Imagine being able to sit in a hot tub while you're at school. Sounds decadent? Well it may sound that way, but for students of Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, it's not.

It just helps them tremendously in using and developing their muscles.

The school caters to children with neurological deficits and a hydrotherapy room was installed three years ago with funding from Allied World Assurance Company Holdings Ltd.

According to the school's physiotherapist, Rachel MacLoughlin, it's been an extremely helpful aid for the students. Taking one child into the hot tub at a time, Ms MacLoughlin said she's able to boost the confidence of some of the children who are timid to attempt to stand on their own.

"It is easier for them in the pool and the warm water helps loosen their muscles. They really love it," she said.

The pool is also excellent for stretching and weight-bearing experiences for the children, she added.

Another good opportunity for weight-bearing comes with the Hopsa-dress system. This new system was installed last April. It is now in each classroom, all bathrooms, the multi-purpose area of the school and the hydrotherapy room. Its presence means that even children confined to wheelchairs now have the ability to stand. This helps them maintain and build muscle and bone.

The Hopsa-dress system sits on overhead tracks with a harness. Children who are very unstable on their feet or who cannot stand at all, are placed in the harness to experience standing, weight-bearing and walking.

"Recently I and the adaptive physical education teacher have commenced treadmill walking with many of the children," said Ms MacLoughlin. "The harness supports the child, allowing us to facilitate movement. This allows some children that are unable to stand or walk independently, to experience walking and it has the additional benefits of stretching, strengthening and endurance."

The Hopsa-dress apparatus serves a dual role as it can also be used to lift children. This is particularly helpful with wheelchair-bound students who would otherwise have to be physically lifted by school staff.

Ms MacLoughlin said it's how she is able to get some of the students into the hydrotherapy pool.