In a nutshell: Private paediatric OT sessions commonly cost about £80–£150. A short consultation or screening may cost less, but a comprehensive assessment with standardised testing and a written report is more often £450–£1,000+. Before paying for a long sensory integration programme, ask for specific functional goals, baseline measures, review dates and a clear stopping point.
Private OT Costs at a Glance
Here is a quick overview of what you can expect to pay in 2026. These are typical UK ranges — costs vary by region, therapist experience, and specialism.
| Service |
Typical Cost |
Notes |
| Brief consultation or screening | £150–£400 | May use questionnaires or observation; check whether a report is included |
| Comprehensive OT assessment | £450–£1,000+ | Standardised testing and detailed report; SEND tribunal work can cost more |
| OT session (45–60 min) | £80–£150 | Confirm whether preparation, feedback and travel are extra |
| Sensory integration session (Ayres SI) | £100–£160 | Often higher because of specialist training and equipped clinic space |
| Comprehensive sensory assessment | £600–£1,000+ | Scope varies widely; ask which tests and report type are included |
| Written report for EHCP/tribunal | £400–£1,400+ | May be included in the assessment or charged separately |
| School visit / observation | £250–£450 | Half day including observation, write-up, and travel |
| Attendance at EHCP meeting / tribunal | £450–£800+ | Full day rate including preparation and travel |
Price check, 13 June 2026: this range reflects published fees including £595–£655 in Tunbridge Wells, £500, £625, £700–£850, £950, and an RCOT specialist profile listing £1,000 for a sensory/functional assessment and £1,400 for SEND tribunal work. Services are not directly comparable, so always read what each fee includes.
What Does a Paediatric OT Do?
Before we dive deeper into costs, it helps to understand what you are paying for. Paediatric occupational therapists help children develop the skills they need for everyday life — the "occupations" of childhood, which include playing, learning, self-care, and socialising.
A paediatric OT might work on:
- Fine motor skills — handwriting, using scissors, doing up buttons and zips, using cutlery
- Gross motor skills — coordination, balance, climbing, ball skills, body awareness
- Sensory processing — helping children who are over-sensitive or under-sensitive to sensory input (touch, sound, movement, taste, smell, visual input)
- Self-care skills — dressing, washing, toileting, feeding independently
- Attention and concentration — strategies for staying focused in class
- Emotional regulation — managing big emotions, coping with transitions, reducing anxiety
- Visual perception — skills needed for reading, writing, and navigating the environment
For a full guide to paediatric OT, see our what is occupational therapy for children guide.
Sensory Integration Therapy: Why It Costs More
If your child has sensory processing difficulties — which is very common for autistic children — you may be looking specifically at sensory integration (SI) therapy. This is a specialist area of OT, and it tends to cost more. Here is why.
What is Ayres Sensory Integration?
Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) is a manualised specialist approach developed from the work of Dr A. Jean Ayres. It involves a child actively engaging with sensory-rich activities in a specially equipped clinic. It is widely offered, but the evidence is mixed: the large UK NIHR SenITA trial found no clinical benefit over usual care across behavioural, functional, social, quality-of-life and wellbeing outcomes, and found it was not cost-effective for the autistic children studied.
Do not confuse specialist delivery with proven benefit. A trained therapist and well-equipped clinic may provide a high-quality service, but they do not guarantee that a long course of SI therapy will improve your child's daily functioning. Ask what specific goals are being treated, how each goal will be measured, when progress will be reviewed, and what will happen if there is no meaningful change.
Why it costs more
- Specialist training — therapists need extensive post-graduate training in Ayres SI (usually a minimum of 3 modules plus supervised practice). Not all OTs have this training
- Specialist equipment — a sensory integration clinic requires significant investment in suspended equipment, climbing structures, and sensory materials. Maintaining this equipment also costs money
- Clinic space — SI therapy requires a large, specially designed space, which means higher overheads
- Sessions are direct and 1:1 — SI therapy requires the therapist to be actively engaged with the child throughout, adjusting the challenge in real time
Sensory integration cost breakdown
| Service |
Typical Cost |
Duration |
| Sensory screening or consultation | £150–£400 | Check whether this is questionnaire-based and whether a report is included |
| Comprehensive sensory assessment | £600–£1,000+ | Often includes standardised testing, observation and detailed report |
| SI therapy session (60 min) | £100–£160 | Frequency should be linked to agreed goals and reviewed outcomes |
| SI therapy block (6 sessions) | £600–£950 | Avoid large upfront packages without review and refund terms |
There is no evidence-based minimum number of SI sessions that applies to every child. The SenITA programme used 26 sessions over 26 weeks, but did not show better clinical outcomes than usual care. If a provider recommends months of weekly therapy, ask for a short initial block, measurable goals and a formal review before committing further money.
What Affects the Cost of OT?
Location
As with most therapy services, costs are highest in London and the South East. A standard OT session in central London might cost £110-£130, while the same session in the Midlands or North might be £70-£90. Kent tends to fall somewhere in the middle, typically £80-£110 per session.
Experience and specialism
A newly qualified OT will generally charge less than one with 10-15 years of specialist paediatric experience. Therapists with additional qualifications — such as Ayres SI certification, handwriting specialist training, or expertise in specific conditions — may charge more.
Session format and location
- Clinic-based sessions — usually the standard rate. If the clinic has specialist equipment (particularly for SI therapy), this is often the best option
- Home visits — typically £15-£30 more per session to cover travel time and costs
- School visits — similar additional charges to home visits. However, seeing a child in their school environment can be valuable for understanding their functional difficulties
- Online sessions — can be slightly cheaper and work well for some aspects of OT (parent coaching, programme planning, review sessions), but most hands-on OT and all sensory integration therapy needs to be face to face
NHS vs Private OT: What You Need to Know
|
NHS OT |
Private OT |
| Cost | Free | About £80–£150 per session; comprehensive assessment £450–£1,000+ |
| Waiting time | 6–18 months typical, sometimes longer | Days to weeks |
| Frequency | Often limited blocks or one-off assessment | You choose — weekly, fortnightly, etc. |
| Sensory integration | Rarely available on NHS | Available from specialist OTs |
| Written reports | Brief, functional focus | Detailed reports for EHCPs and tribunals |
| Continuity | May see different therapists | Same therapist each time |
The NHS OT reality
NHS paediatric OT services are under enormous pressure. In many areas, the reality is:
- Long waiting lists — 6 to 18 months or more. Some areas have effectively closed their waiting lists to new referrals at times
- Limited direct therapy — many NHS OT services now operate a consultation or indirect model, where the therapist assesses the child and provides advice to parents and schools, but does not deliver ongoing direct therapy
- Clinic-based sensory integration is not standard NHS provision — Kent's NHS sensory pathway focuses on education and coaching for parents and carers, with support linked to participation in daily activities
- Focus on functional outcomes — NHS services tend to prioritise the most urgent functional needs (e.g. a child who cannot hold a pencil) rather than broader sensory or developmental goals
This does not mean NHS OT is bad — the therapists are highly skilled and do excellent work within their constraints. But the constraints are real, and many families find they need private OT to get the frequency, specialism, or evidence they need.
How to Fund Private OT
1. Use DLA to help cover costs
If your child receives Disability Living Allowance, you can use it towards therapy costs. DLA is not ring-fenced — you can spend it on whatever best supports your child. The 2026-27 DLA rates are:
- Care component: lowest £30.30/week, middle £76.70/week, highest £114.60/week
- Mobility component: lower £30.30/week, higher £80.00/week
If your child receives middle-rate care DLA (£76.70/week), that is over £330 a month — enough to cover 3-4 OT sessions. For guidance on claiming DLA, see our DLA guide for autistic children.
2. Get OT written into your child's EHCP
If your child has an EHCP, occupational therapy should be specified and quantified in Section F (educational provision) if it is needed for educational purposes. Many OT needs do have an educational impact — handwriting, sitting in class, managing sensory overload in the classroom, self-care at school.
When OT is in Section F, the local authority has a legal duty to provide and fund it. The provision must be specific — for example, "One hour of direct 1:1 occupational therapy per week, delivered by a qualified HCPC-registered occupational therapist with training in sensory integration." Vague wording is not enforceable.
A detailed private OT report can support an EHCP application, but fees vary substantially. Published provider prices commonly start around £450 and can exceed £1,000 for comprehensive or tribunal-focused work. Confirm whether the quote includes assessment, standardised tests, school observation, quantified recommendations and the final report.
3. Apply for grants
Several charities and organisations offer grants to help families pay for therapy:
- Family Fund — grants for families on low income with disabled or seriously ill children
- Caudwell Children — provides funding for therapy and equipment
- The National Autistic Society — can sometimes signpost to funding sources
- Local charities and Rotary clubs — many areas have local trusts that fund children's therapy
- Direct payments from social care — if your child receives social care support, direct payments can sometimes fund therapy
For a more comprehensive list, see our SEND grants guide.
4. Block discounts and other savings
- Block booking — many therapists offer 10-15% off when you book 6+ sessions upfront
- Online parent coaching — some therapists offer cheaper online sessions focused on teaching you strategies to use at home, alternating with face-to-face therapy sessions
- Group sessions — some OTs run small group sessions (e.g. handwriting groups or social skills groups) which are cheaper per child than 1:1 therapy
- Sliding scale fees — some therapists offer reduced rates for families on low income. Always worth asking
- Student clinics — some universities with OT training programmes offer low-cost or free therapy provided by students under supervision
Finding a Paediatric OT
When looking for a private paediatric OT, check these essentials:
- HCPC registration — this is a legal requirement for anyone calling themselves an occupational therapist. Check the HCPC register online
- RCOT membership — membership of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists shows commitment to professional standards
- Paediatric experience — make sure the therapist specialises in working with children. OT covers a very wide range, and an adult OT will not have the right skills for your child
- Relevant specialism — if your child needs sensory integration therapy, check the therapist has completed Ayres SI training (at least the core modules). You can check with Sensory Integration Education (SIE)
- DBS checked — essential for anyone working with children
- Professional indemnity insurance
Where to search:
Questions to Ask About Fees
Before booking, ask these questions so there are no surprises:
- What is the cost of an initial assessment, and does it include a written report?
- What is the cost per therapy session, and how long are sessions?
- Do you offer sensory integration therapy? If so, what additional training do you have?
- Do you offer block booking discounts?
- Is there an additional charge for home or school visits?
- How much does a written report cost for an EHCP or tribunal?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Do you offer online sessions for any aspects of therapy?
- Do you offer reduced rates for families on low income?
- How often would you recommend sessions, and for how long?
- What specific functional goals will we agree, and what baseline measure will you use?
- When will progress be formally reviewed, and what is the stopping rule if therapy is not helping?
- If I pay for a block, what are the cancellation and refund terms?
Is Private OT Worth the Money?
This depends entirely on your child's needs and your family's circumstances. Here are some things to consider:
- If sensory processing is the main issue, start with function and practical support. Environmental changes, parent or school coaching and an OT assessment may be useful. Private SI therapy is one option, but the SenITA trial did not show benefit over usual care, so do not assume it is the most effective choice
- For EHCP evidence, commission the right report rather than the cheapest assessment. Ask in advance whether the OT will describe educational impact and quantify recommended provision. No report can guarantee an EHCP outcome
- An assessment alone can be transformative. Even if you cannot afford ongoing therapy, a good OT assessment will tell you what is driving your child's difficulties, give you practical strategies to use at home and school, and provide evidence for an EHCP. Many parents say understanding their child's sensory profile was worth the assessment cost alone
- School-based OT goals can be carried out by a TA. A private OT can assess your child, create a programme, and train school staff to deliver it. This means you might only need monthly OT review sessions (rather than weekly direct therapy), bringing costs down significantly
Key Takeaways
- Standard OT sessions commonly cost £80-£150 depending on location, setting and experience
- Sensory integration sessions commonly cost £100-£160 because of specialist training, equipment and clinic overheads
- Comprehensive assessments commonly cost £450-£1,000+; brief screenings can be cheaper but are not equivalent
- Full sensory or tribunal-focused assessments can exceed £1,000, so get a written scope and fee breakdown first
- Evidence for SI is limited; the NIHR SenITA trial found no added clinical benefit over usual care in the children studied
- DLA can help fund therapy — it is not ring-fenced and many families use it this way
- Get OT into your EHCP Section F to make the local authority legally responsible for funding it
- Grants are available from Family Fund, Caudwell Children, and local charities
- Block discounts, parent coaching, and group sessions can all help reduce costs
- Always check HCPC registration — and for SI, check Ayres SI training
Useful Resources
This is not financial advice. Costs shown are typical ranges based on 2026 prices and may vary by location, therapist, and service. Always confirm fees directly with the therapist before booking. Every child's needs are different — an OT can advise on the type and frequency of therapy that would be most beneficial.
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