Kingfisher Special School is the only special needs school for primary aged children in Oldham who have complex and severe learning needs. Due to growing demand for SEN provision in the local area, funding was raised by the local community and Oldham Council to commission a £3m refurbishment. The work involved replacing their out of commission hydrotherapy pool, and creating two new classrooms and a nursery. To help support building contractor, Seddon, with the replacement and relocation of the school’s hydrotherapy pool, Innova were brought in for their expertise.
With a pool that was over 40-years old and no longer fit for purpose, Kingfisher Special School urgently needed a new solution that could improve their student’s wellbeing and quality of life. Innova were able to support straight away with a bespoke design, featuring a pool layout, plant room, and hoisting system that maximised the existing space to improve efficiency and safety.
A 10 x 5m stainless steel skimmer hydro pool was installed with Venturi water jets and LED lights to provide a full sensory experience for students. For children who require a wheelchair, an AirGlide 360 system with an AirRise 200 hoist unit was installed, helping transfers from a hygiene room right through to the pool room. When the pool isn’t in use, an automatic pool cover was also installed, helping reduce costs through heat retention and reducing chemical consumption.
“The new state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool will be particularly important to help children maintain a range of joint and muscle movement and engage in swimming when they are unable to access a local public pool.”
Michael Unsworth, Director of Business at Kingfisher Special School