What does sensory integration therapy look like? A parent's guide

When I started looking into sensory integration therapy for my daughter, I couldn't find a straight answer to any of the questions I actually had. How much does it cost? What happens in a session? How do I know if the therapist is any good? How long does it take? Will she have to miss school? What do I tell her?

Every clinic website said roughly the same thing in vague, reassuring language. None of it helped me make a decision.

So when I spoke to Jacqui, founder of Kids in Sync and a specialist in sensory integration with clinics in Borehamwood and Twickenham, I asked her everything. This article is what she told me.

What sensory integration therapy actually is

Sensory integration therapy is a specific type of occupational therapy. It works on how the brain processes sensory information, with the goal of helping children whose sensory systems aren't well integrated to develop better regulation, coordination, and participation in everyday life.

The key thing Jacqui said, and the thing I hadn't understood before our conversation, is this: "To really deliver sensory integration therapy, it's got to be in a clinic with sensory integration equipment, with somebody who knows what they're doing."

That's a higher bar than I'd expected. It means you can't just do exercises at home and call it sensory integration therapy. There's a reason for that, and it matters for how you spend your money.

What happens in a sensory integration therapy session

Jacqui described it simply: "It will be like mini soft play. It's not really that, but it's the closest thing to it."

The sensory integration room has:

• Mats on the floor for safe movement and crashing
• Hooks in the ceiling for different types of swings; some spin, some swing laterally, some move sideways, each giving different vestibular input
• Climbing equipment for proprioceptive and vestibular work
• A "cuddle swing" you can climb inside and cover up; Jacqui described it as "like being in the womb," giving tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular input all at once. Children often want to stay in it for a long time
• Games and toys used for specific therapeutic purposes

Sessions are one hour total: 45-50 minutes of one-to-one therapy with the child, then a debrief with the parent covering what they worked on, how the child responded, and any goals being adjusted.

It's child-led (with a plan underneath)

This was the bit that surprised me. Sensory integration work is child-led. The therapist doesn't make the child do things; they observe what the child is seeking, what they're resistant to, and work with that.

"You need to see what the child is seeking. What is the child resistant to?" Jacqui explained. "They need vestibular input, but they don't want to get on the swing? You have to gradually encourage them. Small steps."

But underneath the child-led approach, the therapist has a plan. "The child might not know they're being gradually pushed in this direction, because they're doing it in such a way that's not going to cause problems. But they've got a plan they're working towards."

This matters if your child has a PDA profile. Jacqui confirmed they see lots of children with PDA: "They don't want to do the things, they don't want to get involved." The child-led approach is designed for exactly this.

What it's not

It's different from being given exercises to do at home. I'd been offered a home exercise programme by another clinic and asked Jacqui what the difference was.

"The difference is you haven't got an OT there with you, observing what you're doing and how you're doing it," she said. "There's a way of doing the exercise that the therapist wants. How much do you need to do? When do you need to do it? Are they compromising, doing it slightly differently, which means you're not addressing the thing you're trying to address?"

The ideal approach, Jacqui said, is three-pronged:

• Clinic therapy once a week
• A school programme so the school understands what's happening and can support it
• A home programme with activities for parents to do between sessions

What to tell your child

I asked Jacqui this directly, because my daughter needs to understand something before she'll agree to do it.

The honest version for a child: it's a room with swings, climbing things, and games. The OT plays with you and helps your body learn to do things that are tricky right now. It might help with things like balance, coordination, and riding a bike.

That last point was specific to us; Annabel can't ride a bike yet. Jacqui confirmed that bike riding is "all about that vestibular foundation, muscle tone, balance, coordination, bilateral control."

How long sensory integration therapy takes

There's no short answer, and Jacqui was honest about this.

• "Usually there's something within the first six weeks"
• "Sometimes we've got people with us for a year, year and a half, having weekly sessions"
• "They're making progress all the way through, but for some it takes longer"
• "We always see improvement. I can't think of anyone that hasn't improved"

She gave an example of the range: children who couldn't tolerate any clothing, arriving wrapped in a soft blanket, ending up in their school uniform within six months.

The brain can form new connections at any age. When I asked about neuroplasticity (one clinic had told me my younger daughter was too young at five and a half), Jacqui disagreed: "The brain can change at any point in time. The youngest we've had is about 18 months. The oldest is about 17."

Her view on timing was clear: "The earlier the better, because if children avoid something or find it difficult, they find a way around it, and that can start to impact behaviour. That's the bit we want to avoid for the future."

Sensory integration assessment: the two types

Clinics typically offer two levels of assessment. Here's what Jacqui described:

The smaller assessment (£295)

• Duration: One hour in the sensory room
• What happens: You fill out a sensory profile questionnaire and a developmental questionnaire beforehand. The OT does clinical observations for an hour, in the same room the child would have therapy in
• Report: Shorter, qualitative, no standardised tests
• School involvement: None required, though the school can still see the report
• Enough to start therapy? Yes
• Turnaround: Faster; less backlog

The full assessment (£695)

• Duration: About two hours
• What happens: Everything in the smaller assessment plus standardised tests that give age-related outcomes, so you can see where your child sits compared to similar-age peers across different areas
• Report: Detailed, about 20 pages, includes recommendations for school
• School involvement: Yes; the school fills out forms too
• Turnaround: 4-6 weeks for the report (can be longer due to backlogs). Interim reports available if you need something for a meeting sooner
• Useful for: EHCP applications, tribunal evidence, establishing a baseline

Which one to choose

If you need to move quickly and get started with therapy, the smaller assessment is enough. If you need formal documentation for the school or an EHCP process, the full assessment is worth it.

Jacqui noted that the OT can always run additional standardised tests during later therapy sessions if needed: "Once they start working with a child, they'll introduce assessments as part of the sessions if they want to look into something further."

How much does sensory integration therapy cost?

This is the question every parent wants answered upfront. Based on what Jacqui told me, and checking against other London clinics:

• Sessions: £90/hour at Kids in Sync. Typically weekly, same time each week. A block of 12 sessions is usual
• Budget for a first block: roughly £1,080 for 12 sessions plus the assessment fee
• Comparison: some central London clinics charge £165+ per session. Prices vary significantly

There's no NHS shortcut for this, in most areas. NHS OT waiting times are 6-12+ months, sometimes longer, and many NHS services don't offer clinic-based sensory integration therapy with specialist equipment.

Saturday slots exist but are always full. Weekday slots are easier to get.

How to find a qualified sensory integration OT

This was one of my biggest concerns, because every clinic website sounds competent and there's no easy way to tell from the outside. Jacqui was specific about what to look for:

Qualifications:

• At least level 3 SI trained through an accredited training pathway
• Two main training routes: the Sensory Integration Network and the CLASI training
• Check what training they've done and at what level

Experience matters as much as qualifications:

"You can have somebody who hasn't got the higher qualification but they've done five years of this," Jacqui said. "They've experienced many different children, lots of PDA profiles, lots of different presentations. I count that just as much as the qualifications. Probably more important."

The therapist-child relationship:

"You need somebody who's got the right personality. Initially you're building rapport, because you're going to be with them for a while. It's amazing how much children come out with during that process."

Questions to ask any clinic:

• Do you have a sensory integration room with vestibular swings and climbing equipment?
• What SI training has the therapist completed, and at what level?
• How many years have they been doing SI therapy specifically?
• Do they work with children with [my child's profile] (autism, PDA, ADHD, selective mutism, etc.)?
• What does a typical session look like?
• Do you provide a school programme alongside clinic therapy?

Red flags:

• Exercises-only programme with no clinic-based component
• Can't tell you the therapist's SI training level
• No sensory integration room or equipment
• Vague answers about what a session involves

Sensory integration therapy and school: making it work

This was where our conversation got very practical, and I think it's the bit most parents actually need to hear.

I can't take my daughter out of school one day a week for a year. Jacqui's response was pragmatic: weigh up what she'll miss in one morning against what happens if unmet sensory needs stay unmet as academic demands increase. "The work is just going to get more and more. More homework, more demands, more pressure. And if you've still got unmet sensory motor needs, they're still there."

Her practical suggestions:

• Coordinate with the timetable. Pick a morning where your child misses a less critical lesson. I'd rather Annabel missed PE than maths, for example
• Summer term is lower-stakes. If you can start before the summer holidays, the curriculum is typically being revised rather than introducing new material
• Avoid September. The autumn term transition is already hard for most autistic children; adding therapy logistics on top makes it harder
• Holidays work for intensive blocks. But clinics slow down because therapists take leave, so plan ahead

Sensory integration therapy vs home exercises

Home exercises have value, but they're supporting work, not the therapy itself. If the child is compensating or doing an exercise slightly wrong, there's no one to spot and correct it. The best outcome is all three together: clinic therapy, a school programme, and home activities. For a detailed comparison, see SI therapy vs home exercises.

Don't know where to start? Jacqui offers a one-off parent consultation for £55 where you can talk through your child's difficulties and get advice on what to do next, without committing to a full assessment. Book a parent consultation at Kids in Sync →

Jacqui is the founder of Kids in Sync, an award-winning children's therapy centre specialising in sensory integration, with clinics in Borehamwood and Twickenham. She is quoted throughout with her permission. Costs cited are from the time of our conversation and may change; check the Kids in Sync website for current pricing.

Neuroequipped provides research-grounded information for parents and educators. It is not medical advice. If you have concerns about your child, speak to your GP or paediatrician.