Meet The Team
Simone
Simone is the Director and Co-Founder of CHAMP and a dynamic paediatric occupational therapist dedicated to delivering high-quality services to children and families. She is committed to making CHAMP a welcoming and supportive environment that offers leading specialist paediatric services.
Simone’s passion lies in paediatric occupational therapy, and her dedication is evident in the strong bonds she forms with the children in her care. She graduated with an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and received the award for the Best Undergraduate Research Thesis for Allied Health Sciences, which was presented at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress in 2018.
Simone is a qualified Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®) practitioner through the South African Institute of Sensory Integration (SAISI), with extensive experience in assessing and treating children with sensory processing difficulties and diagnosing sensory disorders. Additionally, she is a certified ADOS-2 practitioner, offering diagnostic assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Her postgraduate training covers a range of areas, including the assessment and treatment of children with feeding difficulties, emotional regulation issues, physical developmental delays, retained reflexes, and handwriting challenges.
Simone’s experience spans various clinical settings, including hospitals, clinics, and schools, where she has provided valuable support through EHCP and tribunal assessments. Her diverse background has enriched her expertise in working with children with developmental delays, genetic conditions, sensory processing difficulties, specific learning needs, and social communication difficulties.
In her free time, Simone enjoys travelling, exploring new places and cultures, and discovering new corners of London. She recharges by spending quality time with family and friends, reading, and enjoying the outdoors.
Saskia
Saskia, Director and Co-Founder of CHAMP, is a paediatric occupational therapist specialising in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®) through the South African Institute of Sensory Integration (SAISI). She earned her Honours degree in Occupational Therapy from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, with a postgraduate thesis focused on early childhood development, sparking her interest in paediatrics.
Saskia has completed further training in wheelchair seating, sensory-related eating and feeding difficulties, ADHD, and Therapeutic Listening, and is currently specialising in ASI®. She is also qualified to perform ADOS-2 assessments, enabling her to provide diagnostic services for children with suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition to ASD diagnostics, Saskia has experience in EHCP and Tribunal assessments, collaborating closely with recognised legal firms and local authority EHCP coordinators in London.
Her work spans primary healthcare, secondary schools, and specialised neurology hospitals, providing therapy to children with learning difficulties, developmental delays, ASD, cerebral palsy, ADHD, and other rare genetic conditions. Currently, Saskia supports children in mainstream and specialist schools, including ASD and SEN bases.
Believing in the power of play, Saskia tailors her occupational therapy sessions to each child’s needs and interests, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable process of growth. She emphasises hands-on therapeutic input and collaborates with parents and schools to implement holistic therapeutic strategies. Additionally, Saskia adopts a whole-school approach, training staff to apply recommended strategies and occupational therapy programmes.
Outside of work, Saskia enjoys relaxing at home, dining out, exercising, spending time outdoors, and enjoying quality time with loved ones.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah is a dedicated paediatric occupational therapist with a specialised interest in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®). She holds an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and is currently pursuing a postgraduate qualification in ASI®. Aaliyah has also completed various short courses, including those focused on cerebral palsy assessment and treatment, reflex integration, visual perception, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and Makaton Level 1.
With extensive experience in both school environments and private practice, Aaliyah supports children with a wide range of needs, such as autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and neurological conditions. She specialises in sensory integration techniques, helping children to improve their ability to process and respond to sensory information, thereby enhancing their engagement in daily activities at home and school.
Aaliyah’s child-centred approach fosters a supportive environment where children can explore and develop their skills. She works closely with families, teachers, and other professionals to ensure a holistic approach to each child’s development. Committed to ongoing professional growth, Aaliyah stays abreast of the latest research in sensory integration and paediatric occupational therapy.
Outside of her professional life, Aaliyah enjoys quiet evenings at home with her husband, as well as picnics, ice cream, tea, and discovering new places through travel.
Perfect
Perfect is a dynamic paediatric occupational therapist specialising in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®). He holds an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and is furthering his ASI® qualifications, having completed Modules 1 and 2 through Sensory Integration Education (UK) and Sheffield Hallam University.
Perfect has extensive experience in both private practice and school settings, where he provides Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) provisions for children across various London schools. He develops and implements occupational therapy programmes to support children’s sensory and motor needs, ensuring their active participation in educational and home environments.
Committed to professional development, Perfect has completed numerous short courses, including sensory processing, regulation support, motor coordination assessment, Canaan Barrie signing, SEND Basic Awareness, and training with the Council for Disabled Children.
Passionate about play-based and hands-on therapeutic techniques, Perfect focuses on child-centred approaches. His patient and playful nature helps him build strong rapport with clients, facilitating effective collaboration with parents and schools to ensure the holistic implementation of therapeutic strategies.
Outside of his professional life, Perfect enjoys home-cooked meals, exploring new places, and spending quality time with loved ones.
Tanya
Tanya is an enthusiastic paediatric occupational therapist with a deep passion for the field of paediatrics. She graduated from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, where her early experiences working with children sparked a profound commitment to paediatric therapy.
Currently, Tanya is advancing her expertise through Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®) training and has completed numerous postgraduate courses focused on child development. Her diverse experience in hospital settings, private practice, and educational environments has equipped her with a broad range of skills to address the various challenges and needs faced by children.
Tanya utilises play and sensory integration techniques to foster development, tailoring her approach to the unique needs of each child. Her work is driven by a strong belief in the boundless potential of every child, and a commitment to fostering their confidence and creativity. She finds great joy in witnessing children’s imaginative play and enthusiasm, striving to encourage them to dream big and believe in their capabilities.
Outside of her professional life, Tanya enjoys travelling, spending quality time with her husband and friends, exercising, and embracing the outdoors. She believes that maintaining a balanced lifestyle contributes to her effectiveness in working with children and promoting positive outcomes.
Services
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