’s functional skills, occupational performance potential (Leisure/play, education and activities of daily living) and independence.

Whilst therapeutic intervention may also assist in minimising behavioural difficulties and increasing individual communication as part of an inter-disciplinary approach. As the young person’s needs are often complex, the process of treatment will incorporate prioritised short- and long-term goals, with complete regard of the young person’s statement needs.

Each young person is assessed prior to treatment, through informal observation, standardised assessment where appropriate and discussion with other members of the team. Parents and family members equally have an important role to play in establishing the needs of the young person. Many treatment approaches may be utilised for the benefit of each individual young person’s needs, including:

• Occupational Performance: Therapy focuses upon occupational performance concentrating upon how individuals function in their work/education, leisure/play, and domestic and personal care. The occupational perspective is that a ‘healthy person’ is one who is able to perform his/her daily occupations to satisfying level.
• Sensorimotor: Treatment assisting the output of sensory information into an organised and controlled movement.
• Cognitive-behavioural: Desired behaviours promoted through positive reinforcement, taking into consideration emotional and cognitive impact upon behaviour, where appropriate attempting to assist the young person in gaining insight into behaviour.
• Creative-Expressive: Assisting the young person to develop creative skills and express uncommunicated thoughts and feeling through creativity.

Occupational Therapy focuses on the practical aspects of life, helping young people find more effective ways to tackle everyday challenges. Through Occupational Therapy they will find renewed confidence and autonomy in their day-to-day activities.

Speech and Language Therapy

Communication is central to everything we do at Pegasus School.

The Speech and Language Therapist works with all members of staff to ensure every young person is supported to communicate to their full potential across different environments. Whether this is developing the young persons self-advocacy and communication skills or supporting non-speaking young people, Pegasus promotes an evidence-based, multi-modal approach to communication.

The Speech and Language Therapist’s role includes:

• Assessment of receptive and expressive language, speech and communication strengths and challenges.
• Direct 1:1 intervention and development of speech and language therapy programmes.
• Feature matching and implementation of individualised augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as needed, including PODD communication books and iPad apps such as Proloquo2Go and SimPODD.
• Regular consultation sessions with teaching staff and residential support staff on how best to support young people’s communication across different environments, including accessing the community.
• Input into EHC Plans and multi-disciplinary meetings as well as liaison with parents.
• Regular training for all staff on how to support young people’s communication, including the use of interventions such as SCERTS, Intensive interaction, AAC, Gestalt Language Processing, Makaton and Zones of Regulation.

We aim to develop every young person’s self-advocacy and independence by ensuring that they have the means, reasons and opportunities to communicate at all times.