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 Tuesday is aimed at ages: 11-16 Thursday is aimed at ages: 5-10 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.
Goat and Sheep care week:
Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th December
Small Animal care week:
Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th December
Woodland and animals:
Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th December
2026 Dates and activities - now live on our system
Farm tour: Tuesday 6th and Thursday 8th January
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 13th and Thursday 15th January
· 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 20th and Thursday 22nd January
· 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 27th and Thursday 29th January
· 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 3rd and Thursday 5th February
· 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.
Farm tour: Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th February
· 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.
- Half term – 17th + 19th February -
Poultry and Pigs week: Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th February
· 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 3rd and Thursday 5th March
· 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 10th and Thursday 12th March
· 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 17th and Thursday 19th March
· 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.
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.
Goat and Sheep care week:
Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th December
- 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 and Thursday 11th December
- 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, rabbit, and reptiles handling, grooming or bathing.
- Small animal health checks and weighing.
Woodland and animals:
Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th December
- We will start the session meeting and feeding treats to some of our smaller animals like the guinea pigs then we will go into our woodlands and toast marshmallows round a fire. We will also include a variety of woodland activities.
2026 Dates and activities - now live on our system
Farm tour: Tuesday 6th and Thursday 8th January
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 13th and Thursday 15th January
· 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 20th and Thursday 22nd January
· 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 27th and Thursday 29th January
· 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 3rd and Thursday 5th February
· 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.
Farm tour: Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th February
· 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.
- Half term – 17th + 19th February -
Poultry and Pigs week: Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th February
· 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 3rd and Thursday 5th March
· 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 10th and Thursday 12th March
· 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 17th and Thursday 19th March
· 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.
AQA Accredited Certification course for Home Ed sessions!
We are proud to offer a bespoke and child-led certification and learning programme, suitable for individuals or groups of all ages and abilities. Our programme is also SEND-friendly, with tailored support available to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve.
With our rescued and rehomed animals, extensive garden, and nature-rich setting, we have created a unique learning environment ideal for practical and land-based education. We offer a wide selection of AQA units, which can be taken individually or as part of a themed portfolio. These include:
Price: A one off lifetime registration fee of £40 is required - but this gets you unlimited certificates.
If you were interested in signing a young person up for this opportunity, please check the AQA courses page for home ed specific workshops!
We are proud to offer a bespoke and child-led certification and learning programme, suitable for individuals or groups of all ages and abilities. Our programme is also SEND-friendly, with tailored support available to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve.
With our rescued and rehomed animals, extensive garden, and nature-rich setting, we have created a unique learning environment ideal for practical and land-based education. We offer a wide selection of AQA units, which can be taken individually or as part of a themed portfolio. These include:
- Animal Husbandry and Care
- Management of Exotic Animals
- Equine Management
- Introduction to Farming
- Poultry
- Mental Health, Emotions & Wellbeing
- Sustainability & Conservation – exploring nature, wildlife & the outdoors
- Life Skills
- Arts, Crafts, Design & Building Projects
Price: A one off lifetime registration fee of £40 is required - but this gets you unlimited certificates.
If you were interested in signing a young person up for this opportunity, please check the AQA courses page for home ed specific workshops!
