More about SEN Animal Therapy
SEN Animal Therapy
Supporting Children Through Connection, Calm, and Confidence
Our SEN Animal Therapy Workshops provide a safe, nurturing environment where children and young people with special educational needs can build confidence, emotional regulation, and social skills through guided interaction with animals.
Using gentle, structured activities, our workshops support children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing differences, learning disabilities, and social-emotional challenges. Each session is designed to meet individual needs while promoting wellbeing, engagement, and enjoyment.
How Animal Therapy Helps
Animals offer non-judgmental companionship, helping children feel accepted and understood. Working alongside trained facilitators, participants are encouraged to interact with animals at their own pace, creating meaningful connections that support development and emotional growth.
Our workshops can help with:
- Emotional regulation and calming strategies
- Building confidence and self-esteem
- Improving communication and social interaction
- Reducing anxiety and stress
- Developing empathy and responsibility
- Sensory exploration in a controlled, supportive setting
What to Expect in a Workshop
Each workshop is carefully planned and fully inclusive, with built-in flexibility to support different abilities and comfort levels.
Sessions may include:
- Gentle animal interaction and handling
- Guided sensory activities
- Mindfulness and calming exercises
- Structured routines to support predictability
- Opportunities for choice, independence, and self-expression
Workshops can be delivered as one-off sessions or as part of a longer programme, and can be adapted for schools, alternative provision settings, community groups, or private bookings.
Safety, Experience, and Care
All animals involved are well-trained, calm, and welfare-focused, and sessions are led by experienced facilitators who understand SEN needs. Risk assessments, safeguarding procedures, and animal welfare standards are always in place to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.
What Animals are used?
A mix of Mammals, Reptiles/Amphibians and Invertebrates are used for this topic.
This variety helps stimulate cognitive development, supports problem-solving, and encourages decision-making through safe, tactile interaction.
In these SEN Animal Therapy interactive sessions, the animals provide participants with opportunities to observe, touch, hold, and engage with them—creating a meaningful experience that’s educational, therapeutic, and deeply personal.
Recommendation Session Duration & Ages:
We're excited to offer our SEN Animal Therapy Workshop, designed for individuals of all ages and abilities. Each session is tailored to meet your unique needs, ensuring a wonderful experience for everyone.
We recommend a workshop duration of 45 minutes to 1 hour for maximum engagement, but if you’d like more, we’d be delighted to extend it! For those interested in a full-day experience, we provide 6 exciting one-hour sessions, making it a perfect fit for students of all years or for your larger events.
