Danielle O’Connell, headteacher of Belchamp St Paul C of E Primary School based near Sudbury, Essex recently wrote an article for The Headteacher magazine about how the implementation of school pets at her school has supported the emotional wellbeing of pupils.
When Mrs O’Connell joined the school, she was eager to share her previous positive experiences of bringing animals into the school environment. Within a few years, Belchamp St Paul had budgies, guinea pigs, as well as other visiting pets such as dogs, horses, llamas, sheep and even a python.
Belchamp St Paul also integrates animals into the curriculum, such as tadpoles, chicks and ducklings. The children learn about life cycles in real time by watching the animals hatch and grow in their classrooms. Once fully grown, the frogs are properly released, and the ducks and chickens often end up travelling home with Mrs O’Connell.
Mrs O’Connell has also noted the huge impact the animals can have on the emotional wellbeing of her pupils. This has helped to reinforce Belchamp’s approach to school pets, which has become a unique selling point of the school.
You can read Danielle O’Connell’s article about school pets on The Headteacher website.
JOHN 15:5
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