OATS Therapies
We have specialist HCPC Registered therapists and therapy assistants delivering Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy interventions.
Occupational Therapy
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps people take part in the activities (or “occupations”) that are important to their everyday lives. For children and young people, this could mean playing, learning, joining in with family life, or developing independence with self-care tasks like dressing or eating. Occupational Therapists look at the whole person—what they want or need to do, their strengths and challenges, and the environments they are in—to support their development and well-being.
The Role of an OT in Outdoor Animal-Assisted Therapy
In an outdoor animal-assisted setting, Occupational Therapists work with nature and animals to support therapeutic goals. Interacting with animals can help children develop communication, emotional regulation, motor coordination, and confidence. Being outside in natural spaces can also lower stress, support sensory regulation, and provide real-life, meaningful experiences to practise everyday skills.
A Holistic and Child-Centred Approach
OTs in this setting often work holistically—considering sensory needs, emotional development, physical coordination, and social participation. They might design playful activities like grooming a pony to support hand strength or lead calming interactions with rabbits to help a child regulate their emotions. Through child-led and meaningful experiences, OTs help children build skills and confidence in ways that feel safe, supportive, and enjoyable.
Speech and Language Therapy
What is Speech and Language Therapy?
Speech and Language Therapy helps children with communication, social interaction, and eating and drinking skills. This may include understanding and using language, expressing feelings, using speech sounds clearly, developing social skills, or supporting alternative ways to communicate. SLTs also help children who have difficulties with swallowing or oral motor coordination.
The Role of an SLT in Outdoor Animal-Assisted Therapy
In an outdoor animal-assisted setting, Speech and Language Therapists use the natural environment and animal interactions as powerful motivators for communication and connection. Activities such as giving instructions to a pony, describing how a rabbit feels, or naming the steps to feed a chicken help develop vocabulary, sentence-building, and turn-taking. For non-speaking children, animal tasks can offer rich opportunities to practise using visual supports or alternative communication systems (e.g., PECS, AAC devices) in meaningful ways.
A Functional, Play-Based Approach
SLTs working in this setting embed communication into real-life, playful experiences. Children are more likely to initiate speech or communication when they are relaxed, motivated, and engaged in activities they enjoy. Outdoor sessions allow for movement, sensory exploration, and authentic interaction, which supports both expressive and receptive language development in a naturalistic and child-centred way.
Physiotherapy
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy supports the development of physical skills such as posture, balance, strength, movement, and coordination. For children, this may include improving gross motor skills like walking, climbing, running, or managing conditions that affect muscle tone or mobility. Physiotherapists help children become more physically confident and independent in everyday life.
The Role of a Physiotherapist in Outdoor Animal-Assisted Therapy
In animal-assisted outdoor settings, Physiotherapists use the natural terrain and animal-related tasks to create engaging and purposeful movement opportunities. Children might carry hay to a goat pen, walk a pony along a path, or squat to feed a rabbit—each of these tasks supports coordination, core strength, balance, and endurance in a functional, real-world way. Interacting with animals also encourages movement through play and motivation, especially for children who find structured exercises challenging.
Motivating Movement Through Meaningful Activity
This approach allows Physiotherapists to integrate physical goals into playful and meaningful activities. Nature provides varied surfaces and opportunities for climbing, crawling, and balancing, while animal care tasks involve lifting, reaching, and walking. These experiences support motor planning and build physical confidence in a setting that feels relaxed and fun for the child.