School Therapy Animals
Our School Therapy animals helps us to provide emotional support for our pupils.
We have two therapy guinea pigs called Pig and Blanket and a tortoise called Cutecumber. If you look closely, you will also find fish around the school!
Pig and Blanket are a incredibly friendly and love to be cuddled and fed vegetables! They joined our St Joseph's family in 2023 and are now very at home in their own hutch in the school hall. Cutecumber, a more recent addition, arrived early in 2025 and has already made himself at home. He very much enjoys a warm bath on a cold day!
The guinea pigs and tortoise support our ELSA team by visiting classes as well as working with some pupils on an individual basis to provide friendship and confidence. ildren take part in various acitivies with them, including petting them, reading to them, confiding in them as well as feeding them and taking care of their enclosures. They provide a listening ear without any judgement.
There is a great deal of research to show that there are many benefits from using a school therapy animals. They can enhance psychological development, improve social skills and increase self-esteem.They can also teach responsibility, compassion and respect for other living things.
Up until very recently we had 10 rescue chickens which we adored. The children enjoyed taking care of them and collecting the eggs. Unfortunately the pandemic and lockdown made it increasingly difficult for us to ensure they were cared for sufficiently and thankfully Mrs Butterfield's father stepped in and took them to a wonderful spacious new home.
https://www.winsfordguardian.co.uk/news/17698726.headline/
