Birds of Prey help pupils spread their wings
Our regular sessions with Berkshire Birds of Prey are continuing this autumn after a successful trial period last academic year. The birds will be in school every Tuesday to work with pupils, staff and class groups offering opportunities to develop communication, speech and language, sensory and processing skills as well as building confidence and improving wellbeing.
Birds of Prey may seem an unlikely therapy animal but Angela, Head of Berkshire Birds of Prey and an experienced Special Educational Needs teacher, says “Birds have a sixth sense and can pick up when working with anyone with additional needs or mental health issues.”
The programme that was piloted last year has established a rota so that the birds visit every class at least once a term. In addition Angela and her team work with pupils on a 1-1 or 2-1 basis. Last year they saw improvements in school attendance, physio, speech and language, behaviour and non-verbal communication amongst the students they worked with.
The Birds of Prey visit the PMLD classes more regularly and these sessions have had particularly good results. For example, students will make eye contact with the birds and the handlers who spend time with each pupil. Another pupil flaps his arms and legs enthusiastically when he sees the birds copying the way the birds flap their wings.
“We are trying to give them something exciting but we also know the birds have a calming effect. We see students visibly relax when we stroke them with feathers or massage their feet,” explained Angela.
They are also working with some students on a 2-1 or 1-1 basis to help build communication skills and confidence. Teachers have reported improvement in these students who have taken part in the sessions with the birds, saying they have grown as a person, come out of themselves and are more willing to contribute in class. These sessions can also provide literacy support. Students are more willing to write and teachers have seen overall improvements in English lessons.
They have worked with a student who was non-verbal by choice and helped them to strengthen their core muscles and muscles in their voice box to help build their physical strength to speak as well as giving them the confidence to do so.
They work with the school and adapt the programme to fit with school activities; for example in Arts Week they got students to help create a sensory picture of an owl. The team work with other secondary students to build confidence and provide a space where they can talk and be listened too, improving mental health.
Clare Walker, Therapy Manager at Arbour Vale School, says, “We are very lucky to have been able to tailor the weekly visits to meet the needs of a large number of students across the school and this targeted approach is having real impact.”
One student who is particularly keen on working with the birds has been undertaking work experience and helps by taking the birds into other classes. He able to talk to the younger students about the birds, what they like to feed on and their how they would live in the wild. He has been trained to handle the birds and manage interactions with students in class. He is also learning technical skills such as the falconry knot, a special knot used on the leash that tethers the birds.
After school there is a 30 minute session for staff and those who attend regularly say it has a positive impact on their wellbeing as just a few minutes sat holding a bird helps them to calm their breathing and reflect on the day.
Parent Group and Governors have also dropped in and had the chance to see for themselves the positive benefits of the Birds of Prey sessions. Angela and her team also brought a selection of owls to the opening of the new modular building at the school and showcased the therapeutical value of the Birds of Prey to visitors from Slough Council, leaders of the Academy Trust and other stakeholders who had been involved in the project.
The school continues to assess the impact of these sessions on the students. A WOW board is used to record only the most exceptional moments. These include a very quiet student giving instructions to their peers. We are sure there will be plenty more successes to celebrate this year as the team continue to bring their unique feathery brand of therapy to Arbour Vale students this year.
To find out more about Berkshire Birds please use the link below
