Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy Sessions 2025-2026

2025/2026 Dates:
7 week blocks:
Block 1 (2025): Sept 13^th – Oct 25^th (7 weeks)
Block 2 (2026): Feb 21st – April 4^th (7 weeks)
Block 3 (2026): May 30^th – July 11^th (7 weeks)

Time: Saturdays 2.00pm – 3.50pm in 30 minute blocks with a 10 minute block in between (2.00pm-2.30pm / 2.40pm-3.10pm / 3.20pm-3.50pm)

Address: Armley Sports Centre, Carr Crofts, Leeds LS12 3HB
Price: £35 for all 7 sessions

Website: Armley Sports Centre / PT Kids

Contact info@littlehiccups.co.uk now to reserve a slot.

Please note that Little Hiccups services are for families that have children that have disabilities or additional needs. New families are always welcome but please register for free first.

Little Hiccups are delighted to announce that they have secured funding for Hydrotherapy sessions to run from Sept 2024 and Sept 2025 in partnership with The WO Street Charitable Foundation, The Felicity Wilde Charitable Trust, The Alan Robert Laken Charitable Trust, the Fyrish Foundation and PT Kids which will enable us to offer Hydrotherapy Sessions for children with additional needs that will run for 7 weeks.

There will be 3 separate groups that can fit 12 families each time.

Due to the high demand for Hydrotherapy spaces, please contact us on info@littlehiccups.co.uk to reserve a place stating which block you would like to attend. I will contact any that do not manage to get on these Blocks to see if you would like adding to our waiting list.

Book here

Please note: Hydrotherapy is aimed at children who will receive a physical benefit from Physiotherapy. If you are looking for SEND Swimming Lessons or Sensory impact, please look at the below suggestions:

Junior Disabled Swimming Lessons

Swimbrite Special Needs Swimming Lessons

Disability Sport

Leeds Inclusive Sport Programme

Armley Leisure Centre also run public sessions. Please contact Armley Leisure Centre for times, costing and the booking form.

ESSENTIAL INCLUSION CRITERIA

A specific neurological condition that affects gross motor skills and mobility such as:
- Cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, spinal injury, muscular dystrophy, genetic conditions
Delayed development in gross motor skills, which may or may not be linked to a specific diagnosis, such as:
- Requiring help with sitting, crawling, standing, walking
Experiencing issues such as:
- Tight muscles, weak muscles, issues relating to posture, balance, coordination
Experiencing joint or muscle pains
Experiencing specific difficulties with coordination and balance; linked to on-land activities

What is important to acknowledge that these sessions are not designed to help with the below in isolation:

Teaching swimming skills
Developing water confidence
Sensory integration

Whilst hydrotherapy could impact the above, all children being offered a place should be able to link their needs to some part of the essential criteria & key benefits.

Download the Hydro Inclusion Criteria document

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is the use of water in the treatment of different conditions. Hydrotherapy differs from swimming because it involves special exercises that you do in a warm-water pool. The water temperature is usually 33–36ºC, which is warmer than a typical swimming pool.

You’ll have hydrotherapy treatment with a physiotherapist with specialist training who will show you how to do the exercises. The focus of the exercises can be adjusted to help your child’s needs, their range of movement or strength and yours/their goal. This will be determined from a form that you will need to complete before starting and the physiotherapist will also chat to you on your first session.

Benefits of Hydrotherapy

Pain Relief – the support of the water and warmth can help reduce muscle spasms.
Increased Mobility – movement can be facilitated more freely in water to increase joint range and stretch muscles.
Strengthening –the water can be used as resistance to movement to help strengthen specific muscle groups or whole body challenging work.
Improved Balance – balance can be challenged by using water.

Hydrotherapy All sessions will be run with two qualified physiotherapists. Parent/carers will need to be in the water with their child.

Hydrotherapy pool 10×8 with step access and H frame hoist-tracking. There is a pool hoist and large, fully accessible changing facilities.

Sessions are suitable for children from birth to 16.

As with all our Little Hiccups events, our ethos is that the whole family are involved. Consequently, part of these sessions are to teach parents how to help their child with Hydrotherapy. Please be advised that you will be required to be in the water supporting your child through the sessions. There are a number of benefits to this, including learning alongside your child and enabling the physiotherapists to spend more valuable time with each family. However, please let me know if this is an issue as we will need to source additional support.

Please also check your diary prior to booking. Illness aside which we understand cannot be avoided, to get the full effect of the therapy you will need to be there every session for the 7 weeks. Not only will you and your child greatly benefit from this but I’m sure that you are aware that each session is quite costly!

Contact Little Hiccups on info@littlehiccups.co.uk if you have any questions or if you need any support with payment. We aim to make all our sessions inclusive – no matter the barriers.

Listen to a podcast from PT Kids about Hydrotherapy with Little Hiccups.

Listen to Podcast

Meet The Hydrotherapy Team

PT Kids

When you attend your hydrotherapy session, the physiotherapists who are there to help you and provide treatment are all members of PT Kids.

View Profile

Funded By

EG Foundation - 1000 - www.eg-foundation.com

National Lottery - 9300 - Community Fund

Case Study

Strength in the Water, Joy in the Journey

Tilly When Tilly’s family first heard about Little Hiccups’ hydrotherapy sessions, they were cautiously hopeful. At just 3 years old, Tilly lives with Rett Syndrome—a rare genetic condition that means she’ll need 24-hour care for life. She can’t talk or use her hands, but she’s learning to stand and weight bear, and physiotherapy is essential to her progress.

Hydrotherapy, in particular, is a lifeline. But with long NHS waiting lists, access was limited—until Little Hiccups, offered Tilly a funded place at Armley Pool.

Each week, Tilly worked with two physiotherapists who gently guided her through movements her family hadn’t even considered. The results were incredible. She grew stronger, more confident, and visibly happier in the water. She loved the feeling of weightlessness, the freedom to kick and stretch, and the joy of being in motion.

The sessions didn’t just help Tilly—they brought the whole family together. Swimming became a shared experience with her big sister Thea, and now, through her eye gaze device, Tilly often asks to go to the pool.

And the best part? Just recently, Tilly took her first steps with a walker—something doctors once said she’d never do.

“We’re so grateful,” her family told us. “This has been key to her happiness and well-being. If she’s happy, she can face anything—with a smile and her gentle, loving nature.”

Email info@littlehiccups.co.uk now to reserve a slot.

Where Do I Go?

On arrival, do not queue at Reception. There should be Volunteers waiting to greet you the first week at Reception wearing a blue Sportsworks t-shirt but should you feel confident you can go straight to your Changing Room.

Go past Reception, and in through the doors on the left opposite the cafe signposted ‘Pools and Changing Village.’

Head down the Corridor. The Hydrotherapy pool is on your right (you will be able to see it through the window). If you have requested use of the Hoist your changing rooms are on the right next to the pool. Please remember to bring your own slings.

If you do not need a Hoist, there are changing rooms at the end of the corridor. There are two other Disabled Changing rooms with no hoist in the main changing area if you need them.