Speech Pathology & Occupational Therapy for School-Age Students
School can place many demands on a child’s communication, learning, attention, social skills, motor skills and independence.
Innerlink Therapy provides Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy for school-age children and teenagers from our Belmore clinic. We also support families and schools across Canterbury-Bankstown and surrounding Sydney areas.
Our experienced therapists work with students who may experience difficulties with speech, language, literacy, social communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation, executive functioning, fine motor skills or classroom participation.
We work closely with children, families, teachers and other professionals to develop practical strategies that support learning, communication and participation at school and at home.
School visits may also be available, allowing assessment, therapy or consultation to take place within the student’s familiar school environment where appropriate.
School Speech Pathology & Occupational Therapy in Belmore
Every child learns and develops differently. Some children may need additional support to communicate effectively, participate in the classroom, manage sensory demands or develop the skills needed for learning and independence.
Our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists take the time to understand each student’s strengths, challenges and individual goals.
Depending on the child’s needs, support may include assessment, individual therapy, school consultation, teacher collaboration and practical strategies for use at home and in the classroom.
Speech Pathology for School-Age Children
Speech Pathology can support children and teenagers who have difficulties with communication, speech, language, literacy or social interaction.
A Speech Pathologist may help with:
- Speech sound difficulties
- Understanding and following instructions
- Expressing ideas and communicating needs
- Vocabulary and word finding
- Sentence development and grammar
- Reading and literacy
- Written language
- Social communication
- Conversation and interaction skills
- Stuttering and fluency
- Functional communication
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
How Speech Pathology can support learning
Communication skills are closely connected to learning and participation at school.
A child who has difficulty understanding language may struggle to follow classroom instructions. A child with language or literacy difficulties may find reading, writing or expressing ideas challenging.
Speech Pathology can help identify these difficulties and provide targeted support to develop the communication skills needed for everyday school activities.
Occupational Therapy for School Students
Occupational Therapy can help children develop the skills they need to participate more successfully in classroom learning, play, social activities and everyday school routines.
Our Occupational Therapists may support students with:
- Fine motor skills
- Handwriting
- Gross motor development
- Sensory processing
- Emotional regulation
- Attention and participation
- Executive functioning
- Organisation and planning
- Motor planning and coordination
- Visual-motor skills
- Self-care and independence
- Classroom participation
Occupational Therapy focuses on helping children participate in the activities that are important to them.
This may include managing classroom routines, completing schoolwork, using classroom equipment, developing handwriting skills, regulating sensory needs or becoming more independent with everyday tasks.
Speech Pathology & Occupational Therapy Assessments
An assessment helps us understand a student’s individual strengths and areas where additional support may be needed.
Speech Pathology assessments may include:
- Speech sound assessment
- Receptive and expressive language assessment
- Vocabulary assessment
- Social communication assessment
- Literacy and reading assessment
- Written language assessment
- Fluency and stuttering assessment
- AAC assessment
- Functional communication assessment
Occupational Therapy assessments may explore:
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
- Sensory processing
- Emotional regulation
- Executive functioning
- Attention and participation
- Motor planning and coordination
- Visual-motor skills
- Self-care and independence
Following an assessment, our therapists provide recommendations based on the student’s needs and goals.
School Visits
Where appropriate, Innerlink Therapy can provide Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy support within a student’s school environment.
A school visit allows our therapists to see how a child communicates, learns and participates in the environment where many of their everyday challenges occur.
School visits may involve:
- Assessment or observation
- Individual therapy
- Classroom observation
- Teacher consultation
- Communication strategies
- Literacy and learning strategies
- Social communication support
- AAC support
- Sensory and regulation strategies
- Executive functioning strategies
- Fine motor and handwriting recommendations
- Staff education
- Recommendations for classroom participation
School visits may be arranged as a one-off assessment, observation or consultation, or as part of an ongoing therapy program where appropriate.
School-based support is planned in collaboration with the family and school to ensure recommendations are practical and appropriate for the student’s educational environment.
Working With Schools & Teachers
Effective support often involves collaboration between the child, family, therapists and school.
Our therapists can work with teachers, learning support staff and other professionals to help develop practical strategies that can be incorporated into the student’s everyday school routine.
Support may include:
- Teacher consultation
- Classroom strategies
- Communication recommendations
- Literacy strategies
- Social communication strategies
- AAC implementation and support
- Sensory and regulation strategies
- Executive functioning strategies
- Fine motor and handwriting recommendations
- Professional development and education sessions
Our goal is to help the people around the child understand their needs and provide consistent support across their day.
When Should a School-Age Child See a Speech Pathologist or Occupational Therapist?
Consider seeking professional advice if your child is consistently experiencing difficulties with communication, learning, social participation, regulation, motor skills or everyday school activities.
You may wish to speak with a Speech Pathologist if your child has difficulty with:
- Speech sounds
- Understanding language
- Expressing ideas
- Following instructions
- Reading or writing
- Vocabulary
- Social communication
- Conversation
- Stuttering
An Occupational Therapist may be able to help if your child has difficulties with:
- Sensory processing
- Emotional regulation
- Fine motor skills
- Handwriting
- Coordination
- Attention
- Organisation
- Executive functioning
- Motor planning
- Independence
You do not need to wait until difficulties become severe. An assessment can help identify your child’s strengths, understand areas of difficulty and determine whether therapy or other support may be appropriate.
Supporting Students Across Canterbury-Bankstown & Sydney
Innerlink Therapy is based in Belmore, Sydney, and supports children, teenagers and families across Canterbury-Bankstown and surrounding areas.
School-based services may be available in areas including:
Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Lakemba, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Clemton Park, Earlwood, Croydon Park, Strathfield, Burwood, Bankstown, Greenacre and surrounding suburbs.
School visits are subject to therapist availability, location and the requirements of the school and student.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Innerlink Therapy provide Speech Pathology for school-age children? Yes. Innerlink Therapy provides Speech Pathology assessment and therapy for school-age children and teenagers, including support for speech, language, literacy, social communication and fluency.
Does Innerlink Therapy provide Occupational Therapy for school students? Yes. Occupational Therapy is available for school-age children and can support sensory processing, emotional regulation, fine motor skills, handwriting, executive functioning, coordination and classroom participation
Can a Speech Pathologist visit my child’s school? School visits may be available depending on the student’s needs, school requirements, therapist availability and location. Contact Innerlink Therapy to discuss whether school-based support is appropriate.
What areas do school visits cover? Innerlink Therapy is based in Belmore and may provide school-based services in surrounding Canterbury-Bankstown area, subject to distance and availability.
Can you work with my child’s teacher? Yes. Where appropriate, therapists can collaborate with parents, teachers, learning support staff and other professionals to develop practical strategies that support the student’s participation and learning.
Does NDIS funding cover school-based therapy? This depends on the student’s NDIS plan, funding management and the nature of the support. Innerlink Therapy is a registered NDIS provider.