Children's therapy service

Our children's therapy services include:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Speech and language therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Podiatry (South East Hampshire and Portsmouth only)

For more information on any of these services, visit the Healthier Together website.

We support children and young people who:

  • Are registered with a GP in Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth
  • Attend a school in Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth

All children are different and develop at different speeds. Some children find learning certain skills more difficult than others and they may need specialist assessment and advice from one of our therapists.

Our Children’s Therapy Service team works closely together to support children and young people who need specialist help from one or more of our therapy services. These include physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.

Our vision is that all children and young people are provided with the skills they need to take part, as effectively as possible, in everyday situations and are supported to reach their full potential.

The speech and language therapy team supports children with speech, language and communication needs and those with feeding and swallowing difficulties. Speaking and eating uses the same muscles and speech and language therapists are specially trained to help with specific difficulties with feeding and swallowing.

Some children we see may have a medical condition or diagnosis or learning difficulty, but many do not.

The occupational therapy team supports children with specific difficulties which affect their ability to plan and carry out the movements required for everyday tasks. These difficulties may affect their awareness of their surroundings and self-care skills, which may impact on the child performing independently.

The physiotherapy team supports children with specific developmental difficulties and/or conditions which affect their physical development. These difficulties may affect their ability to move or reach their physical potential. We help develop their physical skills through play, specific exercises and activities. We also advise on how best to position and move your child to help support their progress.

Visit the Solent NHS Children's Therapy Service website.