There are a number of evaluation tools that occupational therapists use to evaluate kids. Most settings use similar test measures, but it is important to consider that scores in one setting do not necessarily qualify a child for services in every setting. I work in a school setting, and we often have students on our caseload who also receive outpatient OT services in a clinic setting. There are also many kids who receive outside services that we don't see on our school caseload. So, why is this? It depends on where their deficits may be impacting their function.
A child may have motor skills concerns in the school setting that impact his/her ability to use a pencil, cut with a scissors, learn to write, etc. Their motor skills may also be impacting their function at home with getting dressed, play skills (manipulating toys), using utensils, etc. This child may likely have school based OT services as well as outpatient OT services. Their function is being impacted in both the school and the home settings.
Conversely, a child may have handwriting, fine and visual motor concerns at school but have adequate function for daily living at home. This child may require OT services at school, but not outside of school. His/her function is being impacted mainly in the school setting, and impacts his/her ability to participate in their school curriculum.
A child may have sensory concerns at home that impact their ability to transition outside of the home, or that impacts their food preferences or their hygiene routine, possibly their sleep routine. But at school, they can function with a structured routine and general accommodations that are not significantly different from their peers. This child may require outpatient OT services, but not require them in the school setting.
Theses scenarios vary and each situation is different, but the basic gist is that just because a child may benefit from direct OT services in an outpatient clinic, it does not necessarily mean that they require school based OT services.
In the school setting, Occupational Therapy is a related service. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction has the following statement in their related service guidelines:
"A child may be eligible for additional services ("related services") if the services are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. Although a child may benefit from a related service, the child will not be eligible to receive that service if the child can perform educationally without it."
The following link is a list of common OT assessments along with descriptions of each that can be given in any pediatric setting by a qualified professional:
