Some areas of the Zoo are CLOSED to allow us to prepare for our Halloween events. ... read more
Until 3rd November, there will be restricted access at Bears of the Rising Sun (lower viewing) and our Elephant Bushwalk will be closed.
From 14th October 2024, our Woodland Hollow will be closed.
Visit Colchester Zoo for a magical experience with your School Class
more details below:
Booking Details
Contact the Education Team at 01206 331292 ext. 463 or email education@colchesterzoo.org to reserve a specific date or check current availability.
Please note: the above calendar is NOT live and may not reflect current availability. Contact us directly to reserve a specific date.
The sessions are available Mon-Fri from the 18th Nov 2024 to the 13th Dec 2024.
Sessions are bookable on the hour at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, and 13:00. Each time slot is for one class, a maximum of approximately 30 children.
Risk Assesments
See our general School Trip risk assessment page for our general school trip risk assessments and session risk assessment, which covers associated risks of live animals in sessions including the Christmas Reindeer Educational Experience.
Parts of this session are outdoors, so please ensure all pupils and adult helpers dress appropriately for the forecasted weather.
Session Details
Take part in an enchanging Christmas educational school experience at Colchester Zoo! Your class will be welcomed by a merry elf, who requires your children’s help to learn about the fascinating world of reindeer. With a magical trunk, a scroll of tasks, and a trip through a magical Christmas forest you’ll discover some of their amazing winter adaptations. You’ll get the chance to meet the herd of young reindeer up close before being joined by Father Christmas. The class will then have a photo opportunity with Father Christmas and each pupil will get a special gift to remember this magical and informative adventure.
Suitable for EYFS, KS1, and lower KS2 classes with accompanying adults. The session can also be deliver for SEND groups working at these levels.
The session covers a wide range of learning about reindeer as well as the National Curriculum links as outlined in the below PLOs.
Please note there are outdoor elements as part of this session, therefore please ensure all pupils and adult helpers are dress appropriately for the forecasted weather.
The Christmas Reindeer Experience includes:
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Entry to Colchester Zoo
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Elf-led educational session
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See the live reindeer
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Meet Father Christmas
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Gift for each child
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Free adult places*
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Indoor lunch space**
**Each participating class will receive an assigned time slot within an indoor eating area. Please note that outside of these timeslots, these lunch spaces may not be available.
Costs
All school visits to Colchester Zoo must be pre-booked in advance, including this School Christmas Reindeer Educational Experience. Costs are as follows:
School Tickets
| Ticket Type | Cost |
| Primary Pupil | £11.50 |
| *Primary Disabled Pupil | £11.50 |
| *Primary Zoo Pass Holder | £4.50 |
| Additional Adults | £10.99 |
| *Adult Carers | Free |
Free adult places are provided for supervision. Ratios vary by age, see below for details.
Schools are offered free adult places at a ratio of 1 free adult per 6 paying pupils. Any adults above this free ratio are charged at the additional adult rate. Please note that any pupils who qualify for carer places (as detailed below) are provided free adult carer at a 1:1 ratio and therefore these pupils will not count towards your free adult ratio.
* Adult carers are admitted free of charge at a 1:1 ratio for any pupils with physical or emotional disabilities, are the subjects of SEND statements or EHCPs, or can provide other evidence of specific needs. Please note that you must declare the need for these carers on the day of your visit based on the pupils who attend on the day. Carer places are offered at a 1:1 ratio for each disabled pupil. If your pupil requires a higher carer ratio, please contact us.
** Zoo Passes (Gold Cards) must be shown on the day of your visit. If passes are not shown, pupils will be charged the full price of £11.50.
