Future Steps

What Future Steps does

Future Steps is a privately held, specialist paediatric occupational therapy practice founded in 2013 by Julie Davis in Stockton-on-Tees, England, operating as Future Steps Consultancy. It delivers sensory-integration-led occupational therapy to children and families primarily across North East England, with a stated 11-50 employee headcount. Services are organised across clinic-based assessments and treatments (including EHCP-aligned reports, sensory integration therapy, therapeutic listening, SOS feeding, and handwriting support), school-facing programmes under the STRIVE banner (SMART, CALM, EARTH Handwriting), and a trauma-informed vertical branded Future Families / Future Stars / YOU for adopted and fostered children. The company also runs an adult support line for anxiety, neurological trauma, ADHD, and Autism, a training and CPD catalogue for parents and educators, an Educator Learning Hub, and a Carolyn McTimoney Occupational Therapy Scholarship.

The underlying clinical approach is a bottom-up sensory-motor framework, anchored in Julie Davis's Advanced Sensory Integration and trauma-attachment qualifications, delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of OTs with credentials across Sensory Integration, Theraplay, Somatic Experiencing, DDP, Neuro-Affective Touch, and Video Interactive Guidance. The technology surface is deliberately low-tech: bespoke programmes packaged with physical toolkits, screening tools, instructional videos, and home/school print materials; there is no application platform, API, or disclosed AI capability. Certifications include HCPC registration, RCOT membership, NAS affiliation, and GDPR compliance.

Future Steps generates revenue through professional-services engagements with bespoke, quote-based pricing: one-off clinic assessments, recurring treatment sessions, managed school contracts across the academic year, training courses, and trauma-informed packages. Demand is sourced via direct self-referral from parents, institutional referrals from schools and Local Authorities, a free introductory consultation, downloadable lead magnets, and professional training. Distribution is regional (North East England) and delivered through the Thornaby clinic and on-site school visits. The business is bootstrapped, family-influenced (Julie Davis as sole owner and Managing Director, John Davis as Finance and Business Manager), and shows no institutional investment, M&A, or subsidiary structure.

Name

Future Steps

Legal name

Future Steps Consultancy

Website

https://futurestepsot.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paediatric Occupational Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric/School-Based Occupational Therapy (OT) (EDAKAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

OT Evaluations, Assessments & IEP/504 Planning Support (EDAKAFAM), Gross Motor, Postural Control & Motor Planning (Praxis) (EDAKAFAD), Early Intervention OT (Birth–3) / Preschool OT (EDAKAFAJ), School Transition & Independent Living Skills (OT) (EDAKAFAK), Autism Sensory & Occupational Support (School-Based) (EDAKAKAH)

Keywords

• Paediatric occupational therapy
• Sensory integration therapy
• Trauma-informed support
• School OT services
• Neurodevelopmental assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockton-on-tees

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Clinic Assessment Services: Occupational therapy assessments to identify sensory and motor challenges, with costs varying based on individual needs. Includes packages supporting EHCP applications and renewals.
2. Clinic Treatment Services: Individualized treatment sessions supporting social, academic, emotional, and physical needs. Pricing varies by frequency and number of sessions required.
3. School Services (STRIVE): Ongoing occupational therapy provision for schools including virtual or in-person visits, screening assessments, classroom observations, individual and group programmes, and educator upskilling throughout the academic year.
4. Training for Parents and Professionals: Courses on sensory processing, anxiety, attachment, conditions, and developmental challenges for educators and parents.
5. Home and School Programmes: Customized programmes using everyday items with schedules, resources, reading lists, progress trackers, and photo demonstrations.
6. Trauma-Informed Services: Multi-disciplinary team services for fostered, adopted children, and those with trauma experiences including assessments and therapies.
7. Adult Support Services: Assessment and treatment for adults with anxiety, neurological trauma, ADHD, Autism, and trauma-informed care.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Future Steps is a specialist paediatric occupational therapy practice delivering clinic-based and school-based OT services for children with sensory processing, motor, and trauma-related challenges. Core deliverables include comprehensive sensory and motor assessments, individualised treatment sessions using Sensory Integration Therapy and trauma-informed modalities, structured school programmes (SMART, CALM, EARTH Handwriting), the Future Families trauma-informed support pathway, and training courses for parents and educators across North East England.

Product overview

Future Steps is a specialist paediatric occupational therapy service founded in 2013 by Julie Davis, offering a comprehensive suite of integrated services across clinic, school, and home settings. The core offerings include clinic-based assessments and treatments (using Sensory Integration therapy and various evidence-based approaches), home and school programmes, the Future Families trauma-informed support programme with specialist MDT assessments and treatments, and school support services (STRIVE, SMART, CALM, and EARTH Handwriting programmes). The company also provides training for parents and professionals, upcoming neurodevelopmental screening assessments, and maintains a social initiative (Carolyn McTimoney Scholarship). Services are delivered by occupational therapists specialising in sensory processing, attachment, trauma, ADHD, autism, and developmental coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STRIVE: Educational Provision Service that helps remove barriers to education by focusing on improving key areas of student learning and development, behaviour, learning and cognition, Social Emotional and Mental Health and independence in activities of daily living.
• Carolyn McTimoney Occupational Therapy Scholarship
• Future Families
• Future Stars
• YOU Programme
• SMART Programme
• CALM Programme
• EARTH Handwriting Programme

Products and services

• Clinic Assessments Comprehensive occupational therapy assessments identifying children's sensory and motor challenges, social skills, emotional well-being, physical coordination, and educational performance. Includes specialised Early Years Assessments (Newborn Behavioural Observations, Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Miller Function and Participation Scales) and detailed reports supporting EHCP applications and renewals.
• Clinic Treatments Tailored individual occupational therapy sessions including Sensory Integration therapy, the SOS Approach to Feeding, Therapeutic Listening programmes, home programmes, school programmes, toileting programmes, and group sessions for social skills, handwriting, and functional skills. Programmes are tailored to each child's unique needs and goals set in collaboration with parents and educators.
• Home and School Programmes Customised programmes using everyday items to support sensory and motor development between clinic sessions. Includes toileting programmes and Therapeutic Listening 12-week structured music-based intervention. Programmes come with schedules, resources, reading lists, progress trackers, photo demonstrations, and a thorough handover for safe delivery.
• STRIVE (School-Based OT Provision) Future Steps Educational Provision Service providing weekly virtual or in-person occupational therapy visits across 38 weeks of the academic year in schools. Includes screening assessments, classroom observations, individual and group programmes, educator upskilling, and progress reviews to help remove barriers to education.
• SMART Programme School programme empowering children to develop sensory, motor, and regulation skills through self-guided manuals, staff training, a Future Steps Screening Tool, and everyday materials. Available for nurseries through secondary schools to support children in classroom participation.
• CALM Programme School programme supporting students with SEND, anxiety, or complex needs arising from trauma or adverse childhood experiences. Includes the Calm Inventory Toolkit, staff training, parent/carer support, ongoing guidance, and the Calm Video Inventory to reduce exclusions and improve well-being.
• EARTH Handwriting Programme Structured occupational therapy handwriting solution for schools using a digital toolkit, everyday materials, weekly instructional videos, and a half-day training session. The 10-15 minute daily activity develops fine motor skills underlying handwriting.
• Support for Adults Occupational therapy assessment and treatment for adults with anxiety, neurological trauma, ADHD, or autism diagnosis, delivered through Somatic Experiencing Therapy, Neuro-Affective Touch Therapy, and Sensory Integration approaches.
• Future Families Trauma-Informed Support Specialist multi-disciplinary trauma-informed care for fostered, adopted, or trauma-affected children and families. Includes attachment-based assessments (MotC, MIM, CAPA, SAA, AAI, TAAI) and treatments such as Sensory Integration, VIG, Theraplay, DDP, Somatic Experiencing, and Neuro-Affective Touch.
• Future Stars Group Programme Group programme for newly adopted toddlers and their parents promoting positive interaction, secure attachments, sensory processing, motor skills, emotional regulation, and shared joy.
• YOU Programme Holistic programme for teenagers that connects brain and body, introduces mindfulness, explains attachment strategy, and supports social and emotional health, resilience, and self-esteem.
• Training for Parents and Professionals Training courses covering Sensory Survival in the Mainstream Classroom, Sensory Guidance for Special Schools, Attachment Disorder and Sensory Processing, The Journey of Handwriting, Early Years Development, Interoception and Anxiety, and Gross and Fine Motor Skills. Designed for educators and parents across North East England.
• Carolyn McTimoney Occupational Therapy Scholarship Annual scholarship programme providing free therapy services to children for a year, supporting schools with sensory-motor and handwriting programmes, training for teachers and parents, and tailored OT consultancy. Also supports aspiring occupational therapists through funded training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Around 20 KS1 children per school able to access SMART intervention through scholarship programme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Autistic Society: UK membership and training body relevant to the autism segment of Future Steps' work; provides advisory and education resources that overlap with Future Steps' family and professional training products.
• Pulse Allied Health: UK healthcare staffing and allied health provider that supplies paediatric OT locums and ongoing agency support into schools and NHS services, competing for clinician supply that constrains Future Steps' growth.

Broad incumbents

• Active Care Group: UK private operator of therapy, SEND, and residential children's services that competes with Future Steps for Local Authority commissioned paediatric and SEND contracts.
• HCRG Care Group: UK private community health and care services provider delivering children's therapies and SEND services under NHS and local authority contracts, competing for commissioning budgets at a much larger scale.
• Huntercombe Group: UK-based specialist healthcare provider with paediatric mental health and neurodevelopmental services, overlapping with Future Steps' trauma-informed Future Families and emerging neurodevelopmental screening offerings.
• NHS Children and Young People's Therapy Services: State-funded paediatric OT and physiotherapy delivered via NHS Foundation Trusts, the dominant UK provider of children's therapy services and Future Steps' principal market alternative for the same patient population.

Direct peers

• Sensory Integration Education (SIE): UK charity-trading body that trains SI Practitioners and delivers SI-focused therapy and education, mirroring Future Steps' Level 4 SI pathway and educator-training model.
• The OT Practice: UK-based private occupational therapy provider delivering paediatric and adult OT across clinic, home, and school settings. Direct competitor for private-pay families and commissioning local authorities in the same clinical specialism.

Emerging players

• Maes Therapy: UK paediatric therapy approach (Movement, Apraxia, Education and Strategies) targeting underlining neuro-motor causes of children's learning difficulties, overlapping with Future Steps' motor-planning and praxis focus.

Regional players

• Educators Wales / Specialist Schools Service (Sensory): Local-authority-run sensory and OT inclusion services delivering school-based OT and sensory training in defined UK regions, comparable to the school-based arm of Future Steps' STRIVE and CALM offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FutureSteps_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/future-steps-occupational-therapy

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Future Steps