Image of a child during a physiotherapy session with a physiotherapist

Paediatric Physiotherapy

What is paediatric physiotherapy?

Paediatric physiotherapy is the treatment and care of babies, children and young people from birth to 19 years following injury, illness or disability.

We provide specialist care in a variety of settings including clinic, school, nursery and home depending on the needs of the child.

Paediatric Physiotherapists work within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) including other professionals such as Paediatricians, Specialist Consultants, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Health Visitors, Social care workers and Educators to provide your child with the best individualised care the service can offer.

What our service can offer:

  • 1:1 or joint MDT initial and follow up appointments for an individual child.
  • 4-6 week block of therapy sessions for an individual child.
  • Group intervention for common conditions.
  • Assessment for specialised equipment i.e. standing frames/walkers.

Note: Each of the above is provided according to the child’s individual needs and as determined appropriate by the child’s Physiotherapist.

Main physiotherapy aims:

  1. Muscle strengthening
  2. Improving muscle length
  3. Increasing joint range of movement
  4. Managing/eliminating pain
  5. Developing motor skills

The referral process

How can you be referred? Who can make the referral? 

We treat children and young people with additional needs between birth & 18 years old for as long as Physiotherapy is indicated.

Children & young people with musculoskeletal problems are seen from birth to 18 years.

If your child is seen by a Health Visitor please discuss your concerns with them first and if their needs cannot be met through their intervention they can make a referral.

If your child is in School, Pre-school or Nursery please discuss your concerns with the SENCO who may then make a referral if their needs cannot be met through the Pre-school/nursery/school provision.

Referrals can also be made by other health professionals including your GP.

For any referring professional, please use the form below to fill in your referral and you can send it to:  BDSPCommChildren@nelft.nhs.uk

Referral form: SPA Referral Form Final.docx [docx] 56KB

Coming to Child and Family Centre at Barking

Our location:

Address: Child and Family Centre , 79 Axe Street, Barking

Reception: Open between the hours of 9am-4pm.

Note: Please access the reception via Axe Street entrance. 

Arriving via car:

Parking next to CFC is  paid parking with on hour free parking with registration via apps on the parking display (please ensure you registered your car to avoid any parking ticket)

Arriving via public transport:

There are multiple bus stops less than 3 minutes from the front of our building. Barking Tube station is 7 min walk.

Other Centres:

Your Physiotherapist may arrange for your appointment to be at a different centre, depending on their work schedule and capacity, so please check your appointment letter/SMS for the correct location. Other centres include:

  • Chadwell Health Centre (we are on the first floor); Ashton Gardens, Romford RM6 6RT
  • Beam Park Health Centre: 2 Halewood Way, Rainham RM13 8QZ