Green Chimneys school and farm helps children who have been unsuccessful in traditional education environments and who require a small, structured and supportive setting. It is based in upstate New York, and last month I went to visit.

There’s nowhere else in the world that brings animals and outdoor play into the curriculum the way Green Chimneys does. As the headteacher of an education centre planning to open its own residential accommodation for young children who have been affected by adversity in their early years, I wanted to learn from those who are experts in the field - literally. The school and farm is home to more than 200 animals, from sheep and pigs to camels and snakes, each of which has a different benefit to the type of therapeutic approach and education on offer.

Extensive research has found that interaction with animals calms children and allows them to better control their emotions, giving them an outlet to show compassion that they struggle to express with humans.

For example, children who have experienced loss, separation and trauma can relate to a rescue dog. We can tell children that although the dog might be a bit grumpy and bark a lot, it’s not a bad dog, it has just been treated unfairly, and when we tell the dog what to do, it’s just to keep him safe. We’ve found that this translates well to children who have faced their own loss, separation and trauma and we’ve used this method in the past.

Throughout our visit, it was clear that the kids enjoyed being outside with the animals and it made them happy, which in a way makes it worth doing in itself. However, the research that we’ve carried out highlights significant benefits to children who have experienced trauma.

As we create an environment that is focused on a positive and safe space for primary-aged children who have struggled to engage with education elsewhere, we will use a model that mixes animal therapy and outdoor experiences with the current standard of care and education already offered at Kibble, to provide our youngest children with the best possible start in life.

Tracie McEwan is head at Kibble Education and Care Centre’s planned Lochwinnoch campus in rural Renfrewshire, near Glasgow