Last week, our Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapy team hosted a very special Paediatric Week at Hobbs Rehabilitation at Chedington.
It was a wonderful opportunity for our young clients to spend time with their families, enjoy the range of therapeutic activities on offer, and complement their regular therapy sessions in a fun and meaningful way.
“Chedington offers our paediatric patients the chance to engage in a wide range of therapies and activities. These are often a welcome break to their routine treatments and complement the hard work that they and their local teams do on a daily basis.” – Kate Harvey, Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist, Hobbs Rehabilitation.
Sneaky Rehab
One of the highlights of the week was what we like to call “sneaky rehab”, which is what we term, therapy hidden within engaging activities. The idea is: our young clients are immersed in interactive and engaging tasks, while covertly are working on key physical, cognitive, and functional challenges that support their rehabilitation journey.
From the moment our young clients arrived at Chedington with their families and loved ones, they were encouraged to get stuck into a variety of activities designed to motivate, inspire, and gently push their abilities forward. Many of them didn’t even realise just how much progress they were making until they reflected on what they had achieved.
Some of the highlights included:
- Bushcraft: Led by the team from Coastal Survival, our young clients toasted marshmallows and sausages over the fire while following instructions, practising safety awareness, and working on motor planning. The session brought adventure and learning together in the heart of the Chedington grounds.
- Pottery: Guided by Jem from Home Thrown Studio, our paediatric clients and their families shaped clay and pressed natural textures into their creations, including leaves and flower imprints. This hands-on, immersive activity supported motor skill development, coordination and functional exploration, while giving everyone something special to take home.
- Pizza Making: Inside the Nicky Ellis Therapy Barn, the children were able to choose their own toppings and build pizzas before enjoying the delicious results. The process encouraged creativity, decision-making, and upper-limb function, particularly when chopping the vegetables and various foods.
- Magic Photography: Through creative DIY print sessions, the children brought their imaginative A-game to design unique prints, combining artistic expression with focus, patience, and problem-solving.
“We are lucky enough to be surrounded by hundreds of acres of rolling countryside which has been made accessible to those with extra needs by the addition of miles of bark chip pathways so clients can become completely immersed in nature. We are also in the process of creating a fully accessible bushcraft area with a firepit to allow campout style sessions with wilderness skills and crafts.” – Kate Harvey, Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist, Hobbs Rehabilitation
Beyond the therapy benefits, these activities gave families a chance to join in, laugh, and share meaningful experiences. Whether it was cooking together or exploring the estate, the activities created moments of confidence and connection that will last well beyond the week itself.
Holistic Therapy
Our team focus on delivering rehabilitation for a range of conditions, including cerebral palsy, developmental delay, brain injury, post-concussion symptoms, rehabilitation following surgery (such as selective dorsal rhizotomy), balance and coordination difficulties, gait abnormalities and other neurological and neuromuscular conditions.
While these therapeutic activities provided an engaging route to rehabilitation, our young clients also continued with structured therapy sessions throughout the week with our highly experienced, dedicated Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapists.
This holistic, hands-on neurological rehabilitation approach provides the foundation of our work at Hobbs Rehabilitation and ensures every child receives a comprehensive, bespoke treatment programme that aligns with their personal goals and requirements.
Specialist 1-1 Physiotherapy Sessions:
One of the highlights of our Paediatric Week was the dedicated physiotherapy sessions. This one-to-one therapy gave our young clients the chance to work closely with our skilled therapists in a safe, encouraging environment. Together with families, our team created tailored treatment plans designed to support each child’s unique needs.
Physiotherapy played a vital role throughout the week, helping the children improve movement, strength, and mobility through gentle and engaging exercises. More than just physical progress, these sessions boosted confidence, nurtured independence, and empowered families with practical strategies to continue supporting their child’s development at home.
As part of our 1-1 physiotherapy sessions, we also integrated additional specialist approaches. Our aquatic physiotherapy in the hydrotherapy pool allowed children to move freely and safely in the water, reducing strain while building confidence through fun aquatic activities. We also introduced cutting-edge neurotechnology, giving our young clients access to the latest rehabilitation devices to aid recovery and maximise outcomes, including the first in the UK adult and paediatric LokomatPro Sensation, provided by Summit Medical and Scientific.
This combination of traditional, holistic therapy and activity-based “sneaky rehab” meant that our young clients not only worked towards their long-term goals but also found new joy and motivation in the process. The balance of structure and fun activities helped to keep therapy fresh, engaging, and highly effective.
A Week to Remember
Paediatric Week at Chedington was about more than therapy sessions; it was about our clients discovering what they could achieve, sharing their milestones and successful moments with their families, and spending quality time in a supportive, engaging environment.
Our team is proud to provide an environment where therapy feels exciting, where families are part of the journey, and where progress is celebrated in every form. If you are interested in learning more about our Paediatric service, please head to our page or contact us at enquiries@hobbsrehabilitation.co.uk.
