Occupational Therapist

Job Introduction

Closing Date:13th February 2026

Salary: Light Years Pay Scale K15.5-K30 / Band 5-7 NHS Equivalent (£28,472 - £50,561) pro rata 37.5 hour week FTE

Hours of work: 18 hours per week (flexible arrangements)

Contract Type: Permanent / Part time / Term time only

Reporting to: Headteacher 

Join our caring, friendly and dynamic multi-disciplinary team who are passionate about promoting communication, independence, and wellbeing in our pupils and supporting and empowering families. 

This is an exciting opportunity to support us to grow and establish an onsite Therapy Team working alongside a Speech and Language Therapist and Thrive Practitioners. You would be based at Light Years School, Fareham, an ‘outstanding’ specialist independent provision. 

This role will be supporting our children, aged 7-11, who have a range of needs including autism, SEMH needs, ADHD and sensory processing and other neuro developmental conditions and communication needs. Your role will involve carrying out assessments, formulating therapy plans in line with children's EHCP outcomes, supporting the teaching team with whole class therapy, delivering 1:1 and group sessions, supporting outreach provision and holding whole school CPD sessions. 

You will develop the schools occupational, universal, target and specific approach thereby ensuring the provision of a high standard of assessment, treatment and advice to children, young people and their families accessing the school.

Values

The Occupational Therapist will share our values: 

Understanding: We show understanding and care to truly comprehend a child’s journey up to the point of joining our school.  

Acceptance: We encourage children to accept themselves and others for who they are and feel good about themselves.  

Celebrate: We celebrate pupil’s individuality and their superpowers! 

Resilience: We inspire pupils to try new experiences, overcome barriers and grow in confidence.  

Courage: We promote a culture where pupils will feel safe enough to see failure as part of their learning and be brave enough to take on the next challenge.  

Kindness: We treat our school community with kindness and respect.

Main duties to include:

• Grow and develop Light Years School OT programme 
• Prepare detailed reports for each pupil supported through the therapy program and share with parents and the school   
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of children’s physical, emotional, sensory, and environmental needs
• Develop and implement personalised treatment plans based on assessments and goals, tailored to the developmental needs of children
• Provide therapeutic interventions to improve children’s ability to perform daily activities, including self-care, play, and school tasks
• Educate and support families and caregivers about treatment plans, strategies, and the importance of occupational therapy
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals, educators, and family members to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care
• Participate in team meetings, case conferences, and continuing professional development activities
• Advocate for the rights of children and support their autonomy in decision-making
• Stay current with advancements in paediatric occupational therapy and integrate new techniques into practice
• To maintain current knowledge of educational initiatives and developments at both local and national level
• To ensure all intervention and interaction with children are recorded in line with HCPC and Light Years policy and processes.
• To keep updated on SEN developments in mainstream schools
• To monitor and support practice within any Local Authority schools where outreach has been requested
• To provide advice, support and training to school staff in order that provision is made to meet the needs of individual children and young people with a range of SEND
• To support staff in implementing strategies to improve access to the curriculum for children and young people with a range of SEND where appropriate
• Being part of the EHCP annual review process for all children

 Staff benefits

•  Clinical supervision depending on experience in line with the RCOT guidelines
• Access to bright exchange for discounts and offers from hundreds of high street brands and businesses
• Private, no excess medical insurance provided through Vitality Life
• Canada life assurance insurance
• Employee assistance programme support line providing; ‘we care’ health support, ‘my strength’ mental health support, ‘toothfairy’ online dentist
• Access to bereavement counselling and probate helpline
• Work place pension scheme 
• Fantastic CPD opportunities
• 
  

To Apply:

Visits are strongly encouraged prior to interview.  

Please go to our website: www.lightyearseducation.co.uk and complete an application form and return to admin@lightyearseducation.co.uk.  Early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to close the vacancy if a suitable candidate is found.  If you have any questions about the role or would like to arrange a tour please contact Sarah Alden via email at admin@lightyearseducation.co.uk 

 Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Equal Opportunities

Light Years School is committed to creating a diverse workforce. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership.