Animal Therapy
Numerous studies have shown the impact and benefit of animal-assisted interventions in schools. By introducing animals in to schools, a range of moral, spiritual and educational benefits for the child can be observed.
Pets in schools have been found to:
- Motivate pupils to learn and think
- Encourage respect for life
- Foster a sense of empathy and responsibility in children
- Teach children how to nurture, care for and love all life
- Lead to the development of hobbies and potential careers in animal care
- Improve academic achievement
Over the last year, we have been developed our outdoor spaces.
At The Elland Academy we have been developing a vegetable plot and garden area on which we are housing a small flock of bantams that we have hatched from eggs. We have a member of support staff trained in therapeutic horticulture, which is offered as a weekly session during enrichment time.
Alongside our chickens, we also have a family of guinea pigs, an academy hamster, our bearded dragon Abacus and Ivy our therapy dog, all of which are used as part of our therapeutic interventions, supporting students in resetting their emotions.