Therapy In Schools

Hi there! My name is Jillain, and I’m a service coordinator here at Tandy Therapy. Basically, I’m the behind-the-scenes person who helps make sure kids get the therapy they need to thrive. Think of me as the friendly air traffic controller of pediatric therapy services.

One of the ways we support kids is by partnering with schools to provide therapy services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). If you’ve ever wondered how that process works, let me break it down for you—no jargon, just the good stuff!

First, What’s an IEP?

An IEP is a legal document that lays out the support and services a student with special needs requires to succeed in school. It’s like a personalized roadmap for their education. Sometimes, an IEP includes therapy services like speech, occupational, or physical therapy. That’s where we come in!

So, How Do We Get Involved?

When a school doesn’t have in-house therapists (or if their therapists are booked solid), they may contract with outside providers—like us! The school district reaches out to our clinic, and we swoop in to help meet the student’s needs. It’s teamwork at its finest, and we’re all about making life easier for schools, families, and most importantly, the kids.

What Does Therapy Look Like at School?

Our therapists go to the school to provide services during the student’s regular school day. No, we don’t pull kids out of class during recess (we’re fun, but we’re not monsters). We coordinate with teachers to find the best times for therapy—usually during non-core subjects or study periods—so students don’t miss out on essential learning.

Therapy sessions can take place in a variety of settings, depending on the student’s needs:

• In the classroom: Working on goals directly in their learning environment.
• Pull-out sessions: Taking them to a quieter space for one-on-one or small group work.
• During group activities: Incorporating therapy into social or physical activities.

Communication is Key

One of the biggest parts of our job is keeping everyone on the same page. Our therapists communicate regularly with teachers, school staff, and families to ensure therapy is effective and aligned with the student’s goals. You might even see us popping into IEP meetings to share progress updates and adjust plans as needed.

Why Is This Important?

Providing therapy directly in schools removes barriers for students and families. There’s no need to juggle after-school appointments or drive across town to a clinic. Plus, therapy in the school setting helps students generalize their skills in a real-world environment. It’s a win-win!

Wrapping Up

At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to help students reach their full potential in the most supportive and effective way possible. Partnering with schools is just one of the ways we do that, and we’re honored to be part of these kids’ journeys.

If you’ve got questions about how our school-based services work (or if you just want to swap funny kid stories), feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to chat—preferably over coffee. Thanks for letting me share a little bit about what we do!