Home Education sessions on the farm offer an opportunity for Home educated young people to learn about our animals, engage with nature, and make friends!
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Home Education sessions at Southampton City Farm!
Running every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 1 - 2:30, and Wednesday mornings 10:30 - 12. Tuesday is aimed at ages: 11-16 Wednesday is aimed at ages: 5-11 Thursday is aimed at ages: 5-11 If siblings are different age ranges and want to join the same activity, please drop us an email so we are aware ahead of time on: [email protected] Southampton City Farm strives to create an inclusive, holistic learning environment where children can join in with practical and creative activities. The group runs with a maximum of 8 young people, across all age groups. Adults are welcome to participate in learning, or stay for a cup of tea in our community room/café. Each session will include a practical task such as mucking out, grooming, feeding, growing vegetables for animal food, and creative learning which includes drawing from life, natural art, building bug-hotels. Supporting SEN learners is at the core of what we do. We believe that provision built for children with SEN improves learning for everyone. We do ask that all young people are respectful, use kind words, and are kind to others. Any adults/carers/parents who join the session, please do support your young person with this farm ethos. Although the activity is run by a member of staff, we do ask that all adults are responsible for their child's behaviour within the session. We do not allow younger siblings not booked on to join the sessions as we like to keep the groups small and focussed. |
Cost:
£10 per child through the booking system |
What will you be doing?
When we can, we will be posting specific session plans below to help with what to expect!
While we hope to keep the content of sessions the same as advertised, plans may need to change on the day if the weather is particularly wet or windy.
2026 Dates and activities - now live on our system
Farm tour: Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th May
• An introduction to farm life with our staff, giving a hands on and interactive tour of our farm and garden. This will include handling, feeding, and grooming activities.
Poultry and Pigs week: Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st May
• Clean out the chicken and duck coops and refresh them with fresh food, water, grit and bedding ready for bed
• Meet our rescue chickens and turkeys in our Safe Wings Sanctuary
• Create enrichment for the chickens, ducks, or pigs!
• Chicken handling and feeding them some corn
HALF TERM (26th, 27th, 28th May)– NO HOME EDUCATION SESSIONS
Goat and Sheep care week: Tuesday 2nd, Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th June
• Clean out the barn where the goats and sheep sleep and refresh the pens with hay, straw, water and food ready for bed
• Feed Hay to the goats and sheep (go in the field with Pygmy goats, Nubian goats, Guernsey goats and Sheep)
• Groom the goats and take the goats for a walk around the farm
Small Animal care week: Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th June
• Clean out the guinea pig and rabbit enclosures and refresh with clean bedding
• Prepare the guinea pigs, rabbits, and reptiles lunch - chop up veg and forage for weeds and greens from the garden
• Guinea pig and reptile handling, grooming or bathing.
• Small animal health checks and weighing.
Woodland and animals: Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th June
• We will start the session in our woodlands and toast marshmallows round a fire; we will also include a variety of woodland activities. After that we will meet some of our smaller animals like the guinea pigs and reptiles, learning how to handle them and feed them some treats.
• (Due to the woodlands being unavailable on Wednesday mornings, the Wednesday group will be animal interaction based)
Farm tour: Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June
• An introduction to farm life with our staff, giving a hands on and interactive tour of our farm and garden. This will include handling, feeding, and grooming activities.
Poultry and Pigs week: Tuesday 30th June, Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd July
• Clean out the chicken and duck coops and refresh them with fresh food, water, grit and bedding ready for bed
• Meet our rescue chickens and turkeys in our Safe Wings Sanctuary
• Create enrichment for the chickens, ducks, or pigs!
• Chicken handling and feeding them some corn
Goat and Sheep care week: Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th July
• Clean out the barn where the goats and sheep sleep and refresh the pens with hay, straw, water and food ready for bed
• Feed Hay to the goats and sheep (go in the field with Pygmy goats, Nubian goats, Guernsey goats and Sheep)
• Groom the goats and take the goats for a walk around the farm
Small Animal care week: Tuesday 14th, Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th July
• Clean out the guinea pig and rabbit enclosures and refresh with clean bedding
• Prepare the guinea pigs, rabbits, and reptiles lunch - chop up veg and forage for weeds and greens from the garden
• Guinea pig and reptile handling, grooming or bathing.
• Small animal health checks and weighing.
HOME EDUCATION SESSIONS NOW FINISHED – SESSIONS CONTINUE IN SEPTEMBER
PLEASE NOTE - WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE SESSION IS "GENERAL FARM TOUR, HANDLING, AND FEEDING" AS WOODLAND IS UNAVAILABLE ONWEDNESDAY MORNINGS.
PLEASE NOTE - WEDNESDAY 18TH SESSION IS "GENERAL FARM TOUR, HANDLING, AND FEEDING" AS WOODLAND IS UNAVAILABLE ONWEDNESDAY MORNINGS.
While we hope to keep the content of sessions the same as advertised, plans may need to change on the day if the weather is particularly wet or windy.
2026 Dates and activities - now live on our system
Farm tour: Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th May
• An introduction to farm life with our staff, giving a hands on and interactive tour of our farm and garden. This will include handling, feeding, and grooming activities.
Poultry and Pigs week: Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st May
• Clean out the chicken and duck coops and refresh them with fresh food, water, grit and bedding ready for bed
• Meet our rescue chickens and turkeys in our Safe Wings Sanctuary
• Create enrichment for the chickens, ducks, or pigs!
• Chicken handling and feeding them some corn
HALF TERM (26th, 27th, 28th May)– NO HOME EDUCATION SESSIONS
Goat and Sheep care week: Tuesday 2nd, Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th June
• Clean out the barn where the goats and sheep sleep and refresh the pens with hay, straw, water and food ready for bed
• Feed Hay to the goats and sheep (go in the field with Pygmy goats, Nubian goats, Guernsey goats and Sheep)
• Groom the goats and take the goats for a walk around the farm
Small Animal care week: Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th June
• Clean out the guinea pig and rabbit enclosures and refresh with clean bedding
• Prepare the guinea pigs, rabbits, and reptiles lunch - chop up veg and forage for weeds and greens from the garden
• Guinea pig and reptile handling, grooming or bathing.
• Small animal health checks and weighing.
Woodland and animals: Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th June
• We will start the session in our woodlands and toast marshmallows round a fire; we will also include a variety of woodland activities. After that we will meet some of our smaller animals like the guinea pigs and reptiles, learning how to handle them and feed them some treats.
• (Due to the woodlands being unavailable on Wednesday mornings, the Wednesday group will be animal interaction based)
Farm tour: Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June
• An introduction to farm life with our staff, giving a hands on and interactive tour of our farm and garden. This will include handling, feeding, and grooming activities.
Poultry and Pigs week: Tuesday 30th June, Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd July
• Clean out the chicken and duck coops and refresh them with fresh food, water, grit and bedding ready for bed
• Meet our rescue chickens and turkeys in our Safe Wings Sanctuary
• Create enrichment for the chickens, ducks, or pigs!
• Chicken handling and feeding them some corn
Goat and Sheep care week: Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th July
• Clean out the barn where the goats and sheep sleep and refresh the pens with hay, straw, water and food ready for bed
• Feed Hay to the goats and sheep (go in the field with Pygmy goats, Nubian goats, Guernsey goats and Sheep)
• Groom the goats and take the goats for a walk around the farm
Small Animal care week: Tuesday 14th, Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th July
• Clean out the guinea pig and rabbit enclosures and refresh with clean bedding
• Prepare the guinea pigs, rabbits, and reptiles lunch - chop up veg and forage for weeds and greens from the garden
• Guinea pig and reptile handling, grooming or bathing.
• Small animal health checks and weighing.
HOME EDUCATION SESSIONS NOW FINISHED – SESSIONS CONTINUE IN SEPTEMBER
PLEASE NOTE - WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE SESSION IS "GENERAL FARM TOUR, HANDLING, AND FEEDING" AS WOODLAND IS UNAVAILABLE ONWEDNESDAY MORNINGS.
PLEASE NOTE - WEDNESDAY 18TH SESSION IS "GENERAL FARM TOUR, HANDLING, AND FEEDING" AS WOODLAND IS UNAVAILABLE ONWEDNESDAY MORNINGS.
