Hydrotherapy Pools
Last updated:Water-based activity in hydrotherapy pools requires higher levels of supervision, often on a one-to-one basis in the water. Individual pupils’ medical profiles and health care plans need to be examined, alongside relevant medical staff in order to arrive at safe ratios.
Hydrotherapy pools in Special Schools need to pay particular attention to the development of risk-management schemes for:
- moving and handling, which includes all aspects of lifting and carrying of pupils or transfers between equipment, such as in and out of wheelchairs,
- transporting pupils between changing rooms and the pool,
- entry and exit from the pool,
- dressing/undressing areas and support staff,
- emergency equipment and procedures for pupils with disabilities/spinal injuries,
- pool accessibility (i.e. ramps, hoists, and changing facilities),
- increased Teacher: Pupil ratio,
- pool temperature may be set higher for disabled swimmers (e.g. 32 degrees C for Special needs school pools,
- assistant/helper in the water.
Training staff in hydrotherapy pools/special school pools
BSSP in conjunction with BC are able to offer courses aimed at school staff who support pupils with sensory and physical needs during their school swimming lessons. For more information, contact swimming@ahs.bucks.sch.uk.
School Teachers supporting the delivery of lessons to SEND pupils need to undertake training in either the Swim England SEND School Swimming or Support Teacher of School Swimming, see pages 44-46. They may then work under the guidance of a qualified Swim England Level 2 Swimming Teacher.
Staff working with individual pupils in the water will also need to be appropriately trained (again the SEND School Swimming Course is an appropriate qualification); they will also need to have handling expertise and sufficient knowledge of each individual pupil’s physical and medical needs.
Swim England recommends a ratio of 8:1 for qualified swimming teachers with 1:1 support in the water where the RA requires. Where school staff hold either the Support Teacher of School Swimming or Supporting Pupils with SEND during their School Swimming, a ratio of 3:1 is recommended as a minimum.
Swim England recommends a ratio of 8:1 for qualified swimming teachers with 1:1 support in the water where the RA requires. Where school staff hold either the Support Teacher of School Swimming or Supporting Pupils with SEND during their School Swimming, a ratio of 3:1 is recommended as a minimum.
Important Information
Ratios for Special Schools will be much lower and Individual Risk Assessments are key in determining these ratios.
Hoists
In school pools, staff must follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the use of pool hoists, ensure they receive the appropriate training for its use before using it with a pupil, and ensure it has a regular (as per the manufacturer's instructions) safety check.
Both at leisure provider pools and school pools, where the hoist uses a sling, the swimmer needs to provide their own sling appropriate to their weight, as this is a personal piece of equipment and thus not shareable.
Swim England SEND Course for School Staff
Overview of the course (5-6 hours):
- Improve understanding of SEND and inclusion in the National Curriculum and Physical Education, specifically Swimming
- Swimming and Water Safety in the National Curriculum and adaptations where required
- Identify good practices in health and safety
- Understand barriers to swimming and Identify strategies to overcome these for pupils with SEND
- Identify methods of communication and resources to support pupils with SEND
- Understand fundamental movement skills and core aquatic skills and the links between them
- How to develop water confidence using core aquatic skills
- How to introduce the swimming strokes
For more information, or to book the above course, please email swimming@ahs.bucks.sch.uk
Lifeguard in a special school hydrotherapy pool
The lifeguarding qualification required for hydrotherapy pools is the RLSS Aquatic Therapy Shallow Pool Rescue Award (ATSPRA). Other scenarios are listed below:
| Situation | Lifeguarding Qualification Needed | Information |
| In a school pool with deep water (over 1.2m) during an un-programmed session | Minimum qualification: National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) | The pool’s NOP should be referred to, as un-programmed sessions are often prohibited due to their unpredictable nature |
| In a Special School pool or hydrotherapy pool with shallow water (less than 1.2m) during a programmed session | Royal Life Saving Society Aquatic Therapy Shallow Pool Rescue Award for Swimming | This qualification is required for school staff working with pupils with additional physical needs. ATSPRA is a supervision and rescue qualification for therapists, teachers, and support staff working on the poolside or in the water during activities such as aquatic therapy or therapeutic exercise/play |
| In a school pool with shallow water (less than 1.2m) during an un-programmed session (for example, if the pool is hired as an external booking) | Minimum qualification: National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) | Un-programmed school sessions are prohibited due to their unpredictable nature |
Please note, the guidance above states the minimum provision required by Buckinghamshire Council and the Bucks School Swimming Partnership. In all circumstances, schools should also refer to the pool’s NOP as more advanced qualifications may be needed after a risk assessment.
Statutory Information
School staff will be responsible for ensuring that they keep a record of their swimming qualification and where relevant, lifeguard qualification expiry dates, both individually and in the School Swimming Folder, and must undertake a one-day refresher course prior to the expiry of the qualification. Lifeguards will only be able to work in a pool where they are qualified to the pool’s maximum depth.