Physiotherapy
Promoting movement, potential and the highest quality of life possible
At Craighalbert, our highly skilled and experienced Physiotherapy team supports children with complex communication, learning, health and care needs to improve their physical development, movement, and overall wellbeing. We work closely with each child and their family to develop tailored approaches that help children achieve their individual goals. Whether supporting posture, improving gross motor skills, or helping with breathing, our Physiotherapists use specialist techniques and equipment to make everyday activities more accessible and enjoyable for each child.
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Our team brings a wealth of knowledge and skill in paediatric physiotherapy, the specialist area of physiotherapy that supports babies, children and young people from birth to 19 years old. Physiotherapy is an Allied Health Profession that focuses on improving health and wellbeing through movement and function. At Craighalbert, we take a holistic approach, working in partnership with families and other professionals to provide therapy that is child-centred, evidence-informed, and built around each child’s needs and potential.
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We actively promote participation in physical activities throughout the day and are skilled at identifying and addressing any barriers to movement or activity.
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We work closely with the child, their family, teachers, other therapists, medical staff, and support services to help every child reach their full potential and enjoy the best quality of life possible.
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Our resources to support therapy include:
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Innowalks
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A trampoline (for rebound therapy)
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A hydrotherapy pool (for aquatic therapy)
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Accessible trikes
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Gait trainers
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As a team, we are always exploring new therapies and approaches to ensure our practice is informed by the latest evidence and research.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy aspires to ensure that all the children we work with led full and happy lives.
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We focus on helping them participate in meaningful activities (occupations) they need and want to do at school, at home and at play.
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We work with children and young people, families, school staff, and the wider team to help overcome challenges relating to daily life activities.
Postural Care
24 hours of every day you are in a posture. Normally, our postures continuously shift and change position to allow us to engage in functional activities from extreme sports to chilling on the sofa or even sleeping. If you lie, sit and stand well, and move your body often, you will be taking care of your posture. This can help avoid muscle and postural changes, help avoid pain and help your internal body systems function as best as they can. Your posture throughout the day and night will impact on the shape of your body.
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People who struggle to change or maintain their own posture will eventually assume the shape of the posture they spend the most time in.
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Postural care is a collaborative 24-hour approach that aims to prevent or improve poor postures to prevent harmful changes to body shape and function, and help individuals make the most of their abilities. Postural care allows the children at Craighalbert to engage most comfortably, easily and functionally in all their learning activities.
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​At Craighalbert, our physiotherapists are trained in specialist postural assessments that aim to closely monitor and identify any early changes to body symmetry and help put the appropriate supports in place to preserve and promote body symmetry.
Scotland has its very own National Postural Care Strategy called 'YOUR POSTURE MATTERS' and a National Postural Care Forum which is continuing to support the best postural care across the country. Craighalbert has been part of developing this strategy and online learning modules which you can access using the QR code or visiting https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/60811#resources . Craighalbert continue to participate in the National Forum’s ongoing work.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are the bigger movements of the body. They normally develop during infancy and early childhood. A child’s gross motor skills typically continue to improve throughout their early years and develop further until adulthood. Gross motor skills include learning to hold their head up, roll, sit up, stand and walk. It also includes coordination, posture and balance. There are a number of reasons children might struggle to develop their gross motor skills including challenges with their muscle tone, weakness, vision and understanding. Struggling with their gross motor ability can also influence other functions such as fine motor skills for example playing, picking up objects and writing as well as tiredness and ability to concentrate.
At Craighalbert, our physiotherapists thoroughly assess your child to help identify key issues that are affecting gross motor skill development. Our physiotherapist will then work alongside the wider Craighalbert team and external colleagues to assist your child to fulfil their potential in developing their gross motor function using a variety of methods and activities. This will include understanding what is important to your child and you and provide blocks of treatment for functional goals. We also upskill parents and the team around your child to enhance their opportunities to practise their gross motor skills.
Respiratory Care
Respiratory physiotherapy promotes clearing secretions from the chest and maintaining the chest clear.
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At Craighalbert, our physiotherapists upskill Craighalbert staff with chest physiotherapy techniques as part of a child’s breathing management plan for those with identified challenges of their respiratory function.
We respond to changes in children’s normal respiratory function with timely assessment and treatment as required.
Enquire about a placement
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If you feel Craighalbert is the right place to support both your child and you, click the link below to submit an enquiry.
or you can call us on 01236 456 100 or email us admin@craighalbert.org.uk