Introducing Paediatric Physiotherapy at Tightrope Learning
- tightropelearning
- Feb 16
- 3 min read
When parents think about school readiness, they often focus on letters and numbers. But underneath learning sits something just as important - strong, confident movement.
There is a nationally recognised set of gross motor milestones children are expected to achieve before starting school. Many children enter kindergarten without meeting all of these milestones - often without families realising that physiotherapy can help.
At Tightrope Learning, our paediatric physiotherapy service supports the physical foundations that allow children to feel capable, safe and confident in their bodies.
Why This Matters
Motor delays are often subtle.
Children may manage well in early years settings where expectations are flexible. But when kindergarten begins, physical demands increase - sitting upright for longer, carrying bags, navigating busy playgrounds, participating in sport and following multi-step instructions while moving.
When these foundations are not strong, children can experience:
Fatigue during the school day
Frustration with physical tasks
Anxiety around playground or sport activities
Reduced confidence compared to peers
Avoidance of active play
Early physiotherapy helps identify and strengthen these skills while children are still developing - preventing small gaps from becoming bigger challenges.
What You Might Notice at Home
You know your child best. Physiotherapy may help if you’ve noticed your child:
Gets tired quickly or slumps when sitting
Hesitates, feels anxious, or avoids playground equipment
Seems clumsy or falls more often than peers
Avoids running, climbing or active games
Finds ball skills or hand–eye coordination tricky
Struggles to judge distances or move safely in busy spaces
Appears behind siblings or peers in motor development
These signs do not automatically indicate a serious concern - but they can suggest your child may benefit from additional motor support.
What Physiotherapy Supports
Our paediatric physiotherapy program focuses on building strong physical foundations through purposeful, play-based therapy.
We support:
Gross motor milestone development
Core strength and postural control
Balance and coordination
Endurance for school-day demands
Safe and efficient movement patterns
Limb coordination and body awareness
Dual-tasking skills (moving while listening or following instructions)
Spatial awareness for confident navigation of playgrounds and classrooms
Sessions are engaging, active and tailored to your child’s goals - because therapy should feel motivating, not clinical.
Why Early Support Makes a Difference
If physical challenges are not addressed early, children may enter school already feeling behind. Over time, this can lead to:
Anxiety during PE or sport
Withdrawing from group games
Avoiding new physical challenges
Reduced social participation
Lower overall confidence
Early physiotherapy builds not only strength and coordination - but resilience, safety and a positive relationship with movement.
When children trust their bodies, they are far more willing to explore, participate and try new things.
Who Is Physiotherapy For?
Physiotherapy at Tightrope Learning is suitable for any child who may need support with:
Strength
Balance
Coordination
Posture
Physical endurance
Movement confidence
No diagnosis is required.
Many families seek physiotherapy simply because they want to ensure their child is well-prepared physically for the transition to school.
A Unique, Integrated Approach
One of the unique strengths of physiotherapy at Tightrope Learning is our collaborative model.
Our physiotherapist works closely with:
Families
Tightrope Learning educators
Occupational therapists (where appropriate)
Other professionals involved in your child’s care
This ensures strategies are consistent across environments and embedded into your child’s daily learning experience.
Strong physical foundations support attention, emotional regulation, social participation and academic readiness - aligning beautifully with our whole-child philosophy.
Unsure if Physiotherapy Would Help?
If you’re not certain whether your child needs support, we offer a gentle, play-based screening as part of our Tightrope school readiness program.
This friendly check allows us to:
Review age-appropriate motor milestones
Observe movement patterns
Identify strengths and areas for growth
Provide clear, practical feedback
Sometimes reassurance is all that’s needed. And sometimes early support can make an enormous difference to your child’s confidence and school transition.
If you’ve been wondering whether physiotherapy might help your child feel stronger and more confident, we warmly invite you to fill out or form to begin!
We are here to support not just movement - but the confidence that comes with it.
Comments