Our Purpose

Foundations for Learning provides occupational therapy and special educational services for students who learn differently, and for the families and schools that support them.

 

Geraldine Ferry Smith is highly skilled in working with children and adults who have difficulties with written communication and organisational skills. This includes difficulties with handwriting, keyboarding and literacy, and with the prerequisite fine motor skill development.

 

An example of how therapy at Foundations for Learning meets the unique needs of the client and family is the story of “Holly”.   Holly has significant developmental delays and her parents wanted her to attend the local primary school.  We made a successful application for funding for a classroom aide. The family, school, Holly and I collaborated on helping Holly work towards independence in using the bathroom, eating her school lunch, joining in classroom activities and on early literacy and numeracy, including handwriting.

 

 However, the best part about Holly’s goals was that her parents decided that a key goal was for Holly to be able to use a sunscreen pump to independently put on sunscreen when she went out to play.  She had very fair skin and burnt easily.  They loved going to their beach house as a family and wanted her to be able to be on the beach with her brother and sister and put on her own sunscreen.

 

With a consistent team approach Holly mastered that goal, which also generalised to Holly being able to put on sunscreen at school with the other students before going out to play.  It strengthened her hand and arm muscles and she was able to use the soap pump in the school bathroom to wash her hands independently.  I wouldn’t have thought of it but it was a goal that was important to Holly’s family and we all took it on board. What an amazing goal!

 

Enabling children and adults to improve written communication since 2002

Clients who come to Foundations For Learning usually fall into one of three groups:

 

• Children who are preparing for entry to school

• Students who need to improve their handwriting

• Adults wanting to improve their handwriting, often after an illness or injury.

 

The common theme amongst each of these groups of clients is their requirement for a flexible and highly experienced therapist who focuses on the client's goal and brings an eclectic and holistic approach to matching the client and the interventions. 

 

The prospect of therapy can be daunting for a child. It can also seem tiring for both parent and child when considered in addition to leisure activities or other therapies. That’s why Foundations For Learning makes therapy sessions fun. By combining therapy with a literacy framework that will translate easily to school learning, sessions make sense for both child and parent.

 

Why Choose Foundations For Learning?

When you choose Foundations For Learning, you get:

• A very experienced therapist targeting handwriting, fine motor skills, organisation and written language.

• An established practice that has been seeing clients privately since 2002.

• A fun learning environment for your child; individually or in a small group.

• Personalised therapy that is responsive to the needs of each client.

• A therapist who is comfortable working with older students and adults to meet their unique goals.

• Proven and evidence-based techniques.

• Flexible hours for therapy sessions.

• Consultancy services for families and schools.