Fairfield School has its own hydrotherapy pool on site. Hydrotherapy involves stimulation and gentle exercise in warm water, incorporated multi-sensory equipment such as lighting and sound to stimulate the senses.

Hydrotherapy offers tangible benefits to the health and well-being of children and young people with a range of disabilities and health conditions:

• The warmth of the water has an effect on the individual neuro-muscular junctions which results in decreased muscle tone and decreased spasticity.

• Buoyancy of the water is used to assist movement of joints - which is either more difficult or painful on dry land. Being able to move in the water improves their general physical stamina and lung function.

• Pupils who have very limited movement and struggle to communicate are often able to vocalise or move their arms to indicate preferences whilst in the water

• Movement in the water and water pressure helps to reduce residual lung capacity for children and young people with chest problems. This enables more efficient lung function and reduces the risk of chest infections developing

• Creating turbulence around an extremity (i.e. arm or leg) can increase their awareness of the limb and help with mobility - both in the water and later on dry land

• Multi-sensory environment helps stimulate the senses whilst calming children with sensory and learning difficulties