Bocking Therapy Dog

Research has shown many benefits to therapy and reading dogs in school settings.  Bocking Primary School has introduced the use of a therapy dog into the emotional well-being provision at school.  This policy is designed to set out to pupils, parents, staff and visitors the reasons for having a school dog and the rules and responsibilities to ensure the safety of pupils, staff, visitors and the school dog.  Although there is a risk in bringing a dog into a school environment, this can be mitigated against with a robust risk assessment to ensure the safety of all pupils, parents, staff and visitors.

Children can benefit educationally and emotionally, increase their understanding of responsibility and develop empathy and nurturing skills through contact with a dog. In addition to these benefits, children take great enjoyment from interactions with a dog.

 

The benefits of a school dog

School dogs have been proven to help develop pupils’ reading skills, improve behaviour, attendance and academic confidence, as well as increasing student understanding of responsibility and in the development of empathy and nurturing skills.  At Bocking Primary School, we hope that a school dog will be a beneficial addition to our therapeutic offer, in addition to the interventions we already offer and promoting engagement for those children who have found it difficult to access talking therapies in the past.

Animal assisted interventions (also known as AAI’s) can:

  • Teach empathy and appropriate interpersonal skills;
  • Help individuals develop social skills;
  • Be soothing;
  • Improve a child’s ability to pick up on social cues which are imperative to human relationships;
  • Therapy dogs have been shown to support emotional regulation through the positive impact on the autonomic nervous system
  • Show that children working with therapy dogs have experienced increased improved motivation for learning, resulting in improved outcomes;
  • Therapy dogs are being used to support children with their social and emotional learning needs, which can also aid literacy development.

Research into the effects of therapy dogs in schools is showing a range of benefits including:

  • Increase in school attendance;
  • Improved confidence;
  • Decreased pupil anxiety resulting in improvements in learning, such as increases in reading and writing levels;
  • Improved motivation to learn;
  • Enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional positive interactions with a therapy dog;
  • Helping children learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.
  •  Increase social skills and self-esteem
  • Teach responsibility and respect to all life

 

Essex Therapy Dogs

Essex Therapy Dog Assessment Process

Attain Therapy Dog Policy Bocking 2023.docx

The guidance from the government regarding pets and animals in school are below.

Chapter 8: pets and animal contact - GOV.UK - Updated March 2021

Pets and other animals in school can enhance the learning environment. However, contact with animals can pose a risk of infection including gastro-intestinal infection, fungal infections and parasites. Some people, such as pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system, are at greater risk of developing a severe infection. However, sensible measures can be taken to reduce the risk of infection to the children and to staff.  Only mature and toilet trained pets should be considered and the Headteacher should ensure that a knowledgeable person is responsible for the animal. There should be a written agreement within the school detailing:

  • the types of animals allowed in the school
  • how to manage them and permitted behaviour whilst on the premises
  • where they can go and where they cannot go when in the school
  • any insurance liability of owners and handlers

Animals should always be supervised when in contact with the children and those handling animals advised to wash their hands immediately afterwards. Animals should have recommended treatments and immunisations, be regularly groomed (including claws trimmed) and checked for signs of infection. Bedding should be laundered regularly.  Feeding areas should be kept clean and their food stored away from human food. Food not consumed in 20 minutes should be taken away or covered to prevent attracting pests.