Mrs Amanda Hunter

Mrs Amanda Hunter is an Occupational Therapist and Advanced Practitioner.  Since February 2011 she is the owner of Smart Occupational Therapy Ltd.

Mrs Hunter qualified as an occupational therapist in 1996 and has worked with children and young people since 1999. She has an excellent knowledge of all aspects of occupational therapy with a special interest in sensory integration. Prior to independent work, Mrs. Hunter worked with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust where she was specialist occupational therapist. She led the Paediatric Occupational Therapy team and as part of her role, provided training, and completed specialist assessments with children and young people. Projects included the development of sensory smart classrooms, local authority guidance for developmental coordination disorder/dyspraxia, and local authority guidance for children with sensory processing difficulties.  

Expertise:
• Occupational therapy assessments of children and young people
• Clients include children and young people with sensory processing difficulties, complex needs, autism, coordination difficulties, learning difficulties, developmental delay, developmental coordination disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, problems with handwriting, challenging behaviour, history of trauma, and social, emotional, and mental health issues
• Intervention – sensory integration therapy, motor skills programmes, advice for schools and families/carers, classroom design and strategies, specialist equipment, rehabilitation, occupational therapy programmes to develop skills, and advice to schools, parents, and professionals
• Training for schools, charities, local authorities and NHS trusts
• Expert witness reports (SEN tribunals)
• Established contracts with local schools providing occupational therapy services
• Private individual assessments

Mrs Hunter has trained as an expert witness with Bond Solon and prepares occupational therapy reports for Courts and Special Educational Needs tribunals.

Reports follow the guidance for experts and are CPR part 35 compliant. They are impartial, independent and unbiased.

BSc Hons Occupational Therapy 1996
MSc Health Sciences 2002
Leadership Development Programme - Institute of Leadership and Management 2009
Sensory integration (modules 1, 2, 3, and 4) – advanced practitioner 2007-2013
Pathological Demand Avoidance May 2018
Makaton. Levels 1, 2, 3 July/August 2020
The Listening Programme 2014
Sensory defensiveness – Wilbarger and Wilbarger 2017
Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Supports (SCERTS) 2018
Sensory Integration, Attachment and Trauma – SI Network March 2021
Developmental Trauma for Professionals, Beacon House August 2024

Bond Solon accreditation 2018-2019

Health and Care Professions Council, OT25719 – 31 October 2025 - Royal College of Occupational Therapists, BT0210571 – renewed annually
Sensory Integration Network, renewed annually
Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Children, Young People and Families, renewed annually
Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Independent Practice, renewed annually