Transdisciplinary team

What is the role of a transdisciplinary team and what are the benefits

Transdisciplinary teams (TDT) are collaborative groups used in both healthcare and education, designed to address the comprehensive needs of individuals, particularly children and young people (CYPs).

The key objectives of TDTs in educational settings include improving CYPs' access to learning and development by understanding their daily challenges, cognitive, emotional, social development, and overall well-being.

For more information about using a transdisciplinary approach to improve wellbeing please follow the link.

TDT information for parents

Enhancing readiness and regulation for learning

Internal alignment:

Collaborative efforts with teaching staff and other professionals to implement effective strategies and provide targeted clinical input.

External partnerships:

Engages with external clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals.

Recovery curriculum role:

Essential in assessing and delivering a curriculum for students returning to onsite education, addressing setbacks due to prolonged absences.

By aligning occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology and family liaison within transdisciplinary embedded approaches, the team ensures that every aspect of a student’s development is catered for in a comprehensive and effective manner.

Speech and language therapy (SaLT)

Our SaLTs provide support in relation to:

Expressive communication – using objects, pictures/ symbols, signs, words
Understanding of information (receptive communication) – speech, pictures/ symbols, objects
Social interaction and engagement

Occupational therapy (OT)

Our OTs provide support in relation to:

Sensory needs
Self-care skills (toileting, using cutlery, dressing skills etc)
Fine motor skills (drawing, using scissors etc)

Psychology team

Our Psychology team supports in relation to:

Understanding emotions through self-regulation and co-regulation
Positive, proactive and collaborative, co-produced solutions to barriers for learning
Transitions, changes and aspirations

Family liaison

Our Family Liaison Manager supports in relation to:

Facilitates communication and builds relationships
Rights
Support for home (sleep, toileting)

Benefits of the Sybil Elgar School transdisciplinary approach

Educational barriers are identified through collective thinking.
Recognizing CYPs' strengths, interests, wishes, and aspirations.
Sharing of knowledge, skills, and decision-making.
A collaborative approach involving clinicians, therapists, teaching staff, key workers, parents, students.
Full-time on-site support in cccupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, and family liaison manager.

TDT newsletters

Available to download under home learning resources

Get in touch

Our transdisciplinary team (TDT)

What is the role of a transdisciplinary team and what are the benefits