Closed petition Set new guidance and requirements for animals in early years settings

Closed on 30 May 2024

Animals are used in nurseries and pre-schools as “pets” or demonstrations. We believe welfare standards for these animals are often not met, such as adequate food and housing, and long-term care provision. We want new guidance and requirements, including for lifelong care plans, to be introduced.

There is currently a rehoming crisis, and birds hatched in educational settings contribute to this crisis.

Besides which, we believe current practice teaches young children that animals should be disposed of when they are no longer cute, useful, or seasonally relevant (ie. after Easter), and that this sets an atrocious example.

Already this year hundreds of ducklings and chicks are in search of homes having been hatched in educational settings with zero forward planning.