Overview
Woodlands Meed School is a specialist school and college supporting children and young people aged 2 to 19 with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The school provides a highly personalised curriculum and works closely with a multi-disciplinary team of therapists including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and specialist nurses to support students in reaching their full potential.
The school approached the team after experiencing ongoing problems with the sensory system in their hydrotherapy pool. The existing equipment had not been working effectively for several years, limiting the therapeutic and sensory benefits the pool could provide for students.
Having previously seen the high-quality sensory installation delivered by us at their new college site, the team at Woodlands Meed knew exactly what they wanted: a modern, reliable hydrotherapy pool sensory system that would revitalise the space and enhance the therapeutic experience for their students.
The Challenge
The hydrotherapy pool previously had sensory equipment installed, but the system had become unreliable and no longer delivered the interactive sensory experience the students needed.
Hydrotherapy environments present several technical challenges. Pool acoustics can make sound systems difficult to install effectively, while lighting and projection equipment must be carefully selected to perform reliably in humid pool environments.
Before any new installation could take place, the existing equipment needed to be safely removed and the system redesigned to meet current electrical safety standards and the 18th Edition Electrical Regulations.
The school wanted a solution that would:
- Replace outdated and unreliable sensory equipment.
- Improve the sensory experience in the hydrotherapy pool.
- Provide interactive sensory learning opportunities for students.
- Create a more engaging and therapeutic pool environment.
The Solution
Following a full site survey, we designed a complete replacement hydrotherapy pool sensory system, mirroring the successful installation already delivered at the school’s college site.
The existing products were first decommissioned and responsibly disposed of in line with Senteq’s WEEE registration, ensuring environmentally responsible removal of the old equipment.
All proposed products and installation plans were carefully reviewed to ensure full compliance with 18th Edition Electrical Regulations before work commenced.
The new sensory system included:
- Interactive Mood Lighting, enhanced with Senteq’s exclusive floating cube feature.
- Professional Sound System designed to overcome challenging hydrotherapy pool acoustics.
- A Solar Projector to display themed visuals onto the wall or pool surface.
- A Laser Projector to create engaging ceiling effects for students floating on their backs.
Together, these elements created a fully immersive hydrotherapy sensory environment, transforming the pool into a dynamic and engaging space for therapy and learning.
Interactive Pool Equipment
A key feature of the installation is the interactive sensory control available directly from the pool.
Using floating pool switches, students can control the sensory equipment themselves, creating a highly engaging and empowering experience within the hydrotherapy environment.
Through the supervisor control panel, the system also supports:
- Momentary controls
- Latched controls
- Timed controls
This functionality encourages cause-and-effect learning, allowing students to explore how their actions influence the sensory environment.
A particularly popular feature is the sound interactivity mode on the mood lighting control panel. When activated, the lighting responds to the music, dancing and changing colour in time with the beat to create an exciting and immersive sensory experience.
The Result
The new sensory installation has brought life back into the hydrotherapy pool, transforming it into a vibrant and engaging environment for students.
With blackout blinds installed, the sensory lighting and projections create a powerful visual impact, enhancing the therapeutic atmosphere and encouraging students to enjoy and engage with the space even more.
Both students and staff at Woodlands Meed were delighted with the transformation. The new system now provides interactive sensory stimulation, therapeutic benefits and valuable learning opportunities for children using the hydrotherapy pool.
Looking to enhance your hydrotherapy pool with interactive sensory equipment?
Contact the team to discuss sensory installations designed for SEND schools and therapeutic environments.
