Dog in school
As part of our ongoing provision for wellbeing and mental health, we will be welcoming Teddy the Toy Poodle to our Brownlow Fold Community.
Teddy will live with Mrs Cheung and spend some time in school to support the learning and emotional wellbeing of children and staff.
Teddy will attend Puppy training classes which will happen inside and outside of school over a period of months.
Once fully trained, Teddy will spend time visiting the classrooms and listening to readers from across the school. Sometimes he will even help us out by looking after anyone who is feeling a bit sad – a little stroke and a look into those big brown eyes is enough to make anyone feel happy again.
There are many benefits to having a school dog, including:
- a calming effect on pupils, particularly those with behavioural or learning difficulties
- improved behaviour and concentration, reduced stress and improved self-esteem
- encouraging expression and participation in more withdrawn children
- fostering a sense of responsibility
- motivating pupils to think and to learn, as most children have a high level of natural interest in, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of animals
- encouraging respect and thereby improving pupils’ relationships with each other, parents and teachers
- teaching children to nurture and respect life
- helping work undertaken with the most vulnerable children, and educational improvements with low achievers
- helping children build confidence in reading.
