Occupational Therapist Band 6 - SEN School
Central London
Permanent Contract, September 2026 Start
Full-time (term time only)
£39,000 -£45,000 per annum, depending on experience
*** Interviews are arranged ASAP ***
As a paediatric OT, you already know what good therapy looks like in practice. You know how to build a picture of a young person's sensory and motor needs, how to translate that into something meaningful for the people around them, and how to adjust when what you planned isn't quite what the session needs. That knowledge is hard won. It deserves a setting that actually puts it to use.
If you are working in a paediatric caseload right now, there is a reasonable chance you are spending a significant part of your week managing admin, waiting for referrals to move, or delivering sessions that feel disconnected from the rest of a young person's day. You might not have given yourself much time to think about whether your current role is the right one. It is worth a few minutes of your time to read this.
The school
A well-established specialist school in central London is recruiting a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join its in-house therapy team from September 2026. The school supports young people aged 11 to 19, the majority of whom hold an Education, Health and Care Plan. The student profile includes autism, ADHD, dyspraxia (DCD), sensory processing difficulties, social communication differences, and co-occurring anxiety and emotional well-being needs.
This is a small school with a calm and structured environment. Parents describe it as warm and consistent. That consistency is not accidental. It comes from a staff team that applies therapeutic approaches across the whole school day, not just during timetabled therapy time.
Therapy sits at the centre of how this school operates. OTs work alongside teachers in classrooms, during break times, and at lunch. Sensory diets, movement breaks, and visual timetables are embedded into the school day as standard. The people working around you understand why these things matter. You will not spend your time explaining the basics.
The role
Your caseload will be structured around up to four whole classes, giving you genuine continuity with the young people you support. This is not a high-turnover caseload with brief intervention windows. You will get to know your students over time and see the results of your work.
Day to day, you will:
- Carry out formal standardised assessments and informal observational assessments throughout the year
- Contribute to IEPs and annual reviews within agreed deadlines
- Run joint planning sessions with teachers every half term to align therapy goals with classroom practice
- Deliver therapy interventions during designated school slots, and where needed, plan and monitor TA-led therapy activities
- Maintain clinical notes within 24 hours of each session, covering goals, activities, progress, and impact on future sessions
- Maintain regular contact with parents and carers, including sharing therapy goals and home activity suggestions each term
- Attend whole staff meetings, weekly therapist meetings, and relevant training
There is a three-week assessment period at the start of the autumn term. Standardised assessments are updated for students in transition years. Beyond those, assessment is at your clinical discretion, guided by what each student needs.
Clinical supervision takes place every 4 to 6 weeks and focuses on your practice at this school. Line management supervision runs monthly. Both are regular, structured, and taken seriously.
The role is term-time only. Your school holidays are yours.
What you will need
- HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist
- Paediatric OT experience gained in the UK
- Solid clinical knowledge of ASC, DCD, and sensory processing difficulties
- Confidence working independently within a multidisciplinary team
- An interest in education-based OT and the integrated therapy model
- SEND school experience is an advantage, though not essential, if your paediatric background is strong
Why this role is worth your attention?
The integrated model here means your work does not disappear once a session ends. The strategies you put in place are carried through by the staff around you. The young people you support benefit from that consistency every day, not just when they are in a room with you. For an OT who has felt the frustration of working in isolation from the rest of a young person's support, this is a meaningful difference.
How to apply
To find out more or to apply, contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion on 0203 011 4848, or apply directly through this advert. All enquiries are handled confidentially.
Why work with Parker Smith Inclusion?
Parker Smith Inclusion is a specialist SEND recruitment consultancy. We work exclusively in SEND, which means we understand the sector, the roles, and what therapists are actually looking for when they decide to make a move.
- Specialist SEND recruitment: We put people first, taking the time to understand what you are looking for before we put you forward for anything.
- Exclusive opportunities: Many of the roles we handle are not advertised elsewhere.
- Transparent PAYE pay: Know exactly what you will be paid. No umbrella companies, no hidden costs.
- Comprehensive interview support: Detailed preparation to help you perform at your best.
- One application: Register once. No repeated forms.
- Long-term and permanent roles only: We do not place people in short-term supply work.
- 400+ five-star Google reviews from educators.