Olympian Greg Rutherford has praised a pioneering new SEND education facility at Woburn Safari Park as ‘incredible’, expressing hope that other attractions will follow suit.
SENse the Safari is said to be the first purpose-built SEND classroom facility of its kind within any UK zoological setting.
Designed around the needs of children and their families, it represents a significant shift in how major visitor attractions can cater for children with SEND.
Recently opened at Woburn Safari Park, the facility has been developed with specialist input and shaped by the experiences of families, creating a model that brings together animal care, sensory interaction and education in one supportive space.
The core principal behind the new classroom is that children with SEND should not be excluded from enriching, confidence‑building experiences that others take for granted.
Natasha Kyle, head of education and customer liaison at Woburn Safari Park, believes the facility addresses a long-standing gap: “For too long, many children with SEND have missed out on experiences like visiting a zoo or taking part in animal care.
“This is about changing that. We’ve created an environment where children can feel safe, supported and inspired - where they can build confidence, improve wellbeing and develop a lifelong connection with learning.”
A hope that others will follow suit
Parents and educators have given their feedback on the new classroom. Olympian Greg Rutherford, who has an autistic child and is a regular visitor to Woburn Safari Park, attended the launch and said: “It’s always amazing to see trailblazers pushing things forward so that others take notice.
“Seeing how impressive this place is, my hope is that others adopt the same mindset and create similar spaces, so as many people as possible feel included because everybody should have a safe space to go to. What this will offer to so many people is incredible. I’m genuinely thrilled to have seen it, to be around it, and to be very close to it, because I’ll be accessing it a lot.”
Hannah Caswell, assistant head at Daventry Hill School, a special needs school for children aged 4 to 18, highlighted the importance of purpose-built environments: “Having a space designed specifically for the children makes a huge difference. It reduces anxiety. When you’re travelling somewhere, you don’t want to worry that their needs and preferences won’t be accepted.
“With this new facility, we have somewhere truly safe where our pupils can enjoy meaningful experiences. I really hope more attractions follow this example, so everyone can access wonderful opportunities like this.”
Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford, whose family seat is Woburn Abbey, part of the Bedford Estate, which includes Woburn Safari Park, echoed this sentiment: “There is something magical about seeing a child smile. I hope this space will be hugely beneficial for the local community, and beyond. It’s a dedicated environment where everyone can enjoy the extraordinary setting of the Park. It’s a fantastic achievement, and I hope it inspires others to follow our lead.”
A new standard for inclusive design
The building has been designed to respond to children’s needs in real time, allowing staff to adapt lighting, noise levels and activity flow instantly if a child becomes overwhelmed.
“Seeing how impressive this place is, my hope is that others adopt the same mindset and create similar spaces, so as many people as possible feel included because everybody should have a safe space to go to.”
Olympian Greg Rutherford
Other features include:
- A dedicated sensory room and decompression space to manage overstimulation.
- Flexible learning environments with rising benches and lowered sinks.
- Accessible outdoor play and picnic areas designed for calm, confident engagement.
- Hands-on activities including animal food preparation, water play, tactile exploration and supervised invertebrate handling.
Architect Neil Reynolds of Louis de Soissons, who led the design team, described the project as deeply personal: “As a parent of children with SEND, this was incredibly meaningful to me. We wanted to create a space that doesn’t simply accommodate children, but actively supports how they learn, feel and interact.”
Booking the SEND classroom
It will soon be available to hire in its entirety as a venue for a half or full day of educational activities. It will open to schools looking to host SEND-friendly workshops.
The Safari Park caters for all ages of school children with a variety of packages and resources available including social scripts and communication boards.
For more information about the classroom, including school bookings, go to www.woburnsafari.co.uk
