Come explore our Small Animal Alternative Learning Activities
Stress &
Anxiety relief
Animals have senses that pick up on human interactions. Therapy with animals such as dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs has proven to help decrease stress. Handling and stroking animals can help relive anxiety. Spending time with with animals can positively affect moods, anxiety, and stress.
Communication & Interaction
Working with animals means you get to learn a new way to communicate and interact. Animals don’t judge humans, so it creates a space students can feel comfortable communicating, with the aim of growing confidence in their communication & interaction skills in different social settings.
Self Esteem & Independence
Animals need to be cared for, so having some responsibility for animals welfare naturally gives people a sense of self-esteem and independence. Working and caring for animals also creates bonds which has positive effects on people’s self-esteem. Caring for animals involves some physical work, with health benefits of moving and exercise.
Fun
All activities are designed to be fun and social, whether you want to understand about the everyday day care of an animal or meet knew friends, our goal is to make everyday a fun day.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are taken from their hutches to their runs in the morning and back to their hutches in the afternoon. It’s a great chance to learn how to handle and move small animals, in turn gaining confidence, trust and a bond with the animals.
Dog walking is a great way to enjoy the countryside scenery and outside air. As well as enjoying walking the dogs and letting them get some exercise. It’s a great chance for students to enjoy some light physical exercise, which has physical and mental health benefits.
Grooming the small animals and dogs is an important part of their care. It’s a great time for young people to learn more about the animal, it’s general care and spend time interacting with them. Time spent grooming is a great way to learn more about the animal close-up as well as creating bonds and trust.
Grooming can act as a therapeutic way of learning. Basic, repetitive acts of grooming can help soothe you and promote feelings of clam.
There is a variety of welfare activities from grooming, cleaning, health checks, general care for surrounding area, and feeding. Most of the activities are active / hands on learning, with some optional classroom work to record learnings or work towards a qualification.
We can support AQA qualifications aligned with small animal learning from entry level, onwards. Classroom sessions can be on a 1:1 basis or small groups depending on a young persons needs. All sessions are carried out by a qualified SEND Professionals.
Daily Routine
Each sessions the young people will get chance to take part of all the small animal activities. Young people are also given the opportunity to take part in classroom time during one of the sessions during the day.
Meet the animals
Bert
Dog
Duchess
Dog
Dodger
Guinea Pig
Nigel
Guinea Pig
luna
Rabbit
Polar Bear
Rabbit
Kevin
Dog
Gaga
Cat
Marshall
Dog
Peri & Drumstick
Chickens
AQA certifications
The AQA Unit Award Scheme (UAS) allows young people to acquire work experience and document this experience with a certificate. It enables them to amass a portfolio of certificates that can attest to their skills, knowledge, and experience. This scheme bolsters their confidence, escalates their engagement, and enhances their motivation, helping young people progress on their lifelong journe Small Animal learning that align with our offerings.
Celebration Stories
If you would like to know more information about what we do or how we could help. Please feel free to give us a call or send over an email. We would be more than happy to help or answer your questions.
