Information for Schools

Thank you for your interest in booking a school visit with us. You can read more about our school visits here if you haven't already.

This information page will provide you all of the logistical information you should need to confirm and plan your visit.

Facilitators

Our schools visits, Animal Assisted Interventions and Land Based Care Farm activities are run by Amy and Carly. Amy is our safeguarding lead, Carly our deputy, both hold enhanced DBS.

Amy holds a CEVAS Therapeutic Care Farming Level 2 qualification and runs our land based activities and alpaca experiences.

Carly is trained in CameliDynamics, Animal Assisted Activity and Animal Assisted Interventions as well as offering our well-being activities as a registered yoga and meditation facilitator.

Session Plan & Logistics

School visits to Hideaway Wood Farm can take a number of forms depending on the needs and interests of your group.

Sessions last for 3 hours between a window of 10am-2pm.

You can offer suggestions and input as to how you would like the sessions to run and what you would like to include or you can leave all of that to us.

We have found that generally less is more as the children tend to really enjoy time and space to explore the land and spend time with the animals and each other. This also allows the children to be self-directed and autonomous, guiding the sessions with their questions, interests and curiosities keeping them engaged and interested.

Sessions can include:

In paddock alpaca encounters
Alpaca walking
Alpaca mindfulness sessions
Handling pen meet and greet sessions with the alpacas
Learning about alpaca care, husbandry and alpaca behaviour
Sharing information about their Andean heritage, history and uses
Fibre crafts including needle felting
Crafting with natural clay from our stream
Sensory explorations with the alpaca fleece and natural clay
Active play, nature connection and exploration in our ancient woodland and stream
Seasonally adapted land based activities such as working in the allotment and planting seeds
Getting involved with our daily farm jobs
Tree & hedge planting
Team games
Bushcraft
Marshmallows around the campfire (if permission is given)
Plenty of time for Q&A from the children

Example session:

10am - arrivals and settling in, welcome and introduction to the farm, health and safety briefing
10:15am - alpaca encounter in the paddock including information about alpaca care, behaviour and uses/heritage, time for Q&A, sharing about their personalities, names and quirks

11am - snacks/marshmallows around the fire

11:30am - active play in the woodland and stream, clay crafting or needle felting with alpaca fleece in the shelter (weather dependent)

12:30pm - lunch

1pm - departures

Even if we design a structure for your session, the sessions remain flexible to the needs of the individuals and group on the day and to the weather conditions.

We are understanding of the needs of SEND children and our environment and offerings are inclusive and welcoming of a diverse range of sensory and emotional needs. Unfortunately we are not yet fully accessible though we're working on that!

Your children are welcome as they are.

Facilities

The Hideout - our rustic outdoor shelter with sofas, chairs, stoves for tea making with views over the land and surrounding countryside
The Lookout - our rustic undercover dining area complete with bunting and fairy lights
Woodland parachute - complete with firepit
Undercover hand washing and dishwashing facilities
Woodland with hammocks
Stream
Composting toilets
Wam showers

Accessibility

We are understanding of the needs of SEND children and our environment and offerings are inclusive and welcoming of a diverse range of sensory and emotional needs. Unfortunately we are not yet fully accessible as a working farm with uneven ground and no fully accessible toilets but we're working on that!

Parking

Our parking capacity depends on the ground and time of year. In the summer we have plenty of parking but in the autumn and winter we have a maximum of 30 spaces, so we encourage car sharing, or using public transport to reduce your carbon footprint.

We have space for a coach/minibus to park.

Payment & Pricing

If you book 3 visits with us your first visit will be free (sessions to be used in a 12 month period from the date of your first session).

Guide price of £370 per visit.

Preparations

In order for your children to get the most out of their time on the farm please ensure they are prepared for being outdoors in all weathers.

This may include:

Wet weather gear (wellies, all in one rain suits, rain coats).
Hot weather gear (suncream, sun hats, appropriate clothing).
Cold weather gear (gloves, scarves, hats, jumpers, coats, lots of layers).
A change of clothes (always a good plan, especially when visiting the stream!).
A towel if your children plan to paddle in the stream
Water bottle (mains water refills available on site).
Snacks (we don't provide food or snacks aside from marshmallows if approved).
Appropriate footwear (wellies/boots - all visitors will be asked to dip their shoes to protect our alpacas from outside infections - we can provide pool shoe covers if preferred).

Policies

Click below to read our policies.

First Aid Policy

Health & Safety Policy

Infection Control Policy

Environment & Sustainability Policy

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

Modern Slavery Policy

Safeguarding Children

Risk Assessment - this is a live working document and available upon request