Playground pigs are boost for Cornish schoolchildren

The pigs have joined therapy dogs, rabbits and rats at the school

Three little pigs have joined a dog, rabbits and rats providing "animal therapy" for children at a Cornish school.

Mini pigs Rusty, Dusty and Oreo have joined Carbeile Junior School in Torpoint, head teacher Pete Hamlyn said.

The pigs mingle with the children at lunchtime, he added.

He said they were helping the children, including those who "found it harder" to come into school since the pandemic.

The pigs can mingle with the children at lunchtime

"The pigs are animal therapy for the children," he said.

"They help us to feed them, muck them out and it gets them in in the morning.

"It gives them something to come into school for and once they're in they feel settled, they feel emotionally ready then to get into the classroom."

Pupil Yvie has become known as the "pig whisperer" said Mr Hamlyn, thanks to her affinity with the mud-loving companions.

Yvie said: "Mr Hamlyn came over one lunchtime and said 'you know if you tickle their bellies they fall over sometimes'.

"I tried that and I was the first one to do it, then I taught Oreo a few months back how to sit down."

The pigs help children who find it hard to attend school

Mr Hamlyn said they bought the pigs from Devon's Pennywell Farm - a tourist attraction and petting farm - using money from fundraising events.

He said: "We have rabbits, we've got a therapy dog, we have a rat pack that comes in on a Friday.

"This was our next step. We wanted to have an animal that was not overly common to the children and they proved to be a huge success."

Pupil Aria said: "When they run around people can just come up to them and get them and it can take your mind of things, especially if you're finding things tough. "

Mr Hamlyn said the children routinely help with mucking out, while parents are recruited to assist during the holidays.