Occupational Therapy Services in School-Based Practice: A Pediatric Occupational Therapy Perspective from Ireland

Table 1

Demographics of pediatric occupational therapists who participated in this study.

Characteristic ()	(%)
Grade of therapist
Senior grade	25 (71.4)
Basic grade	8 (22.9)
Manager	1 (2.9)
Clinical specialist	1 (2.9)
Length of time working as a pediatric occupational therapist
6+ years	28 (80.0)
3-5 years	6 (17.1)
1-2 years	0 (0.0)
Less than a year	1 (2.9)
Location of practice
Munster	24 (68.6)
Leinster	10 (28.6)
Ulster	1 (2.9)
Connacht	0 (0.0)
Area of pediatric practice
Early intervention	16 (45.7)
Physical disability	14 (40.0)
Intellectual disability	9 (25.7)
Child and adolescent mental health	3 (8.6)
Other (e.g., ASD and DCD)	24 (68.6)
Age group of children therapists usually work with
0-4 years	9 (25.7)
5-7 years	17 (45.6)
8-10 years	7 (20.0)
11-13 years	1 (2.9)
14+ years	1 (2.9)
School settings therapists have worked in
Primary schools	35 (100.0)
Early learning and care centers	28 (80.0)
Postprimary schools	25 (71.4)
Special schools	24 (68.6)
Numbers of schools in therapists’ workload
>10	25 (71.4)
7-9	2 (5.7)
4-6	6 (17.1)
2-3	2 (5.7)
1	0 (0.0)
How often therapists work in schools, in general
Monthly	12 (34.3)
Weekly	11 (31.4)
Biweekly	4 (11.4)
Daily	0 (0.0)
Needs dependent, infrequently	8 (22.9)
How often therapists work in the same school
Monthly	6 (17.1)
Weekly	2 (5.7)
Biweekly	2 (5.7)
Daily	0 (0.0)
Other (e.g., needs dependent and infrequently)	25 (71.4)