A fresh academic year brings new energy, new skills, and new opportunities to learn. Across the UK, schools, families, and education providers are looking for engaging ways to help children return to class with confidence and curiosity. Back-to-school animal and science workshops offer the perfect mix of education, excitement, and hands-on discovery.

At Wild Science, we deliver interactive animal encounters and science workshops that support early years learning, primary education, secondary students, and even college and university groups. These sessions create unforgettable learning moments that connect children, teachers, and families to the natural world and modern science.

Why Back-to-School Is the Perfect Time for a Fresh Start in Learning

The start of the school year is when students arrive with new goals and fresh motivation. Teachers often look for creative activities that help students settle into routines while building focus and confidence.

Animal and science workshops provide exactly that balance. Younger children in the early years benefit from gentle animal interaction and simple experiments. Older children and students explore biology, behaviour, ecosystems, and scientific processes in a way that feels exciting rather than overwhelming.

This fresh-start learning approach helps children reconnect with education after the holidays while making learning fun, social, and memorable.

How Animal Workshops Support Education and Well-being

Animal encounters create powerful learning experiences. When children meet rabbits, snakes, hedgehogs, insects, or reptiles, learning becomes real. They don’t just read about animals. They interact, observe behaviour, ask questions, and build understanding.

Research-backed programmes, including animal welfare education supported by organisations such as the RSPCA (the UK's largest animal welfare charity), show that hands-on animal learning improves well-being, boosts confidence, and encourages kindness. These experiences help students develop empathy while strengthening focus and curiosity.

At Wild Science, our animal workshops are age-appropriate and flexible. We tailor sessions for diverse class sizes, learning levels, and group needs. Every visit is structured to support both education and emotional well-being.

Hands-On Science Workshops That Bring Learning to Life

Hands-on science workshops are one of the most effective ways to support learning. Instead of memorising facts, children experiment, explore, and discover through direct experience.

Students take part in practical science activities linked to biology, chemistry, physics, and natural science. They test ideas, observe results, and learn through real-world examples. This active learning style builds stronger understanding and long-term knowledge retention.

Moreover, Wild Science's hands-on science workshops also support teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. Children learn to work together, ask questions, and build confidence through discovery.

Supporting Schools Across the UK

Wild Science delivers back-to-school animal and science workshops across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Our sessions are available nationwide and delivered directly into classrooms, school halls, colleges, universities, and community venues across the UK.

We regularly work with:

Early years nurseries and primary schools
Secondary schools and colleges
Universities during Freshers’ Week and Well-being Days
Community education groups and public learning programmes

Many universities book animal science workshops to support student well-being and engagement at the start of the academic year. These sessions help reduce stress, build social connections, and create memorable experiences for new students.

Learning That Connects to Real Careers and Futures

Animal and science workshops don’t just teach facts. They open doors to future opportunities.

Did you know that across the UK, vocational animal science courses lead to careers in veterinary studies, equine science, food production, horticulture, and wildlife conservation? Programmes such as SRUC senior phase courses and access education pathways allow students to move from school into college and university education.

Wild Science workshops introduce children to career pathways in science, animal care, conservation, and nature studies while keeping learning accessible and inspiring.

Flexible Workshops for Different Age Groups

Our back-to-school workshops suit a wide range of ages and learning stages.

Younger children enjoy gentle animal interaction, storytelling, simple science experiments, and sensory discovery. Primary students explore habitats, adaptations, and biology topics aligned with the curriculum.

Older students engage in deeper science topics, animal behaviour studies, and career-focused learning. University groups benefit from well-being sessions, animal science outreach, and social engagement activities.

Every workshop adapts to the group, timetable, and educational focus.

Designed for Teachers and Education Providers

Teachers play a key role in shaping learning experiences. That’s why our workshops are designed to support teaching goals and curriculum topics.

We work closely with schools to align sessions with science learning objectives, well-being programmes, and educational outcomes. Our sessions can complement British Science Week activities, which take place from March 6–15, 2026, and often see increased demand for animal and science workshops across the UK.

Schools also appreciate our professional delivery, clear learning structure, and flexible booking options.

Safety, Welfare, and Professional Standards

Education workshops involving animals must meet high standards of safety and welfare. At Wild Science, we prioritise professional delivery.

We provide written risk assessments for all animal encounters and science workshops. These are shared with schools and organisations in advance.

Animals are transported in comfortable enclosures and rotated regularly to prevent stress. Only animals suitable for interaction are included in sessions.

All workshops are delivered by experienced, DBS-checked staff who manage setup, supervision, hygiene protocols, and cleanup.

This approach ensures safe, ethical, and trusted learning experiences.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Workshops do not need to be held in classrooms. Many schools and families choose outdoor spaces, halls, community venues, and public learning centres.

Did you know that Museums such as the Manchester Museum and wildlife centres across the UK demonstrate how themed workshops build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking. These learning models inspire our own approach to flexible delivery.

Whether delivered indoors or outdoors, our travelling animal and science workshops connect learning to the real world.

Creating Unforgettable Learning Experiences

Children remember experiences more than worksheets. Travelling animal encounters and science workshops create moments that stay with students for years.

They encourage curiosity, support discovery, strengthen friendships, and build confidence. Students laugh, ask questions, and explore together. These moments support both academic growth and emotional development.

That is what fresh start learning is about. Not just starting the year with books, but starting with inspiration.

Easy Booking and Nationwide Availability

Wild Science workshops are available across the UK with flexible scheduling options. Schools, colleges, universities, and community groups can book sessions that fit their timetable and learning needs.

Early booking is recommended, especially during peak periods such as the September back-to-school season and British Science Week.

Our mobile service allows us to reach both urban and rural locations, making high-quality education accessible to more communities.

Give Students the Best Start This Academic Year

Fresh start learning is about more than returning to the classroom. It’s about building confidence, curiosity, skills, and joy in learning.

Animal and science workshops create powerful opportunities for children and students to connect with education in meaningful ways. Whether delivered in schools, colleges, universities, or community venues, these sessions help young people discover new interests and build lifelong learning habits.

If you are planning back-to-school activities and want to create engaging, educational, and unforgettable experiences, Wild Science is ready to support your students across the UK.

We booked a corporate animal therapy session as part of Mental Health Awareness week, and it was truly loved by everyone. The animal expert Harriet was absolutely fantastic - super knowledgable, engaging and clearly passionate about every animal she introduced us to.
The visit included a snake, rabbit, gerbil, snail and more - all of which were super theraputic! It was amazing to see how quickly the team relaxed and connected with the animals. Harriet created such a calm environment that even our more hesitant colleagues were soon happily holding the snake.
We can't recommend Wild Science highly enough - if you're looking to boost morale, reduce stress or just do something a little bit different for your team.

This experience is absolutely perfect for introducing young children to science! It’s amazing for teaching topics like vertebrate classifications or different types of species, even for children as young as 3! Harriet and her animals are wonderful! They are so calm, friendly, and engaging. You can really see how much she cares about both the animals and the children’s learning. Thank you for such a fantastic and educational experience! Highly recommended! 🦎 🐇 🐹

We were delighted to have both Shannon & Amy attend our free family event at Crystal Peaks shopping centre this Friday.
Their communication on the run-up to our event was great. On the day, the head office called us to check everything was ready & the hosts arrived in plenty of time.
We had a lot of very excited guests that got to enjoy a range of fascinating creatures throughout the day.
The team were great with the public & very knowledgeable about their little critters.
We can't recommend Wild Science enough.
Thank you for making our day so good.
🐌🐍🦎🐀🐛😍

Amazing experience with harriet, we had a birthday party for a 22year old and she was so lovely and explained everything very well. She gave us all enough time with each animal and even let us have mango the snake around our necks while we held other creatures!!
Everyone had an amazing time and the pictures came out wicked!! Even got a picture with carlos the crested gecko on the birthday boys head😆Thank you so much wild science and a big thank you to Harriet for being a great host☺️

What an incredible experience! Booked for my sister’s 31st birthday, we couldn’t have had a better time! Jess immediately made everyone feel at ease and relaxed, was incredibly attentive to my sister’s energy levels (she has severe M.E.), asking if she wanted to take breaks or lay quietly with a Guinea pig.
Jess shared her wealth of knowledge with us in a very humour filled way, answering any questions we had. The animals she brought with her were amazing and all seemed incredibly happy and healthy. Such a range of different animals, a lesser tenrec, a tree frog, two Guinea pigs, a tortoise, a scorpion, a giant snail and a python!
Thank you Jess for such a special birthday treat for my sister, and incredible memories for our whole family to cherish!

George Brown was booked for our granddaughter's birthday party. He and his wonderful animal friends enthralled everyone there from 2 years old to 70 somethings. George has a wonderful gift for communicating his knowledge and love of the animals he generously shared with us. Book him! You won't be disappointed.

Amazing experience with Harriet, we had a birthday party for a 22-year-old, and she was so lovely and explained everything very well. She gave us all enough time with each animal and even let us have Mango, the snake, around our necks while we held other creatures!
Everyone had an amazing time, and the pictures came out wicked!! Even got a picture with Carlos the crested gecko on the birthday boy's head😆
Thank you so much, Wild Science, and a big thank you to Harriet for being a great host☺️

Wholly recommended the experience with Wild Science. From the telephone call through to the day itself, the team are professional and very communicative. Harriet was amazing with the animals and children. Our birthday girl and friends had such a great time petting the animals (as much or as little as they wanted to). Harriet had some wonderful facts to share and responded so sensitively and helpfully to answer all questions the children had. Thanks so much- it was a delight to have you for our daughter’s birthday party.

We really enjoyed our experience with the reptiles, they were so calm and settled, just amazing and great ❤️

Great fun for kids the lady was very nice and the animals were cool

An unforgettable experience. Your kids will love it! We had Susie in Edinburgh, she was exceptionally good - with the animals and the kids, and the grown-ups too! We all had an amazing time. I highly recommend booking Susie for Wild Science if you're in Scotland. So many memories made!

Suzie held an event in Sandylands holiday park today and we had a ball! every animal is well cared for and beautiful. very versed on each animals needs and nature, took the time to explain certain facts and even sat down at the end of her time to talk more on her other animals! cannot recommend suzie enough!!

We booked a corporate animal therapy session as part of Mental Health Awareness week, and it was truly loved by everyone. [...] Harriet was absolutely fantastic - super knowledgable, engaging and clearly passionate about every animal she introduced us to. [...] Harriet created such a calm environment that even our more hesitant colleagues were soon happily holding the snake. We can't recommend Wild Science highly enough - if you're looking to boost morale, reduce stress or just do something a little bit different for your team.

Susie was at Parkdean in Saltcoats and it was a fantastic experience. Very knowledgeable and chatted and answered questions from children and adults. Loved it.

Made my child's summer holding a royal python!

Attended a group with my husband & kids. Youngest being 1 & it was incredible. Different kinds of animals, was able to hold what we could & pet the rest.
Thanks again for the incredible experience! Fidget was amazing & we are now thinking if adding ferrets to the family. I hope fidget enjoys his chicken 🐔

Kids had a total blast at Wild Science. So did mum!
We got to meet a cockroach, a snake, 2 geckos, a bearded dragon, a ferret, a mexican tarantula, and a bunny!
The lady was going to name a cockroach 🪳 after my son Leon 🤣 poor kid was peed and pooped on, it was sooo funny! Everyone had such a great time. Thanks for entertaining us. 😆

Animal visit (Summer Fair Gilmerton Community Centre)
The management committee would like to thank Susie and trainee Amy for bringing the animals to the Community Centres Summer Fair. Once again, they were very popular with adults and children. Those attending said they enjoyed meeting and learning about the animals up close.

We were delighted to have both Shannon & Amy attend our free family event at Crystal Peaks shopping centre this Friday. Their communication on the run-up to our event was great. On the day, the head office called us to check everything was ready & the hosts arrived in plenty of time. We had a lot of very excited guests that got to enjoy a range of fascinating creatures throughout the day. The team were great with the public & very knowledgeable about their little critters. We can't recommend Wild Science enough. Thank you for making our day so good.

The animal expert we were lucky enough to have from wild science was excellent. She even managed to keep the kids at a 7 year old birthday party relatively quiet and very interested. Would highly recommend.

It was a wonderful day had by all, the adults and children really had a great time every animal was explained in great detail and we will be booking them for further events

My son (4) and his friends had the most wonderful time! The scientist was totally able to engage their attention for over an hour and they had fun and learned so much too! Thanks for the best party!

We have used Wild Science for 3 years at our school. Each year they deliver wonderful sessions to Nursery and Reception children. We have never had any issues and would recommend them to everyone. The children love the experience and the animals and staff are amazing!

Thank you Wild Science for such an amazing party! Amy was super professional and had the kids eating out of the palm of her hand. My son absolutely loved the animals she brought and we were so impressed with how she handled the group (of 3-5 year olds) and gave them interesting and fun facts about each animal which kept all the kids interested and engaged. It was so much fun, we would highly recommend it!!!

Ross was absolutely amazing. So patient, kind and knowledgeable of the animals and the slime workshop. We had a party of 20 and with the madness that ensued he was always calm and reassuring for each child if they were apprehensive of holding any animal - big or small. Would 100% book Wild Science again, especially Ross.
Thank you for making our animal lovers birthday so special!

Ross came to my sons 3rd birthday, he was brilliant, the kids had a great time, the whole thing was really relaxed and everyone got a good amount of time with the animals and really enjoyed the experience - the customer service beforehand was really good, great communication and lots of questions answered - highly recommend!

We frequently take our mobile petting zoo outside! Please feel free to write to us or follow us on TikTok. Please feel free to like, review, or star any of our many TikTok videos (Wild_Science) that we have posted!!