About us
Dedicated and passionate
Kerry is a dedicated and passionate Occupational Therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner. She believes all children including those with additional needs should have the same opportunities to meet their potential.
Kerry established FreshStart Kids Therapy in 2018, she has over 15 years NHS experience working as an occupational therapist within autism, learning disability, children’s, and neurological services.
Kerry specialises in working with children and young people facing barriers to education. Kerry's assessment reports have often been used as evidence to gain EHCPs for children, provision within existing plans or to provide evidence for accommodations in school for children who have SEN needs.
Sensory specialist
Kerry is a qualified Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner, gaining a Post Graduate Certificate with Distinction with Ulster University, and a Post Graduate Diploma also with Distinction, with Sheffield Hallam University.
Kerry continues to be active in her learning and has also completed the Collaborative for Leadership in Sensory Integration (CLASI) gaining CLASI certification, an internationally recognised post graduate certificate in Ayres' Sensory Integration.
Kerry is certified to use the new sensory integration assessment tool, the EASI assessment which has replaced the SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test), a gold standard assessment tool. The EASI is a comprehensive assessment tool assessing a wide range of sensory processing difficulty.
Kerry contributed to the data gathering for the worldwide EASI project.
Qualifications, training and certifications
- BHSc Occupational Therapy, First Class Honours, York St John 2004
- Post Graduate Certificate with Distinction in Sensory Integration, Ulster University 2015 - 2019
- Post Graduate Diploma with Distinction in Sensory Integration with Sheffield Hallam University 2023 - 2024
- Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner, Sensory Integration Education
- CLASI certification (Collaborative for Leadership in Sensory Integration) completed 2023
- EASI Certified 2023
- Dyspraxia diagnostic assessment training 2020
- Sensory Attachment Intervention training Module 1 2021
- Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS)
- Handwriting Training with various providers including the National Handwriting Association
- Enhanced DBS
- Annual Safeguarding Children training
Memberships
- Health and Care Professionals Council
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
- Registered as an Independent Occupational Therapist with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
- Sensory Integration Education - Lifelong Learning Programme
- ASI Wise
Assessment process
An assessment is when the therapist gathers and analyses information about the child or young person. They use their knowledge, training and experience to look at all the assessment information and come to a conclusion.
The following outlines the process we follow to complete the assessment.
- Enquiry and booking the assessment date
- Questionnaires will be sent out for completion
- Telephone interview - Typically with parents/carers but older children and young people may want to be part of this call.
- Face to face assessment, usually in clinic but may be within a school or other education setting.
- Analysis - The therapist scores and analyses all the assessment information
- Report writing - The therapist prepares a report
- Release of the report - You are sent the report
- Follow-up - Some packages include a telephone follow up with the parent or carer.
We use evidence-based assessments
- Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3), Harrison, Oakland - 2015
- Adult/Adolescent Sensory History - 2015
- Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile - 2002
- Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration 2nd edition - 2010
- Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd edition - 2010
- Child Sensory Profile 2nd edition - 2014
- Clinical Observations of Sensory Integration - 2002
- Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting 2 (DASH2) - 2024
- Developmental Test of Visual Perception 3rd edition - 2013
- Evaluation in Ayres’ Sensory Integration (EASI) - 2022
- Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) 3rd edition - 2023
- School Companion Sensory Profile 2nd edition - 2014
- Sensory Processing Measure 2nd edition - 2021
Proud to have worked with these organisations
- Wellspring Academy
- Southgate School, Huddersfield
- NHS Calderdale CCG
- Calderdale Local Authority
- Dyspraxia UK
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Rowan School, Sheffield
- Sunshine Support
- Bader Academy, Doncaster
