SPECIALIST SERVICES

Speech language therapists assess both receptive and expressive communication skills. Our students use a variety of methods to communicate with those around them. Children benefit from specialised equipment such as a communication books or voice output communication aids. Our speech language therapists also support students who have eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties to achieve quality eating and drinking skills. In rare cases, swallowing safety may also need to be assessed and managed.

Registered Music Therapists (RMTs) work with students to enable access to the school curriculum; support IEP and curriculum goals, and to support functional skill development as prioritised at school.  RMT’s work in both individual and group settings within a holistic, therapeutic framework.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with students to enable access to the school curriculum; support IEP and curriculum goals, and to support functional skill development as prioritised at school. OTs can support in the following areas (can crossover with other therapists): motor skills, self-care and life skills, sensory needs and sensory processing skills and specialist equipment and property needs.

The Physiotherapists role at Maitai School is to work with our students by improving strength, movement patterns, co-ordination and stamina so that they can participate in school life and out in the community.  They also work to maintain respiratory function, musculoskeletal integrity and to provide comfortable and supportive positioning options throughout the day which enhances participation in classroom activities. Specialised equipment is accessed to promote and maintain movement. 

Physiotherapy is delivered using a range of treatment approaches in both group and individual sessions. Support is also provided for students to attend enrichment programmes such as hydrotherapy and RDA.

The role of the psychologist is to respond to student, teacher, and whānau need through the therapy referral processes, and as a member of the BIT team (behaviour intervention). The psychologist is able to provide an extra level of support to our school – wide programmes, and Janet has a long career of providing psychology services in and around the Nelson region.

Play Therapy utilises play, a young person's natural medium of expression, to help them express their feelings more easily through toys instead of words. A variety of play therapy approaches are used to address the mental health needs and goals of our students. This is a strength-based approach using the child’s interests and play preferences to expand self-expression, self-knowledge, actualisation, and self efficiency. Play Therapy taps into a child’s and young person’s ability to express themselves and safely navigate the world through play; to promote growth, healing, and positive change.

Creative Arts Therapy uses the art making process to provide students with the tools to support and build communication skills, resilience and self-confidence, and ability to positively deal with and work through change. Creative Arts Therapy incorporates a wide range of media and modalities to support our students to achieve a therapeutic goal(s). Creative Arts Therapy allows a safe and gentle space for; creative self-expression, greater sensory integration whilst improving coping skills, cognitive flexibility, stress relief, anxiety management, emotional regulation, social interaction, increased spontaneous play/curious exploration, and problem solving and choice making. Every student has a unique creative voice that is encouraged and celebrated in the therapy room.