Animals in the Setting

Children learn about the natural world, its animals and other living creatures, as part of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children learn a great deal from animals; from their care to the environment and their diversity. We feel it is important to offer our children the opportunity to have contact with animals either in the setting or in the wider environment. We ensure that this is in accordance with sensible hygiene and safety controls through risk assessment.      

Our preschool keeps Peking bantam chickens in our outdoor space – during session they are free to roam. Children are taught not to chase the chickens but to care for them, they can help with jobs to feed them, clean them out and collect the eggs to take home. We also have 2 guinea pigs (Simon and Theodore) who live in a run at preschool (except in cold months when they are taken home by staff overnight), children are taught how to care for them and handle them with care, health and safety procedures are in place for this including regular risk assessment.

Occasionally we have animals visit the setting, the owner carries out a risk assessment prior to the visit. Children are shown how to carefully handle the animals if applicable, and how to behave near them i.e. quietly and gently, they are encouraged to wash their hands after holding animals and not to put their hands in their mouth.

Jan 24