Over the past two days, we have had the absolute pleasure of visiting McMillan Nursery School in Hull — and what a lovely couple of days it has been.
From the moment we arrived, the children welcomed the animals with so much excitement, curiosity and kindness. Watching them gently interact, ask questions and build confidence around the animals was incredibly special to see.
Across the two-day visit, the children had the opportunity to meet a variety of our therapy and education animals, including reptiles, small mammals and some of our more unusual animal friends. From carefully stroking a snake to holding a hedgehog wrapped up cosy in a blanket, meeting a sugar glider for the first time, every interaction was approached with patience, encouragement and lots of smiles.
A large number of the children we met had additional needs and SEN, and it was wonderful to see how naturally animals helped create calm, engaging and pressure-free interactions. For some children, the sessions encouraged communication and curiosity. For others, simply sitting quietly near an animal, watching them move or experiencing different textures and sensory experiences was just as important.
Animals can provide such a unique form of connection within SEN and early years environments. They help create opportunities for:
- Confidence building
- Communication and language development
- Emotional regulation
- Sensory exploration
- Gentle social interaction
- Curiosity-led learning
- Calm and positive engagement
One of the loveliest things to witness was seeing children who were initially unsure gradually build the confidence to interact in their own time. There was no pressure, just gentle encouragement and the opportunity to engage in a way that felt comfortable for them.
The staff at McMillan Nursery School were incredibly welcoming and supportive throughout the two days, and it was clear how much care they put into creating an inclusive environment for every child.
As always, animal welfare remained our highest priority throughout the sessions. Every interaction is closely monitored to ensure the experience remains calm, safe and positive for both the children and the animals.
We truly feel privileged to do work that creates these kinds of moments. Seeing children smile, engage, learn and connect through animals is exactly why Furry Friends Animal Therapy exists.
We are also incredibly mindful that for many children, especially those with SEN, learning does not always happen best through traditional classroom approaches. Animal-assisted sessions can provide a much more natural, hands-on and emotionally safe way for children to explore, communicate and connect with the world around them.
Some of the most meaningful moments across the two days were often the quietest ones — children gently reaching out to touch an animal for the first time, smiling while observing them closely, or becoming completely absorbed in the experience through curiosity and sensory engagement. Those small moments of confidence and connection are so important.
Visits like these also help teach empathy, patience and respect for living creatures from an early age. By learning how to interact calmly and kindly with animals, children are not only building confidence around animals themselves, but also developing emotional awareness and social skills that can support them far beyond the session.
A huge thank you to all the wonderful children and staff at McMillan Nursery School for having us. We cannot wait to visit again. 🐾
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