SCHOOLS OUT
‘Our pigs bring the school and local community together’
I
Waterside’s new additions have been a hit with pupils, staff and PTA alike – no porkies Some teachers take their classes
n 2022 the headteacher wanted to find a way to build community spirit at the school after Covid. There were lots of suggestions for
getting animals involved, and pigs came out on top! For a start, they’re hypoallergenic,
which is a big consideration in a school, and they’re simple to look after, with a bit of knowledge. We approached Kew Little Pigs
(
kewlittlepigs.com) – a local petting farm – to ask for advice, and soon three of their pigs had a new home at the school in a specially built paddock. The pupils named them Dobby,
Cow Pig and Socks, and they make such a difference to the children, especially those who have extra learning needs. I joined the PTA over a year ago
and have become very involved with the pigs. Kew Little Pigs still comes to visit and offer tips, and two teachers look after the animals during the school terms.
58 SPRING 2025 School Fundraising
into the pigs’ pen. It can be as often as three or four classes a day, twice a week, so they’re socialised, well-fed animals. The PTA steps in when needed:
we’ve just bought a shed to store their food and a new pen. My job is to fix things. In the summer holidays there’s a PTA rota, and we sign up to go in and feed the pigs. While I was building the shed, I
watched the children come and go to the paddock. Those with more severe learning needs went in with the teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. It was really touching to see
them get involved. The pigs are so gentle – they may give each other a bit of a shove sometimes, but with the children, they just lay down and enjoy getting tickled and fed. They especially love bread and vegetables. The children learn a lot – a sense
of care and responsibility, routine and jobs to do. They know what to feed the pigs, what not to feed them and how much water to give. There’s also a real calming influence that comes with the interaction. The teachers benefit too! The PTA budget for the pigs is
£700 a year, which covers vet bills and basic food. On top of that we beg and fundraise for extra hay and straw throughout the year. Recently, the local community
The children learn a lot – a sense of care and
responsibility, routine and jobs to do
stepped in to assist us. As soon as we said: ‘The primary school needs help,’ the local tree surgeon turned up to put woodchip down because the pen gets very muddy. It’s definitely a support network, with the teachers, the PTA and the community all mucking in. Michael Kearton, PTA member, Waterside Primary Academy School PTA, Chesham, Bucks (200 pupils)
AS TOLD TO SARAH LOTHIAN
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
