Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an increasingly popular and effective intervention, offering emotional, social, and psychological benefits. Many school leaders and SEN professionals across the UK are looking for ways to introduce animal therapy sessions on site. Whether supporting children with autism or helping pupils to manage their anxiety, AAT provides a unique and fun way to enhance wellbeing. To maximise the impact of these sessions, it’s essential to have a dedicated environment that supports both the individuals and the therapy animals. A log cabin or modular timber building is the perfect solution - offering a calm, safe, and flexible space for meaningful interactions to take place. Let's discuss this more...
Animal-assisted therapy & Education
What is animal-assisted therapy?
Animal-assisted therapy (also referred to as animal-facilitated therapy, animal-assisted interventions or AAT), is a therapeutic intervention which involves interacting with or observing animals to support emotional, social and mental wellbeing. It can take place in a number of settings, such as at schools and other educational settings, hospices, hospitals, nursing homes and more. Animal-assisted therapy can look different for different people and at different settings, and can involve a range of animals. Some of the most common animals are therapy dogs, therapy horses, therapy rabbits and therapy cats.
What are the benefits of animal-assisted therapy?
There are so many benefits to animal-assisted therapy! It's a great intervention to support a variety of conditions, such as; anxiety, depression, autism, and PTSD. Here are the key benefits of AAT:
1. Reduces stress and anxiety
Interacting with animals can lower cortisol levels while increasing serotonin and oxytocin levels. This makes AAT great for managing/reducing anxiety and stress, a well as improving overall mood and general wellbeing.
2. Improves social interaction
Interacting with animals is a natural way to encourage communication and relationship-building. For individuals who struggle with communication and social skills, AAT can help them to develop confidence in interactions. This can help people to create meaningful connections in other areas of life, such with their peers at school.
3. Enhances self-regulation & sensory regulation
By engaging with animals in a structured setting, individuals learn to recognise and manage their emotions more effectively. This can be especially beneficial for those with behavioural challenges or emotional dysregulation. For individuals who experience sensory overload, such as those with autism, interacting with animals can have a grounding and calming effect. Gentle petting, listening to an animal’s breathing, or simply watching their movements can really help with regulation.
4. Strengthens connection to nature
Animal-assisted therapy encourages individuals to engage with nature, which brings a wealth of benefits in itself! Connecting with nature increases mindfulness, relaxation, and creates a greater appreciation of the environment and wildlife around us, to name but a few.
6. Teaches responsibility and animal care
Caring for animals instils a sense of responsibility, routine, and empathy. It helps individuals develop essential life skills or soft skills while encouraging compassion and patience.
7. Builds self-confidence and group work skills
Whether working independently in a 1-1 intervention or as part of a group, interacting with animals in a non-judgmental environment can boost self belief and encourage teamwork, cooperation, and problem-solving skills.
8. Encourages emotional expression
Many children and young people find it easier to open up about their thoughts and feelings when interacting with animals. AAT provides a safe and comforting space for emotional expression, reducing feelings of isolation and any particular social pressures.
9. Acts as a social bridge
Animals serve as a neutral, comforting presence that can help individuals engage in social interactions. This is particularly beneficial for children and young people with communication difficulties, as animals provide a reassuring and pressure-free way to connect with others.
Animal assisted therapy in schools and educational settings
Schools are increasingly recognising the benefits of animal-facilitated therapy or animal-assisted interventions and are implementing them in various ways, including:
Visiting animal therapy organisations: Schools may invite external AAT providers to bring therapy animals to interact with students.
School trips to farms and sanctuaries: Organising visits to working farms or animal sanctuaries to provide hands-on experiences with animals.
On-site animal therapy: Some schools keep animals on-site, such as therapy dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, or even farm animals like goats and alpacas.
AAT can be particularly beneficial in SEN settings, alternative provision, and education other than at school (EOTAS) provisions, offering a therapeutic alternative to traditional education environments. It can be great for helping pupils to combat difficulties like school phobia. AAT is also great for mainstream primary schools and secondary schools looking to add another dimension of wellbeing support for their pupils. It's also a great programme for higher education settings to support post 16 and post 18 students with exam pressures or the stresses of college and university life.
Why space matters
For all types of educational providers and educational settings looking to introduce animal-facilitated interventions on site, having the right space is an essential factor. AAT requires suitable dedicated provisions to maximise its impact for pupils. That's where high-quality, purpose-built outdoor buildings come in. At Cabins for Schools, we can design, manufacture and install specialised animal-therapy buildings for animal care, animal therapy and outdoor learning activities.
Animal-assisted therapy at Portland College
Portland Charity, who run Portland College in Mansfield, has been supporting people with disabilities since 1950. They provide education, care, and employability support to help individuals with disabilities have positive futures. At Portland College, they have some beloved resident donkeys which they incorporate into their therapy sessions to support young people with SEND.
How did we help?
Portland College decided to take AAT to the next level by choosing our experts at Cabins for Schools to create an outdoor building where animal interaction sessions and animal care lessons could take place year-round. We designed and installed a bespoke redwood outdoor classroom style modular building for them. This high-quality outdoor building provides Portland College with extra space for outdoor activities, perfect for animal therapy provision. We agreed that adding a veranda would be a great for their requirements, as the veranda would provide an extra element of shelter for their donkeys! With the building having large glass windows and doors, the young people attending Portland College can choose to observe the donkeys from indoors should they wish, or join them under the veranda for petting sessions or animal care lessons. This makes the space accessible for a variety of people's needs.
Animal-facilitated therapy at Nanny Sharon's Alpaca Farm
In 2022, Nanny Sharon’s Alpaca Farm in Prenton became a registered Community Interest Company, operating as a non-profit organisation. It is a therapeutic farm offering animal-assisted interventions for children and young people. They offer a range of animal interaction sessions, such as alpaca walks and petting sessions with goats, rabbits, ponies and more.
How did we help?
Nanny Sharon's Alpaca Farm needed extra space to facilitate their animal-assisted therapy sessions. Importantly, they needed AAT provisions which could accommodate wheelchair users. It was crucial that their sessions were accessible to everyone so that everybody could enjoy the farm's benefits equally. They required additional outdoor buildings which could combat the typical British weather and allow for therapy sessions to continue year-round. So, we installed three 17m² cabins on site to create ample versatile space. Now, their essential animal-assisted interventions can continue through rain or shine.
Why a log cabin or outdoor classroom is the perfect space for AAT
Creating a dedicated environment for AAT is essential to ensuring its success. A well-designed space, such as a Cabins for Schools log cabin or outdoor classroom, provides the ideal setting by offering:
A safe and calm space
This is important because many children and young people who benefit from Animal-therapy sessions require a setting which feels safe and secure. You should provide a quiet environment away from the hustle and bustle of a busy school or care facility to help individuals to feel comfortable and relaxed during therapy sessions.
All-weather use
A log cabin or outdoor classroom provides shelter from the elements, allowing therapy sessions to take place year-round.
Connection to nature
Outdoor buildings truly bring the outside in. Being surrounded by nature enhances the therapeutic experience, allowing for a deeper connection to animals and the environment.
Flexibility for various needs
Our bespoke timber buildings can be tailored to suit different therapy styles, from one-on-one sessions to small group interactions depending on the requirements at your setting.
Dedicated space for animal care
With proper storage and facilities, log cabins or modular buildings can support the care and welfare of on-site therapy animals.
Animal-assisted therapy offers a holistic and nurturing approach to education and wellbeing. Whether through on-site animals, visiting therapy providers, or school trips, AAT provides a unique way for students to learn, grow, and connect with the world around them. By integrating AAT into schools, we can create more inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environments for all students. By investing in a log cabin or outdoor classroom, schools and therapy providers can ensure a high-quality AAT experience that maximises the benefits for all involved.
We can design, manufacture and install the perfect bespoke space for animal-facilitated therapies, animal care activities or other outdoor learning and support activities. Check out our pricing guide for example project prices, or speak to a member of our team to discuss your ideas and requirements! We can't wait to take support provision to the next level at your school or other educational setting.
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