“Kakanui School is very chill with animals,” says 11-year-old Beth Taylor, and she’s not wrong.

On a random Wednesday, there are two silkie chickens and two dogs, who have joined the resident pony and chickens.

Rabbits, more dogs, lambs and occasionally cats are also not unheard of, and Beth, with her sisters Grace and Lucie, have also brought in their pet guinea pigs.

Beth, and Grace - who is nine, regularly bring their silkie chickens Mabel and Tomple to school.

“They’re good therapy,” Beth says.

At the beginning of the year, Grace’s best friends had left school and she felt a bit nervous about returning, so her mother Elle asked the school if she could bring in Tomple for the first week.

“The school agreed, which gave Grace something to look forward to and plan all of January,” Elle says.

“It gave her a positive focus, and we spent time planning the different cages that we would need, a companion chicken for Tomple, and a little basket to sit in for when she was out of the cage in the classroom. 

“Grace is a very responsible and dedicated chicken mum.”

The response in the classroom was so positive, Tomple and Mabel are now regular visitors.

“Apparently the junior class wrote stories and did art work about them, and we also heard that they had helped settle other students into the new year, especially some who were new to the school,” Elle says.

Tomple is a name Grace chose from the Keeper of Lost Cities books she reads.

Beth chose Mabel’s name, with some help from the virtual assistant Alexa.

Youngest sister Lucie, eight, didn’t get to bring one of her chickens, but maybe one day, her mum says.

The three girls hand-raised six silkies from five days old. They lived in a cage in the lounge for two months under a heat lamp until they were big enough to go outside and so they are used to being handled.

Taking the Kakanui School's resident pony for a ride. Photo: Supplied/

Kakanui School principal Ann Roughan says having the animals there helps give the children a sense of belonging.

“It stops any anxiety. It just helps them to settle.

“They can go and pick them up anytime they want. It's just that sense of security.”

One of the teachers brings their dog for her daughter, and the children will sit there and pat it, she says.

“And sometimes my little dog comes out, but she's too naughty to stay.

“We're a rural school, we’ve got a pony . . . and chickens . . . as well, so, it's just that whole sense of belonging."

Although pets are welcome, it’s not a complete free for all. 

“They usually do run it past us and ask, otherwise we might have too many dogs and too many cats and the dogs would chase the cats…

“So, no, they do. The parents are very respectful.” 

The girls love Kakanui School.

“It’s one of the best schools,: Grace says. "Once I'm a year eight, I'm gonna be sad to leave here.”

She also loves her pet chicken.

“I think Tomple’s brilliant,” she says.

“I think we all think our babies are brilliant,” Beth says.

A pupil cuddles a visiting lamb. Photo: Supplied