Pupils struggling with formal education settings, perhaps also with trauma and other special needs, can be referred by the Education Authority to Elysian Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning.

Here in Liss, functional skills - like Maths and English with qualifications - are gained by working with teachers and therapists, and  also looking after the sheep, goats, horses, hens, an owl, a tree frog and three emus; Burt, Betty and Barney. 

Jo Mumford, the Senior Head of Education, speaks to Mike Waddington about the work here and why she transferred from being Head Teacher at a Primary School, to this very different way of teaching and learning, for children with special educational needs.

The farm also includes a goat breeding programme and 11 kids are due in the next few weeks!

Shine Radio also employed Ronald the cockerel for our early morning cock a doodle do!

Mike's wife Jane, is a teacher at Elysian.

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