Yes, very. Almost all children under 4 have flat feet because the arch develops gradually as they grow. Most children develop a visible arch by age 6 to 8 but some don't fully develop one until 10 or beyond. Flat feet only need treatment if they're causing pain, affecting activity or are part of a wider biomechanical issue. We can tell you whether what you're seeing needs attention or is normal development.

Sever's disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is the most common cause of heel pain in active children and teenagers, usually between 8 and 15 years old. It's not actually a disease — it's inflammation of the growth plate at the back of the heel caused by the Achilles tendon pulling on it during a growth spurt. It's especially common in children who play football, run or do gymnastics. It's self-limiting and resolves once growth slows, usually within a few months to a year.

Usually no. In-toeing ("pigeon-toed") and out-toeing are extremely common and almost always resolve naturally as the child grows. Most are caused by either thigh bone rotation, shin bone rotation or foot shape — all of which typically self-correct between ages 4 and 8. Occasionally an in-toe or out-toe is significant enough to assess or to consider gentle intervention. We can tell you which category yours falls into.

No. You can book your child directly with us. We can write to your GP after the appointment if you'd like us to share findings. If your child has a complex underlying condition (cerebral palsy, talipes, juvenile arthritis etc.) they may also be under hospital care and we'll co-ordinate closely with that team.

First appointments allow up to 60 minutes — this gives time to chat with your child, take a full history, do a thorough assessment and explain things clearly. We don't rush. Follow-up appointments are typically up to 30 minutes. We always work at your child's pace.

Most children's appointments involve no painful treatment at all — they're assessments, advice and gentle interventions like nail care or footwear fitting. For procedures that may be uncomfortable (some ingrown nail work, verruca treatment) we use techniques designed to be child-friendly and minimise discomfort. We always explain what we're doing in age-appropriate language so there are no surprises.

Usually no. Most children's foot concerns resolve naturally with development and don't need orthotic support. We only recommend orthotics where there's a clear benefit and a specific reason (significant biomechanical issue causing pain, certain medical conditions, helping a child stay active during a problematic phase of growth). We're conservative about prescribing orthotics in children.

Children's feet are still developing and footwear matters more than people think. We'll review what your child wears and give clear advice on what to look for: proper fit (not just length but width and depth), supportive structure, appropriate sole flexibility for their age, room to grow without being so big they slop around. We avoid recommending expensive brand-specific shoes — fit is what matters.

Children catch verrucas more easily than adults because their immune systems haven't yet learned to fight off the virus. The good news is children's verrucas often resolve naturally over months as the immune system catches up. We assess each case and recommend either monitoring, gentle treatment or more active intervention depending on size, location, pain and how long it's been there. Children's verruca treatment is always tailored to be tolerable.

See us promptly if: persistent foot pain affecting activity or sleep, sudden refusal to walk, visible deformity that's getting worse, signs of infection (red, hot, swollen), an ingrown toenail with pus or fever, any wound that isn't healing in a few days. For non-urgent concerns (gait, flat feet, recurring small problems), normal booking is fine.

For your first appointment, allow up to 60 minutes. This gives us enough time for a thorough history, examination and treatment in the same visit. Follow-up treatments are typically up to 30 minutes for the vast majority of cases. We'll confirm the exact length when you book.

No. You can book a podiatry appointment directly with us with no GP referral needed. We can write to your GP after your appointment if there's anything they should know.

Wear something comfortable that's easy to roll up to the knee. Bring the shoes you wear most often (we'll often look at how they're wearing for biomechanical clues). If you've had any imaging or test results related to your feet, bring those too. Otherwise just bring yourself.

Podiatry & chiropody is available at our Great Dunmow clinic at 12 Stortford Road, CM6 1DA. The clinic has on-site disabled parking available on request. Just give us a call ahead of your appointment.