Noah’s Ark came to Tuffkid Nursery when learning disability specialists, Animal World Shop, were invited to start early years’ learning at the beginning of the academic term.

At this stage of the year it is too challenging for children with special needs to visit a zoo, so specialist animal pens are brought in for observing frogs, dragon lizards, black rabbits and leopard geckos with the aim of improving early knowledge and understanding to broaden horizons.

Tuffkid Head Janice Marriott said: “Some children show understandable initial reticence before gaining impressive confidence to hold a frog or stroke a snake. Touching animals’ wet and slippery skins or fur was a first-time sensory experience for many of the children we support.”