Planning your visit to The Pink Pig Farm:
SEND & additional needs
Click here to see a big gallery of photos to share with your child before you visit.
A welcoming day out for children and adults with SEND & additional needs at The Pink Pig Farm.
Every child experiences a day out differently.
At The Pink Pig Farm, we’ve always believed in giving children the freedom to play organically, in their own way, at their own pace. There’s no checklist to work through and no pressure to try everything.
Some children want to run, climb and bounce. Others might happily spend ages digging in the sand, making mud pies, splashing in water or watching the animals.
For many children with SEND or additional needs, that freedom (along with plenty of fresh air, open space and choice!) can make a family day out feel that little bit easier.
Organic play, naturally sensory
So much of what we do at The Pink Pig Farm is naturally sensory.
We’re big believers in good old-fashioned, organic play: the sort that gets children moving, exploring, imagining and getting their hands a little bit grubby.
There’s sand to scoop and dig, water to splash and pour, mud kitchens for mixing and creating, animals to watch and feed, and lots of opportunities to climb, balance, bounce, run and whizz. Children can enjoy:
Sand, water and mud play
Climbing, balancing and active outdoor play
Zip wires and opportunities for whole-body movement
Jumping and bouncing
Imaginative, open-ended play in our role play zone, Piggy Tale Lane
Watching and feeding our farm animals
Grass, mud, fresh air and the changing sights, sounds and smells of the countryside
Plenty of room to explore at their own pace
For some, all those different textures, movements and experiences are wonderfully regulating and engaging.
For others, certain sounds, smells or busy areas can feel like a lot. We know everyone is different, so we always recommend planning your day around what works best for you.
Space to do things your way
One of the things that families with SEND often tell us they appreciate most about The Pink Pig Farm is the space.
Our play areas and activities are spread around the farm, rather than everything being packed into one place. That gives families the freedom to wander, change direction and find the parts of the farm that suit them best.
Some children love being right in the middle of the action. Others prefer a little more room around them. There’s no right way to enjoy The Pink Pig Farm!
They might spend ages making something in the mud kitchen. They might want to go down the zip wire twenty times. They might simply enjoy watching the animals. If your child finds something they love and wants to stay there for ages, that’s a perfectly good day out in our book.
We want children to have the freedom to follow their interests, explore naturally and enjoy the farm in the way that feels right for them.
SEND visits at The Pink Pig Farm: When is the quietest time to visit?
If your child finds busy places or crowds difficult, choosing the right time to visit can make a big difference.
Our quieter times are generally term-time weekdays, when the farm tends to feel more relaxed than at weekends and during school holidays.
Every Monday during the school term, your child can join in a free sensory play session, where we provide messy play activities (and take care of the clear-up!). A change of clothes never goes amiss!
If you can, we recommend:
Visiting on a term-time weekday (Messy Mondays starts at 11am every term-time Monday!)
Coming earlier in the day
Allowing plenty of time, so you don’t feel under pressure to fit everything in
Checking our website before you travel for any special events or activities that may make the farm busier than usual
Our term-time sessions can also be a lovely way for younger children to experience the farm at a gentler pace.
Please remember that we are a family attraction and a working farm, so we can never guarantee that any particular day or area will be completely quiet.
Enjoy a free dedicated sensory play session on Messy Mondays!
Our main areas are accessible with wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters, and many of the paths around the farm are firm and easy to navigate.
Because we’re a real farm though, some of our outdoor areas are reached over grass or more natural ground. Surfaces can be uneven in places and may become softer, muddier or a little trickier after wet weather.
Sturdy pushchairs generally manage the farm well, but if you’re visiting with a wheelchair or someone who finds uneven ground difficult, it’s worth bearing this in mind when planning your day.
You don’t need to reach every corner of the farm to have a lovely visit, and there is still plenty to enjoy around our main play, animal and family areas.
If accessibility is particularly important for your family, or you’d like to know what the ground is likely to be like before you set off, please get in touch by emailing hello.pinkpigfarm@gmail.com with as much notice as possible.
Accessibility: Getting around the farm
Planning your visit to The Pink Pig Farm with a child with SEND
A little preparation can sometimes make a new day out feel much easier.
You don’t have to “do” the whole farm.
If you already know that your child loves animals, water, climbing or sand, it can be helpful to make those things the focus of your day.
And if plans change once you arrive, that’s fine too.
Choose the things your child will enjoy
Have a look before you come
Looking at photos of the farm together can help your child know what to expect. (There’s a big gallery of images below that you could look at together.)
You might want to talk about the things they could see during their visit: animals, outdoor play areas, sand, water, mud, other families and our indoor spaces.
Be prepared for a real farm
There is lots to see, hear, touch and smell at The Pink Pig Farm.
That can be a wonderful sensory experience for some children, but we know others prefer to know what is coming.
You may hear animals, children playing, farm noises and the general bustle of a family day out. You’ll also encounter grass, mud, sand, water and the smells you’d expect from a real farm.
If there’s something specific you’re worried about, please get in touch before your visit and we’ll do our best to help.
If your child or someone in your group uses a wheelchair, mobility aid or pushchair, please note that some areas of the farm have firm paths, while others are across grass or natural, uneven ground.
Some areas are bumpier than others, but can usually be accessed on wheels when dry.
Think about how you’ll get around
Bring the things that help
You know your child best.
Ear defenders, familiar snacks, a favourite drink bottle, comfort items or anything else that helps your child feel settled are all very welcome.
What families tell us about visiting
Days out don’t always go according to plan, and we understand that.
Our team are friendly, approachable and used to welcoming lots of different children and families.
There is no judgement if your child experiences the world differently, needs a little more time, changes their mind or simply wants to enjoy the farm in their own way.
We want your family to feel welcome here; please do let us know if we can help make your day better.
Kind, understanding people
Every child is different, and nobody knows your child better than you do.
If there’s something you’re unsure about before your visit, please get in touch.
We would much rather answer a question beforehand if it helps your family feel more comfortable and confident about coming. Do email hello.pinkpigfarm@gmail.com before your visit.
Whether you need to know about a particular area, what a visit might involve, the quieter times to come or anything else that could help you prepare, just ask.
Tell us if we can help
SEN Santa Visits
Christmas is a magical time, but we know that for some children the lights, noise, queues and excitement of a traditional Santa visit can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we offer special SEN Santa slots at the start of each weekday during Santa season, designed to make the experience calmer, gentler and more comfortable for children who may benefit from a little extra time and space.
These sessions include:
Fewer families and a quieter atmosphere
More time with Santa, so there’s no need to rush
Lower lighting and reduced noise where possible
A flexible, understanding approach from our team
There’s no pressure for your child to sit on Santa’s knee, pose for a photo, speak to him straight away or experience the visit in any particular way. They can take their time, have a look around, stay close to you and enjoy the moment in whatever way feels right for them.
Our team understand that every child is different, and we’ll always do our best to follow their lead. For some children, that might mean chatting happily to Santa. For others, it might simply mean standing at the doorway, giving him a wave or quietly taking everything in.
Our SEN Santa sessions have limited numbers to help us keep the experience as calm and relaxed as possible, so advance booking is recommended when dates are released.
Got more questions about visiting The Pink Pig Farm with a child with SEND?
Please email hello.pinkpigfarm@gmail.com