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Junior Elysian Farmers (JEF) is a brand-new membership community for children aged 6–12 who love animals, nature and the outdoors. Designed to inspire confidence, friendship and practical life skills, JEF will offer regular after-school clubs, term-time Saturday sessions, family events, badges, awards and much more.
Our Summer Taster Sessions are the perfect opportunity to experience what JEF is all about before the full programme launches. Join us for a fun, hands-on farm experience where children can meet our animals, explore the countryside and enjoy outdoor activities in a welcoming and supportive environment.
📍 Elysian, Westland Farm, Lordshill Road, Shamley Green, Surrey, GU5 0TL
💷 £15 per child
👧 Suitable for children aged 6–12 (5-year-olds are welcome when accompanied by a parent or carer throughout the session).
Book your place today and be among the first to experience Junior Elysian Farmers!
Junior Elysian Farmers (JEF) is a brand-new membership community from Elysian, created for children aged 6–12 who love animals, nature and the great outdoors. More than just an after-school club, JEF is designed to give children meaningful countryside experiences where they can build confidence, develop practical life skills, make lasting friendships and become part of a welcoming community. Through regular hands-on activities with animals, outdoor adventures and seasonal experiences, children are encouraged to explore, learn, take responsibility and create memories that will stay with them long after childhood.
Junior Elysian Farmers, known as JEF, is a countryside membership programme for children aged 6–12.
It gives children regular opportunities to spend time with animals, explore nature, learn practical skills, make friends and take part in real activities at Westland Farm.
JEF is designed to be more than a one-off club. It is intended to become a year-round community with weekly groups, holiday activities, members-only events, Community Days, awards, family experiences and future camping opportunities.
JEF is run by Elysian staff, Shamley Green, Surrey.
It forms part of the wider Elysian organisation but sits separately from Elysian’s specialist education and therapeutic services.
No. JEF is a community enrichment programme based around animals, nature, practical learning, friendship and outdoor experience.
It is not a school, alternative provision, childcare service or formal qualification programme.
No. JEF is not marketed or delivered as a therapeutic service.
Although children may naturally build confidence, resilience, responsibility and social skills through taking part, the programme does not provide individual therapy or specialist therapeutic support.
JEF is designed as a membership community rather than a stand-alone weekly activity.
Children will have opportunities to:
Build relationships with the same animals, staff and group over time
Take part in genuine farm and countryside tasks
Attend members-only activities
Join free Community Days
Work towards recognition through the future JEF awards programme
Attend seasonal events and family activities
Become part of the wider Elysian community
The aim is to give children a sense of belonging, contribution and progression.
JEF is designed for children aged 6–12.
Children aged 5 may attend taster sessions provided a parent or carer stays with them and remains responsible for their supervision throughout.
The core programme is for children aged 6–12.
Five-year-olds may attend a taster session with a parent or carer, but progression into the regular programme would be considered individually based on age, readiness and the delivery model in place at the time.
No.
Children do not need any previous experience with horses, farm animals, gardening, nature activities or outdoor clubs.
They simply need to be interested, willing to join in and able to follow instructions designed to keep everyone safe.
No.
Children may be unfamiliar or initially nervous around some animals.
Staff will introduce activities gradually and explain how to behave safely.
However, children must be able to listen to staff, respect boundaries and respond appropriately if asked to step back or stop an activity.
Children with additional needs are welcome to attend taster sessions.
The taster session also gives staff and parents an opportunity to consider whether the group environment is appropriate for the child.
JEF is designed for children who can participate safely within a group and does not provide one-to-one specialist support.
Where a child needs a level of support that cannot be safely provided within the group, staff will speak sensitively with the parent or carer about whether JEF is the right programme at that stage.
No.
A diagnosis or additional need does not automatically prevent a child from taking part.
The relevant consideration is whether the child can participate safely within the group, follow important instructions and engage without requiring support beyond what the programme can provide.
This would need to be agreed in advance.
Please contact the JEF team before booking so that staffing, safeguarding, insurance and practical arrangements can be considered properly.
Staff will discuss this sensitively and privately with the parent or carer.
The purpose is not to label or exclude children unnecessarily. It is to ensure the child, other participants, staff and animals can all remain safe.
Where appropriate, families may also be signposted to other Elysian services.
A taster session is a two-hour introductory experience where children can see what JEF is like before joining the full programme.
It may include animal care, practical farm tasks, outdoor activities, nature exploration and group challenges.
Yes.
The taster gives staff an opportunity to see how a child manages:
Group activities
New adults
Other children
Instructions
Boundaries
Animal safety
Changes between activities
This helps both families and staff decide whether the regular programme is likely to be a good fit.
Taster sessions cost £15 per child.
Yes, subject to availability.
Each taster may include different activities, and attending more than once can help a child become familiar with the environment.
Parents and carers are welcome to stay.
A parent or carer must stay with any participating 5-year-old and remains responsible for that child throughout.
Children should wear:
Old, comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities
Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
Wellies or walking boots where possible
Waterproof clothing if rain is forecast
A sun hat and sun protection in warm weather
Open-toed shoes and sandals are not suitable.
Families will be told what to bring in the booking confirmation.
Medication must be brought where needed and discussed with staff in advance.
Food and drink arrangements will be explained before the session.
JEF is an outdoor and farm-based programme, so sessions may continue in light rain and normal seasonal weather.
Activities may be adapted where necessary.
Sessions would only be cancelled where conditions create a safety concern.
Please let the JEF team know as soon as possible so the place can be offered to another family.
Any refund or transfer arrangement will depend on the booking terms in place at the time.
Membership is required for the ongoing JEF programme.
Taster sessions can be booked before membership so families can experience the programme first.
Annual membership is currently:
£95 per year, or
£9.95 per month
The monthly option costs £119.40 over a full year.
Membership is expected to include:
A JEF welcome pack
Membership card
Priority booking
Free members’ Community Days each half term
Access to members-only events
Invitations to the annual awards celebration
Selected discounts on Elysian activities
Access to future camping opportunities
Access to JEF merchandise
No.
Membership and weekly programme fees are separate.
Membership provides access to the JEF community and member benefits. Weekly sessions are booked and paid for by term.
Membership supports the wider JEF offer beyond weekly attendance.
This includes the welcome pack, Community Days, members’ opportunities, priority access, events and the wider programme infrastructure.
It also allows families who attend different JEF activities to remain part of the same membership community.
A sibling arrangement has not yet been confirmed.
Any future sibling pricing will be published clearly before families commit.
Membership dates and renewal arrangements will be confirmed within the membership terms.
Families should check the final terms before purchasing.
The final cancellation and notice terms will be set out before launch.
Families should not assume that monthly payment means there is no minimum commitment.
This will be confirmed in the final membership terms.
Any automatic renewal arrangement should be made clear at the point of purchase.
The initial plan includes:
Wednesday After School JEF
Saturday JEF from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Final launch dates and availability will be confirmed separately.
The proposed model includes collection from Shamley Green Infant School at approximately 3:20pm, followed by a group walk to Westland Farm.
The session is planned to finish at 5:30pm, with parent collection between approximately 5:15pm and 5:30pm.
This model remains subject to final staffing, school and safeguarding arrangements.
Saturday JEF is planned to run from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
Collection is expected between 11:45am and 12:00pm.
Weekly sessions are £249 per term.
Families paying the full term upfront receive a 10% discount, reducing the term fee to £224.10.
A half-termly payment option is expected to be available at the full rate.
The current financial model assumes 12 delivery weeks per term.
This will be checked against the final term calendar before bookings open.
The weekly programme is designed around termly enrolment.
Regular attendance helps children build relationships, become familiar with routines and feel part of the group.
One-off attendance may be available through holiday sessions, family events or other JEF activities.
This will depend on capacity and operational arrangements.
Any request to change groups should be discussed with the JEF team.
The final absence, transfer and refund terms will be published before termly bookings open.
As places are reserved for the full term, missed sessions would not normally create an automatic entitlement to a refund or replacement session.
The planned staffing model uses two staff per group, with additional adult support as numbers grow.
Final group size will be based on safety, age, activity type, staffing and the needs of the children attending.
The current minimum viable number is eight children per group.
This will be reviewed if a group does not reach the required number.
The proposed Wednesday group includes collection from Shamley Green Infant School (TBC).
This is subject to final agreement with parents/carers and completion of safeguarding, insurance, risk assessment, consent and registration procedures.
Additional routes may be considered in future where there is enough demand and the route is safe and practical.
Families may be asked which school their child attends to help inform future planning.
The proposed process includes:
A confirmed list of children due to attend
Written parental consent
An agreed handover process with the school
A register at collection
A supervised walk to Westland Farm
An arrival check at the farm
Parent or authorised adult collection at the end
The full process will be communicated before the service begins.
Parents must notify JEF if their child will not be attending.
JEF will also need an agreed process with the school for any child who is expected but is not present at collection.
No. Children using the collection service will remain with the JEF staff group.
Yes, provided that person has been authorised by the parent or carer in advance.
Staff may ask for identification or use a collection password where appropriate.
Parents are expected to collect within the stated collection window.
The final terms may include a late collection procedure and charges where repeated lateness affects staffing.
Depending on the animals at the site and the activity plan, children may encounter:
Horses and ponies
Goats
Poultry
Dogs
Cats
Other farm or small animals
The animals involved may vary from session to session.
JEF is not a riding lesson programme.
Some activities may involve horses or ponies, but riding should not be assumed to form part of a standard JEF session.
Riding opportunities, where offered, would be managed and booked separately.
Many sessions are likely to include supervised interaction with animals.
Activities will depend on animal welfare, weather, staffing and safety.
Children will never be expected to touch an animal if they are uncomfortable.
Yes.
Where appropriate, children may take part in genuine practical tasks such as:
Grooming
Feeding
Cleaning equipment
Collecting eggs
Gardening
Growing projects
Checking water
Helping with fencing or maintenance
Supporting seasonal jobs
Activities are adapted to be age-appropriate and safe.
Probably.
JEF is hands-on, practical and largely outdoors.
Children should wear clothes and footwear that can become muddy, dusty or marked.
Animal welfare is central to the programme.
Staff will decide which animals are suitable for each activity and will stop or adapt interaction if an animal shows signs of discomfort, fatigue or stress.
Children must follow instructions and treat animals calmly and respectfully.
Staff working with children will be required to have the appropriate safeguarding checks and training for their role.
The staffing model requires first-aid competency within the team.
Families will be asked to provide essential information including:
Emergency contacts
Medical needs
Allergies
Medication
Additional needs
Relevant behavioural or safety information
Authorised collection details
Parents must ensure this information is accurate and kept up to date.
Medication arrangements must be discussed and agreed in advance.
Parents should not assume staff can administer medication without a written process and appropriate authorisation.
Staff will provide appropriate first aid and contact the parent or emergency contact where necessary.
Emergency services will be contacted if the situation requires it.
Staff will give clear instructions and support the child to re-engage safely.
If a child repeatedly behaves in a way that puts themselves, other children, staff or animals at risk, the parent or carer may be contacted and asked to collect them.
Continued participation may then need to be reviewed.
Yes.
Activities, animal interaction, the site and any school collection route will require appropriate risk assessment and operational procedures.
The final programme and activities must be covered by the appropriate Elysian insurance arrangements.
Specific collection and activity arrangements will be confirmed before launch.
Parents are welcome to stay during taster sessions.
The approach for regular weekly sessions may differ, as the programme is designed to help children participate independently within the group.
Any parent attendance arrangement must be agreed in advance.
Younger siblings should not be brought into the activity area unless this has been agreed.
The site is a working farm environment and cannot be treated as a general play area.
There may be future volunteering opportunities for approved parents and community members.
Volunteers would need to follow JEF safeguarding, training and operational requirements.
Updates may be sent through email, the booking system, the JEF website or other approved communication channels.
Parents are responsible for keeping their contact details current.
Photography and video will only be used in line with the consent provided by parents or carers.
Families will be asked to state whether they give permission for promotional use.
Food and drink arrangements will vary depending on the activity.
Families will be told in advance what is provided and what should or should not be brought.
The current taster information asks families not to bring food or drink onto the site, with water provided where needed.
Families with medical or dietary reasons should contact the JEF team in advance.
All allergies must be declared during booking.
Parents/carere should provide clear information about triggers, symptoms, emergency medication and required actions.
Families should not assume the site is entirely free from any specific allergen.
Anyone with a severe allergy should contact the team before booking so risks can be considered properly.
Members will be invited to one free Community Day each half term.
These days are intended to involve real tasks that contribute to the farm and community, such as practical maintenance, seasonal jobs or animal-care activities.
No.
Some Community Days are included, while other events, holiday activities and camping opportunities will be separately charged.
Members may receive priority booking or discounted rates.
The earlier Bronze, Silver and Gold badge structure has been withdrawn.
A separate JEF awards programme is being developed.
Details will only be published once the final system is agreed.
Yes, an annual celebration is planned, subject to the final awards programme.
The event will recognise participation, growth, contribution, teamwork and JEF values.
Camping opportunities form part of the longer-term JEF plan.
Details, pricing, supervision and eligibility will be published when confirmed.
Bookings will be made through the Elysian website or the dedicated JEF Shopify site.
The relevant booking button will take families to the correct product or registration page.
Payments are expected to be managed through Stripe and the online booking system.
This has not been confirmed.
Families should not assume JEF is eligible, particularly because it is positioned as a learning activity and community programme rather than registered childcare.
A place is not normally confirmed until the required form and payment have been completed.
Yes.
Numbers will be limited according to staffing, safety and the nature of the activities.
Early booking is recommended.
The refund, cancellation and transfer terms will be published clearly on the booking page and within the JEF terms and conditions.
Families should review these before purchasing.
JEF is based at:
Elysian
Westland Farm
Lordshill Road
Shamley Green
Surrey
GU5 0TL
Parking instructions will be provided before attendance.
Families must follow site directions and park only in designated areas.
Westland Farm is a rural working site and includes uneven ground, mud, grass, gates and animal areas.
Families with access requirements should contact the JEF team before booking so the site and planned activities can be discussed.
Information about available facilities will be provided within the joining information.
No.
Families should arrive at the stated time and remain within the areas directed by staff.
The wider site is not open for unsupervised access.
Please use the contact details or enquiry form provided on the JEF website.
Families should contact the team before booking where there are questions about medical needs, access, additional support, supervision or suitability.
Families can register their interest, join the mailing list or follow Elysian’s social media channels for JEF updates, new sessions and launch information.