OUR CENTRE
EAQ Grass Roots is an Equine Assisted Learning Centre in Crowhurst, Surrey. We have four facilitators, six horses, six dogs, chickens and sheep who provide alternative education sessions for children and young people who:
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are not in full time mainstream education
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will benefit from a different approach to learning
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just need a different style of support
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Sessions take a person-centred approach and an individual programme is developed for each learner. EAQ Grass Roots is located on a small farm where there are a variety of outdoor spaces for learners to explore, investigate and learn in. Our sessions predominantly take place in the outdoors, but we do have undercover and indoor spaces too.
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EAQ Grass Roots is within 3 miles of Lingfield, less than 8 miles from East Grinstead, Godstone and Edenbridge and 15 miles of Crawley and Croydon. The centre is in a quiet, rural but easily reachable location.
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Full details of our location can be found here
OUR TEAM
The team at EAQ Grass Roots is made up of facilitators, Fiona and Judith, four horses and five dogs.
FIONA
Prior to training as an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator Fiona ran a public Victorian Stable yard in Essex for English Heritage. This specialised in providing equestrian displays to the public. It was from observing the impact that the horses had on visitors, even in a very short space of time, that Fiona became interested in the provision of equine assisted learning. Fiona trained as an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator (EAQ Level 4) and started facilitating equine assisted learning sessions for children with special educational needs in the Cambridgeshire area. After moving to West Sussex in 2018, Fiona set up EAQ Grass Roots equine assisted learning centre.
JUDITH
Judith has worked in and managed schools for vulnerable children and children with special educational needs for several years and is interested in alternative approaches to engaging children and young people who are not accessing school settings. Judith is a qualified teacher with further specialisation and experience in key areas of special education including the autism spectrum, behaviour that challenges, mental health needs, multi-disciplinary working and safeguarding. An interest in therapeutic and nurturing education and a love for animals has led Judith to animal assisted learning. Judith joined EAQ Grass Roots in 2019 and is a qualified Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator (EAQ Level 4). Judith has three springer spaniels, 2 cats, 10 hens, a donkey, a mule and a Shetland pony at home, as well as a pony at the Centre.
LOLA
Lola is an energetic mare who often tries to get the other horses involved in her games.
GEORGIE
Georgie is a skewbald cob with a cheeky and inquisitive nature, who loves to be groomed.
HARVEY
Harvey is a laid back fellow and the oldest member of our herd, he likes nothing better than a full hay net and a snooze in the sun
KRACKER
Kracker is our youngest horse. He is very curious and friendly and likes to involve himself in whatever is going on.
FREDDIE
Freddie is full of energy and affection. He loves swimming and playing fetch but is also happy to snuggle on a sofa, especially if it means he can give someone a lick!
MURPHY
Murphy is a mixture between a Labrador and a Springer Spaniel, a Springador. He is always up for a game and is incredibly good at sniffing out snacks. Murphy doesn't like the cold and the wet so sometimes he wanders about in his raincoat.
DOLLY
Dolly loves to sunbathe and relax; she is always ready for a cuddle.
JONESY
Jonesy is a very energetic Springer spaniel and his favourite thing in the whole world is games with sticks.
WILSON
Wilson is the youngest of the spaniels and loves to run around and explore everything and anything!
AN EQUINE ASSISTED QUALIFICATIONS (EAQ) APPROVED CENTRE
An EAQ Approved Centre is one that has met EAQ's quality standards and has:
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an outdoor, natural approach to horse care
at least one member of staff who has attained EAQ Certified Facilitator status (Level 3) or EAQ Advanced Facilitator status (Level 4)
at least one trained first aider on site
policies and procedures including safeguarding
disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks for all staff and volunteers
public liability insurance
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EAQ Approved Centres operate under licence, delivering EAQ horsemanship programmes as well as bespoke, experiential equine assisted learning sessions and national qualifications through EAQ's accreditation with national awarding organisations including Open College Network London (OCN London) and Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).