School pets
Chickens!
Babs, Bunty, Ginger and Fowler have been with us for a year now. They are valued members of our school family and have taught our children (and staff) so much about care, growth, responsibility and empathy. We have a wonderful team of chicken monitors in year 6 who, alongside Mrs Judd, care for the chickens, clean out their enclosure, feed and hold them often.
Our chickens have a variety of enrichment activities. They love to play with reflective surfaces, bells, different textures and different sounds.
Each week, our chickens are fed a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables in addition to their chicken feed. We also feed them oyster shells and grit for calcium, to make their eggs strong. They like a variety of treats to peck too, with hanging feeders and blocks of seeds often making an apperance in their coop.
Our feathered friends were adopted from 'Fresh start for hens' who are a charity that provide safe and loving homes for hens who are no longer needed by commercial farms. We have been able to give them a great opportunity here at school.
They help to teach our children kindness, empathy and understanding as they navigate how to care for an animal. Our children love to visit our chickens.
Dog
Bailey is a Pointer/Labrador cross. He is Mrs Ward's dog. He occasionally visits school. He stays in Mrs Ward's office for most of the day but will pop out for regular toilet breaks. He doesn't interact with children in school - unless walking past. He supports the office as a well-being companion. He is friendly, loves cuddles and pinching tennis balls.
When he is in school, Mrs Ward puts this sign on her door so that we know when Bailey is in school.
He is very friendly and is a rescue dog himself. He is four years old and was born in Spain. A rescue program brought him over to Scotland, where he lived for a while. He then travelled to Birmingham. He lives at home with Mrs Ward. Sometimes the chickens also go home with Mrs Ward too (though they stay in their own hutch and not in Bailey's bed).
