Physiotherapy

Th Clinical services are led by Susanna Mitchell, Head of Therapies.

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The clinical services based at Vranch House are provided for children and young people aged 0 - 19 years with a wide range of physical difficulties from mild to very complex. Many will attend as outpatients at Vranch House or for physiotherapy at Honeylands, others are pupils at Vranch House School or one of the other special schools in the area. Children are also visited at their mainstream school and at home as necessary.

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Vranch House also employs the North Devon Community Paediatric Physiotherapy team based at the Health Centre in Barnstaple and they provide services across North Devon.

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The experienced clinical team consists of

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• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech and Language Therapists and Assistant
• School Nurses
• Technical Instructor and Therapy Assistants
• Therapy Administrators

Clinicians hold the child and family firmly at the centre of all that they do and help children to think positively about the skills they want to improve. Children will be assessed by one or more professionals together and any treatment offered may be either individually or in a group with others with similar needs.

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Groups currently running at Vranch House

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• Fine Motor groups (Write to the Beat)
• Hydrotherapy groups

Outreach preventative work

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• Fun Fit, a programme of core gross motor skills, has been taught to all infant and primary schools in Devon, and the fine motor skills programme High Five is being rolled out across the county. Update sessions take place in schools, learning communities and at Vranch House.

24-hour Postural Management

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• An Integrated Care Pathway for 24-hour Postural Management for children with Cerebral Palsy is now being implemented in Eastern Devon as well as North Devon. The aim of the pathway is to enable children to reach their full functional potential by minimising hip and spinal problems. 

The Honeylands Physiotherapy Team

Thi Our 0–3 year-old service is run from the Honeyland's building based on the Vranch House site. The Honeylands Team comprises of three Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapists; Charlotte Mearing, Louisa Soar and Kirsty Scales. Supported by Helen Hicks, Physiotherapy technician.

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As part of our role, we also provide the Physiotherapy service to babies on the Neonatal unit at RDUH. Once those babies are discharged from the unit, those that meet our neurodevelopmental criteria, will then be followed up by our specialist Physiotherapists at Honeylands for as long as clinically indicated. Some babies will also have a specific Neurodevelopmental assessment called a Bayley's assessment at 6 and 24 months old. You will be informed by your Physiotherapist or Paediatrician if your child requires this.

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We accept referrals from GP's, Health visitors, Paediatricians and parents for any physical difficulty that a baby, toddler or pre- schooler is experiencing which can range from flat feet/toe walking, gross motor delay to Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy etc.

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We work closely with the wider Multidisciplinary team at both the RDUH hospital and CFHD Honeyland's team to ensure optimum communication and holistic care for your child. Once your child starts nursery/school we will also liaise closely with education to help promote any support needed to encourage your child's independence and participation.

The speech and language therapy

The speech and language therapy team based at Vranch House includes Speech and Language Therapist Sophie Johns, SLT Assistant Denise Hutchinson, and AAC specialist Iris Gordon Bouvier.

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Speech and language therapy at Vranch House School aims to improve the effectiveness of each child's communication skills. This may involve work on any of the following areas:
Speech sounds / phonological awareness
Language work e.g. improving understanding and use of language
Pragmatic / social skills e.g. using language to interact with others
Alternative and augmentative communication e.g. using objects, symbols, photos, and voice output communication aids.

The children use a variety of methods to communicate and the type and frequency of speech and language input varies according to the individual's skills and abilities.

Children are mainly supported within class based sessions or small groups to ensure that communication does not happen in isolation in 1:1 sessions.

The speech and language team work closely with parents, classroom staff and other professionals to assess each child's skills and needs, to offer advice and set goals that are incorporated into the child's Individual Education Plans.

The speech and language team also works closely with other professionals and parents to develop the child's eating and drinking skills. We aim to enable the children to be as independent as possible and to be active participants in mealtimes that are happy, relaxed and comfortable.

The speech and language team also have a role in supporting children with physical difficulties in their mainstream placements.

Nurses

Marie Brown and Lucy Leyman are the nurses at Vranch House School. One or the other can be found in and around school or in the nurses consulting room.

Our main objective is the happiness and welfare of the children. We like to get to know our pupils and their families well so we are able to discuss and manage problems as they arise.

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Between us we have gained many years experience in helping children with complex medical needs and physical disability.

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We keep up to date with professional development and changes in guidance and legislation for the delivery of nursing care to children with additional needs. Safeguarding and health promotion are at the forefront of our care.

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We endeavour to support the attendance of our pupils by providing advice and information to families and ongoing assistance to staff.

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We run regular clinics with Paediatricians from the local Hospital and the surrounding Community as well as Orthopaedic and other specialist clinics. We have several visiting professionals who also offer their services and expertise. These include audiology assessments and referrals, orthoptist clinics including optician's assessments, referral to continence services and clinics and dental check-ups. We are also able to offer gastrostomy and dietician reviews.

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Day to day care involves safe administration of medication, management of seizures and other emergencies, dressings and routine health checks. We have good relationships with other medical professionals and also maintain links with home, various respite centres and schools. We are busy people but can always be relied upon to join in any fun and games going on around school.

Occupational Therapy

Paediatric occupational therapists assist children in developing essential skills for daily activities. We support physical, cognitive, and sensory development, enabling children to fully engage in school, play, self-care, and other important tasks.

Vranch House School:

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At Vranch House School, our team of qualified occupational therapists works closely with school staff and the broader therapy team to facilitate each child's access to the curriculum and support their overall development. We address a wide range of areas, including postural management, independent feeding skills, toileting programmes, play, fine motor skills, dressing, and sensory processing needs.

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Vranch House Outpatient Service:

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In addition to our school services, we provide outpatient therapy for children aged 5-18 from mainstream settings. Our therapists assess and support various developmental aspects, such as handwriting, cutlery use, personal care, fine motor coordination, and visual perception, helping each child improve their functional independence and achieve their full potential. Please note, that we are not commissioned to undertake sensory integration assessments.

Hydrotherapy

Our hydrotherapy sessions take place at the specialist hydrotherapy pool at Vranch House in Exeter, a purpose built, fully accessible facility designed to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for children and young people with physical needs.

The pool is indoor and heated, offering a warm, relaxing space where movement is easier, pain is reduced, and confidence in the water can grow.

Hydrotherapy at Vranch House is an important part of many children’s therapy programmes. The buoyancy of the water supports the body, allowing greater freedom of movement while reducing pressure on joints and muscles. This makes it ideal for rehabilitation, mobility training, and gentle exercise for those with neurological, muscular, or orthopaedic conditions.

The facility includes specialist equipment such as hoists and accessible changing areas, ensuring that all children can participate comfortably and safely. Sessions are led by qualified physiotherapists experienced in paediatric hydrotherapy, who tailor each programme to meet individual needs and goals.



By using the Vranch House hydrotherapy pool, we are able to provide children with an enjoyable and effective therapeutic experience that supports physical development, enhances well-being, and promotes greater independence in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Music Therapy

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