St Martin’s School is delighted to announce that a team of twelve teachers, physiotherapists and care staff have completed specialist hydrotherapy training delivered by the internationally recognised Halliwick Association of Swimming Therapy (Halliwick UK).

The Halliwick team, under Mrs Sarah Cox, a Specialist Chartered Physiotherapist, travelled to St Martin’s School to provide bespoke, high quality, hands-on training designed to strengthen the school’s provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The programme focused on safe, effective and engaging approaches to hydrotherapy, ensuring staff are confident in supporting pupils with a wide range of physical, sensory and developmental needs.

Staff from across the school, including teaching staff, GHA physiotherapists and members of the Care Agency, took part in the four-day intensive training where the GSLA Accessible Pool, as well as the school’s in-house pool and classrooms, were used. The sessions introduced Halliwick principles, water safety, therapeutic movement techniques and strategies to promote pupils’ independence, motor skills and wellbeing through hydrotherapy.

The training marks an important step in further enhancing St Martin’s School’s therapeutic sessions, ensuring pupils benefit from structured, evidence-based hydrotherapy sessions that support their physical development, communication and sensory regulation. Hydrotherapy in the school continues to gather momentum with staff optimising the use of this unique in-house facility.

As part of an ongoing in-reach programme, pupils from mainstream schools who meet set criteria are now being provided sessions following a process of selection, assessment and parental consent. Teacher-led sessions are gathering momentum, with this training further supporting this initiative.

Attendance at this recognised course provides the school with greater autonomy and independence in programme delivery in support of pupil needs, while focusing physiotherapy expertise on pupil assessments and the design of bespoke therapeutic interventions.

St Martin’s School would like to extend sincere thanks to Halliwick UK and Sarah Cox more specifically for their support and professionalism in delivering this valuable training. The school would also like to thank the GSLA for supporting the training via dedicated access to their accessible pool facilities for wider group sessions.

Minister for Education John Cortes said:
“I am very happy to see the enhanced training which will lead to maximising the use of this wonderful facility. The hydrotherapy pool has added a new dimension and it’s important that as many as possible benefit from it.”

ENDS