Community Assessment Therapy Services -CATS

14/10/2026

We’re back at Oliver’s Way on the 6th November! ☕️

Come along, have a cuppa, speak to us and connect with other families!

Whether you’re looking for advice, support, a friendly chat or just a space where you feel understood, we’d love to see you there.

Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to seeing familiar and new faces!

📍 Oliver’s Way
📅 6th November 11-1pm

12/10/2026

💚💛 Have you discovered The Nest?

We recently visited The Nest in Horsford, home of Norwich City Community Sports Foundation, and wanted to highlight the opportunities they offer for local children, young people and families!

Their Realising Potential programme offers inclusive activities for people with disabilities and special educational needs, including:

⚽ Pan-disability and powerchair football.
💃 All-Star Dance for ages 7+.
🏊 Splash! water activities for children aged 8–15.
🎮 Social sessions at The Nest with activities including table tennis, gaming, bowling and football.
🏟️ Matchday clubs combining activities with watching Norwich City play.

They are also an approved provider for Norfolk County Council’s Short Breaks scheme. Families with access to Short Breaks funding can book sessions through the Played platform linked on the Foundation’s website. A useful option to explore if you’re looking for supported activities for your child.

🌳 At The Nest itself, families can also enjoy Challenge Woods outdoor play, while the Foundation offers weekly PE sessions for home-educated children aged 4–16.

Activities take place at different venues, so check individual listings for locations, age ranges and booking details.

Find out more and explore what might suit your family on their website: communitysportsfoundation.org.uk

Image description: The entrance to The Nest beneath a blue sky, framed by a pink, turquoise, green and yellow border.

10/10/2026

💚 Today is World Mental Health Day.

This year’s theme is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”.

People who have experienced mental health difficulties bring valuable knowledge about what helps, what creates barriers and what needs to change. Their experiences should influence how support is planned and delivered.

💬 For children and young people, this means making space for their views, taking their worries seriously and recognising that communication looks different for everyone. Some may prefer talking, writing, drawing or using communication aids. Everyone deserves a way to be heard.

It also means asking what would make a difference, listening without judgement and involving people in decisions about their own support.

Mental health matters. Every mind deserves support. 💚

Image description: White graphic with pink and turquoise curves, speech bubbles and the CATS logo. Text reads: “10 October. World Mental Health Day. Mental health matters. Every mind deserves support.”

09/10/2026

📚 A day of learning and discussion for the CATS team!

Today we came together at Earsham Hall for our continuing professional development (CPD) day. Taking time to share knowledge, reflect on our practice and learn from each other helps us provide informed, thoughtful support to the children, young people and families we work with.

For our clinicians registered with the HCPC, NMC and GMC, ongoing CPD is also a vital part of maintaining professional registration and keeping our knowledge and skills up to date. 🌱

We had some interesting service development discussions, a session on ADHD and depression, and a fantastic talk from .jade.audhd on AuDHD coaching for students, people in work and parents. It was so valuable to explore support across these different areas of life. 💬

🥣 A big thank you to earshamhall_tearooms for keeping us well fed with a lovely lunch of soup and scones!

Image Description: “CATS CPD Day” in turquoise and plum lettering on a white background, framed by a turquoise and pink border, with the CATS logo below.

08/10/2026

🌍 World Sight Day | 8 October 2026

Today, CATS is marking World Sight Day, supporting the call for accessible eye care and highlighting the importance of specialist support for children who are blind or partially sighted. 💗

At Community Assessment Therapy Services, we offer:

🔎 Specialist neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessments for children with visual impairment.

Visual impairment can affect how children communicate, interact and explore their surroundings. Assessment tools designed for sighted children may not fully capture their needs, making specialist knowledge particularly important.

Our multidisciplinary team includes a paediatrician with a special interest in visual impairment, a Qualified Habilitation Specialist with over 20 years’ experience, and professionals from occupational therapy, clinical psychology and speech and language therapy.

🦯 Habilitation to build everyday skills and independence.

This includes support with moving around safely, learning routes, dressing, eating and organising belongings. We also provide guidance to families and schools on creating accessible environments and supporting children to practise their skills.

Every child deserves to have their strengths recognised, their needs understood and opportunities to participate with confidence. 💙

Find out more about our visual impairment services:
www.catservices.uk
Email: [email protected]

Image description: A turquoise, hot pink and white graphic reading “World Sight Day, 8 October 2026”. An illustrated eye contains a globe, with “ ” beneath it. The CATS logo appears at the bottom, with the words “community assessment therapy services”.

06/10/2026

💗 Sensory needs and big feelings

Everyday sensations, from a noisy classroom to unexpected touch, can feel overwhelming for some children. When the sensory demands of the day become too much, managing emotions can be harder.

Understanding a child’s sensory needs can be an important part of understanding their distress.

🌿 How might sensory integration therapy help?

Ayres Sensory Integration therapy uses individually tailored, play-based activities with a trained therapist. Following assessment, activities involving movement, balance and touch are carefully adapted to the child’s needs, interests and responses.

The aim is to support how children process and respond to sensory information, helping them participate more comfortably in everyday life.

📚 What does the research say?

A recent randomised trial involving children with ADHD found improvements in emotional regulation following Ayres Sensory Integration therapy.

At CATS, we offer specialist occupational therapy and sensory integration assessment and therapy. We consider how sensory needs may be affecting a child’s everyday experiences and whether this approach could be helpful.

Emotional regulation is influenced by many things. Sensory support can be one part of a wider approach that includes supportive relationships, co-regulation and adjustments to the environment.

Find out more at www.catservices.uk or contact us [email protected]

We can accept both private and Local Authority referrals.

Image Description: CATS graphic showing a child sitting on a turquoise sensory swing, smiling at a therapist kneeling beside them. Pink and turquoise borders frame the scene. Text reads “Sensory needs and big feelings” and “Sensory integration and emotional regulation”, with the CATS logo below.

05/10/2026

☕ We had a fantastic time at the Thrive Autism coffee morning in Ringsfield!

CATS was delighted to be there, and it was lovely to have our partners, SEND Parents in Power, join us too. We had some great conversations and really enjoyed meeting everyone, sharing experiences and answering questions. 💬

🍰 These coffee mornings are completely free to attend, with plenty of tea, cakes and snacks, and a welcoming space to chat and connect.

Keep an eye out for more dates and different locations coming soon! 📅

Image Description: Six adults pose together at the Thrive Autism coffee morning in Ringsfield: Colin and Sam from Thrive Autism, Katrina and Becky from SEND Parents in Power, and Tabitha and Sue from CATS. They are standing in a community hall, with three people at the front and three behind. A turquoise border surrounds the photograph, with a matching footer displaying the white CATS logo and the words “community assessment therapy services”.

01/10/2026

💬 October is AAC Awareness Month!

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, ways of communicating that support or replace spoken speech.

🗨️ This can include gestures, signing, picture boards, communication books and apps or devices that produce speech. Some people use AAC alongside speech; others rely on it throughout their day.

🌍 Communication helps us make choices, build relationships, share ideas and say when something is wrong. Access to suitable AAC can help people participate more fully at home, at school and in their communities.

💗 At CATS, we support AAC awareness because everyone deserves to have their communication respected and be included in decisions about their lives. This reflects our commitment to individualised, inclusive and neurodivergence-affirming support.

🤝 Give people time, value different ways of communicating and make space for everyone’s contribution.

Find out about our services: www.catservices.uk

Image description: A bright CATS graphic for AAC Awareness Month. A smiling child wearing a pink hoodie is seated in a supportive chair and using a tablet-based AAC communication device, pointing to colourful symbols on the screen. The CATS Community Assessment Therapy Services logo appears at the top, alongside the words “AAC Awareness Month” in pink and purple. The design uses CATS’ turquoise and pink colours with heart details and a rainbow in the background.

30/09/2026

🌟 Spotlight on the National Autistic Society

At CATS, we’re very proud to be a partner of the National Autistic Society diagnostic service.

Their work extends far beyond diagnosis. From practical information and guidance for autistic people and families, to professional training, local support networks and campaigning for autistic people’s rights, they work to improve understanding, support and inclusion. 💛

👟 This October, one of our directors and her daughter will be taking on the 100 Miles in October challenge to raise funds for the National Autistic Society and support this important work.

We’ll be cheering them on as they clock up the miles!

Find out more about the charity and the support available: https://www.autism.org.uk/

Image description: A white graphic with turquoise and pink accents, featuring the CATS and National Autistic Society logos. Text reads “Spotlight on the National Autistic Society”, “Proud partner of their diagnostic service” and “100 miles in October”. Pink and purple footprints follow a winding path surrounded by autumn leaves.

30/09/2026