Therapies

Hydrotherapy

We are very lucky to have our own Hydrotherapy pool in school.
Hydrotherapy is offered to pupils with significantly restricted movement, pupils with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities) and ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). It allows pupils to move freely and have therapy in the water.

Speech and Language Therapy

Welcombe Hills School is committed to working in partnership with pupils, parents and other professionals to develop every individual’s communication skills, to respect each pupil’s preferred means of communication and to provide a communication friendly environment.
What is Total Communication?
Total communication is about communicating in any way you can;

It’s not just about talking, it’s about:

  • Signing
  • Pointing to pictures.
  • Symbols, photographs or objects of reference.
  • Facial expression, eye pointing, gestures and body movement.
  • Switches and Voice Operated Communication Aids (VOCAs)
  • Sensory cues i.e. music and aromas

What Approaches Do We Use?
Our approaches include:

  • Social Communication Skills Groups
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
  • Intensive Interaction
  • Makaton Signing
  • Body Signing
  • Communication books and Talking Mats
  • Social Stories
  • Low and High Tech communication systems.

We strive to provide a communication friendly environment by using different approaches such as a pictorial Menu Board and lots of visual and auditory cues placed around the building.

We work together with Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to further communication for pupils as appropriate. 

Physiotherapy

The team at Welcombe Hills are members of the Community Physiotherapy Team for Warwickshire Primary Care Trust. We consist of 2 chartered Physiotherapists and a Technical Instructor. We have a Physiotherapy room in school where they are based.

When a child is referred, information is gathered about the child’s abilities from appropriate sources. An assessment of the child then takes place in school. The treatment and aims will be discussed with the child, the parents/guardian and class teachers.

Family members and school are often asked to participate actively in the treatment programme. The Physiotherapist will demonstrate the best way to handle the child, develop exercises which will help the child to develop and if necessary put together a home exercise programme.

If required the Physiotherapist can also recommend supportive footwear, walking aids, standing frames, trikes, sleep systems and wheelchairs.

There is a regular wheelchair clinic at the school where staff from Warwickshire Wheelchair Services review the children’s wheelchairs.

Music Therapy

Warwickshire County Music Service provide Music Therapy in school.
We have 2 therapists come into school to work with pupils with ASD and PMLD. They come in 3 days a week.

Music Therapy is a therapeutic treatment with the use of music as the non-verbal intervention. It is based on improvised music in which the children can express themselves, become aware of their feelings and interact more easily.

The aims of Music Therapy include:

  • Increasing communication, interaction and self expression
  • Developing an awareness of self and others
  • Providing emotional support
  • Developing listening skills, sharing and taking turns
  • Developing co-ordination and motor control
  • Increasing self confidence
  • Building trust and meaningful relationships

 

Multi Sensory Therapy - The Sensory Garden

The Wooden Spoon Society raised over £25,000 in order to totally transform an area of concrete jungle into a magical oasis that provides our pupils with a real outdoor garden experience.

The Sensory Garden has been specifically designed to stimulate all the senses and includes a water feature, imaginative planting, tactile surfaces, aromatherapy facility, lighting, built in sound system and an undercover teaching area. 

The Garden has seasonal updates to provide the pupils with new experiences. A fully automatic watering system is in place but the children are able to help with the garden and experience the delights of planting and watching things grow.

Rebound Therapy

Rebound Therapy was introduced into school in September 2008 and has developed into a very popular lesson for pupils with PMLD and other pupils with reduced movement.

Primarily it is offered to pupils with significant movement difficulties and the sensation of being on the trampoline often relaxes their muscles and gives them the opportunity to experience the freedom of movement that they don’t get in the confines of a wheelchair. We work alongside Physiotherapists with some pupils and individual exercises can be completed on the trampoline.

 Pupils enjoy the fun element of the trampoline and very often are not aware that they have completed their exercise programme.