Hi Jane

In Derby City we tend to get 2 and I think there has been one occasion we have bought a 3rd. Usually though, we start with one first to make sure the child/school use it as intended before buying more.

Hope that helps

Lucy

In Oxfordshire we would buy as many as needed but try to be economic as we can. We have not limited the number but assessed what is needed for the young person to get the seating they need to access lessons. So for instance have bought ten Trip trap chairs for one school for a young person with restricted height. We have provided more than 2 or three supportive chairs in some schools such as the Vela Tango or Smirthwaite chairs when needed but it is not needed very often. We look at the building and try as best we can to limit what we buy to one per area of school,  or if the Maths dept is next to the Geography dept we try and share a chair but we don't limit the number.

In Derbyshire we would provide as many as reasonably required. Although usually one for each floor of the building. We would also consider the style of chair as it may differ i.e. powered height adjustment for science, cookery to accommodate seating at benches and give more independence. However we carefully discuss all needs and requirements with the Occupational Therapy Team.

I have in the past known a school to be provided with 6 chairs but it was a very awkward site and a highly unusual situation. I have also found that a number of PI students begin using power chairs more frequently when they move to Secondary school and do not want class seating in all classes as they prefer their own chair but obviously need to move in some lessons for position changes.

I think looking at the timetable and reducing movement around the site so that chairs can be placed in classes/shared between nearby classrooms. Also is it possible to sit on regular seating for short bursts of time if classes are more free flow i.e. drama, cookery.

Is the student likely to be working on a full timetable or will the timetable require reducing to accommodate physiotherapy/personal care etc.

Best wishes,

Donna

Hi Jane,

In Essex we wouldn't necessarily put a fixed number on this kind of thing as each child and setting is unique, although we would clearly be looking to keep costs to a minimum.  We work closely with the schools, Physios, OTs to identify possible reasonable adjustments/solutions, including making some building adaptations, if necessary (such as height adjustable food tech units), or looking at buying height adjustable tables as part of the 'package'.  We are very much guided by the therapists in terms of what they feel the child needs but we usually advise using the child's wombat chair (or similar) in the location best suited to that piece of equipment, which tends to be the writing heavy subjects.  I think there is going to be a trial of a project led by Health looking at more sophisticated chairs which mean fewer pieces of equipment being needed in a person's life in future but this is starting with adults and then they will see if they can roll it out for children too.  To echo what someone else has said, we do find many children become more reliant on their motorised chairs in secondary as it gives them greater freedom and independence.  Hope this helps!  Jo