Special needs sessions

‘The session was excellent and a highlight of the day. Debbie was clear and interesting - a great session.’
Class teacher, special needs teacher, March 2009.

‘Dave and Amy pitched it really well, good pace, good use of signs and simple language. I liked their approach to the young people, offering them to look, touch or hold. Good use of pictures with the autistic young people.’
Senior teacher, special needs school, February 2010.

Session details

We provide sessions for different ability groups, and can cater for mild or complex learning difficulties, and physical, emotional or behavioural difficulties. We can suggest suitable topics, and will ensure the level is appropriate for the group’s needs.

We use large and small images of animals with corresponding biofacts (see below), as well as live animals. We may also use some makaton signing.
 

Duration: 45 or 55 minutes.

Classrooms: We will use one of our four themed classrooms to create an exciting learning environment.

Animals: You may meet up to three live animals per session (unless otherwise stated). Animals include tame reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates.

Biofacts: We use items such as skins, furs, tusks, horns, shells and stuffed specimens in most sessions (many are confiscations from HM Revenue and Customs).

Multimedia: Short film clips are often shown to support your chosen topic. Close-up cameras may be used to show extra detail of our smaller animals.

Flexible sessions

When you complete your booking form, please include as much information as possible about the areas you would like us to cover – we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Session topics

You may choose a ‘discovery session’ designed for special educational needs groups as described above. If your group is studying a specific topic, look up the session details under the different key stages and age groups.

Accessibility

Most of our classrooms are accessible to wheelchair users. But when booking, please tell us if you have wheelchair users in your group. There are disabled toilets in the Conservation Education Centre.

Or, let the Zoo come to you

We want to make our education programme available to everyone. Call 0117 9747363 (or 0117 9747365) or email zootoyou@bristolzoo.org.uk if you’d like to know more about the zoo visiting you.