The Ufton Way
The Ufton Way is your window into Ufton Court. Here, we invite you behind the scenes to discover our latest stories, share insights into our work, and explore the values that shape every visit. We will be constantly updating this space with news, highlights, and the ongoing commitment to meaningful experiences that build confidence, curiosity, and connection.
You will often see our immersive activities, historical costumes, and playful animals in action, but these are just the joyful tip of the iceberg. Beneath them lies the true heart of our work: our trauma informed practice, carefully crafted learning, and a deep belief that every child deserves the freedom to flourish. Keep an eye on this page for all the latest from Ufton Court.
Latest Ufton News
Our new Kunekune piglets!
We are thrilled to introduce our two new Kunekune piglets from Long Down Activity Farm! They are yet to be named, so please do head over to our Instagram or Facebook and drop your suggestions.
They join Bubbles and Tuppence, our exisiting Kunekune's on our therapy farm. Both the children and staff are already obsessed due to their adorable personalities. We will be sharing updates as they grow so make sure to check back and see what they get up to
£500 off your next residential!
We are excited to offer a very special opportunity for schools that do not qualify for our Open the Gate grant. Through our 'Be legendary' discount, your school is entitled to £500 off your next residential trip during select months across the 2026/7 academic year.
This initiative is all about embracing the unique magic of the winter season at Ufton. We believe that the spirit of outdoor learning should never stop for the weather, as the colder months offer a completely different perspective on our historic grounds. We look forward to helping you plan an unforgettable winter residential soon.
Dear Ufton...
A bundle of heartfelt letters and drawings filled with thanks, stories and memories. We can’t share every word, but one message stood out:
“The moment I stepped off the coach, I knew it would be amazing. You made it feel magical and like I already knew you.”
This is what Ufton means to the children who visit: feeling seen, feeling welcome, and remembering it forever!
Thank you to every child who has taken the time to write to us. We treasure every note.
A natural Spring discovery
We were delighted to host the amazing West Berkshire Conservation Group at Ufton. While their main task was to create natural dead-hedged boundaries and manage water runoff, the visit led to an unexpected discovery. As they cleared away overgrown vegetation, a natural spring was revealed.
Watching the water begin to flow was a magical moment and a true testament to the beauty of our grounds. We are already looking forward to the group’s return this June.
Another successful Twilight Tales
We would like to thank all those that visited Ufton in December for our 2025 Twilight Tales. It was once again an amazing community event and we were so happy to see so many of you join us at Ufton.
The staff were particularly pleased to hear all the lovely reviews from our feedback form, it seemed meeting the chickens was a resounding favourite!
Make sure you follow along to hear all about our upcoming events, we hope to see you again soon!
Muntjac mum is back!
Our resident mother muntjac has returned with another fawn to explore Ufton.
While it's not uncommon to spot various deer here, especially at dawn and dusk, this particular muntjac feels secure enough to let her young ones (one of which pictured here) roam freely even during the day!
We certainly don't mind, and it's a delightful experience for the kids to spot the baby deer.
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Open the Gate
Our Open the Gate impact grant offers 50% off our residential and day trips for schools that have over 30% FSM.
We know that cost is only one barrier to school trips so we have also slashed admin times and extended our provisional date hold to two weeks for schools accessing the discount.
If you know a school that could benefit from the grant please tell them about Ufton, every child deserves to learn beyond the classroom.
Redefining the future of The Nest
We are searching for a visionary Head of Alternative Provision to lead The Nest into its next chapter. This is a rare opportunity for a leader who wants to build, not inherit, and who believes that education is about rediscovering capability rather than fixing young people. At Ufton, we design environments where relationships and consistency bring the curriculum to life for primary and secondary learners. We are looking for someone who can hold care and challenge in perfect balance to create a truly intentional, relational setting. We look forward to meeting the pioneer who will help our students thrive within our historic grounds.
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Leaf insects!
In preparation for our future rainforest room, we are thrilled to welcome some incredible Filipino leaf insects!
These unique insects serve as a fantastic resource for the children in the Nest, our alternative learning provision for those who may feel lost in the classroom.
Their distinct characteristics offer a wonderful contrast to the farm animals we currently have, providing an engaging learning experience that sparks curiosity and wonder.
A viking ship upgrade!
Introducing Ufton's new dragon! Our Viking ship now boasts a stunning wooden dragon head, carved by chainsaw artist Jona Cleaver, inspired by Ragnar Lothbrok.
In Norse mythology, these heads protected and instilled courage. It joins Norman, our resident Bearded Dragon, who's offering a warm, slightly puzzled welcome to his fierce new cousin.
Come see both dragons in action on your next Ufton visit!
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Bees arrive at Ufton!
We're incredibly excited to announce a new addition to our site: a hive of honey bees! They are joining Project Bees, our brand new programme designed to teach children about the vital importance of pollinators and the principles of sustainability.
Our dedicated team members, Jo, Mandy, Liam, and Lianne, have all completed comprehensive theory and practical beekeeping courses. Jo will be leading the charge on their welfare, ensuring our new residents thrive. This initiative will offer children a unique, hands-on learning experience, connecting them deeply with nature and inspiring a future generation of environmental stewards.
New signs leading
'The Ufton Way'
Get ready to explore Ufton in a brand new way! We've been busy adding unique wooden signs all around our site, designed to make our immersive experiences even more illustrative and exciting.
From our Viking ship to our offices (or "staff fish tank" as one sign playfully calls it!), these new additions are designed to encourage imagination and spark curiosity for every child who visits us.
Acceyla volunteer at Ufton
A big thank you to the dedicated team from Acceyla for their recent volunteering day at Ufton Court! The team helped complete the infill walls for our new roundhouse, a versatile rotunda in our Viking village.
This space is designed to inspire creativity and bring history to life for thousands of children. Our Volunteer Day Lead, Gary, noted the impressive impact: "The work the Acceyla team accomplished in just one day would have taken us regular volunteers about six weeks. Without their help, no child would have experienced the completed Smokehouse before the summer holidays.” Thank you, Acceyla, for being part of something lasting and meaningful.
The Smokehouse!
At Ufton Court, our spaces are living classrooms. We're thrilled to introduce The Smokehouse, a brand new, adaptable learning rotunda beside our Viking village.
This unique structure, with its striking reciprocating roof, centres on the powerful theme of fire. It's designed to ignite curiosity and fuel learning far beyond traditional lessons.
As Grace, our history manager, beautifully put it: "It's not just about making a fire. It's about learning something about yourself." This new space helps children build confidence and discover their potential, making every visit truly impactful.
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A visit from Olivia Bayley MP!
We were honoured to welcome Olivia Bailey MP to Ufton Court! Ms. Bailey came to see firsthand our work as a children's education charity.
Ms. Bailey fully embraced our unique natural environment, even holding one of our most loved chickens, Noodle! Her willingness to engage and her genuine interest in the children's experiences and the profound impact of our work was truly inspiring. We thoroughly enjoyed her visit and are very hopeful this marks the beginning of a close and collaborative relationship. We look forward to working together to champion and expand educational opportunities for all children in our community.