Meet our school dog - IVY!
Student welfare and wellbeing is a priority for us at TDMS and as such we are constantly reviewing and evaluating our practices and procedures to see what we can do to support our students. Keeping up to date with current research, looking at new services and looking at what other successful schools do to support their students. In autumn 2023, we decided to have a school dog.
There is strong evidence which links positive wellbeing to animals. Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies). Schools who currently have a school dog cite many benefits such as:
- A calming effect on students, particularly those with behavioural or learning difficulties.
- Encouraging expression and participation in more withdrawn students.
- Fostering a sense of responsibility.
- Increasing enthusiasm for and enjoyment of animals which will motivate the students to think and learn.
- Teaching students to nurture and respect life.
- Helping work undertaken with the most vulnerable students and educational improvements with low achievers.
- Helping students build confidence in reading.
- Improving attendance
Our school dog is called Ivy and belongs to a member of staff, Mr Taylor (Achievement Leader). Ivy is a Pedigree Golden Retriever. This breed is known to be child friendly, lively, gentle mannered, demonstrably affectionate yet sensitive and have an outstanding trainability. Ivy has now had basic training and extensive full therapy training. Ivy was introduced to the school environment, staff and students gradually and has developed through to adulthood within the school environment becoming fully accustomed to the routines of the day and supportive of students within the school. All vaccination programme records are kept as part of the school’s dog risk assessment.
Ivy is never left unsupervised and whilst moving around the school, she is always kept on a short lead with harness and is always with a member of staff. Our school dog policy can be found on the school website in our policies section. Both policy and risk assessments are reviewed annually. If at any point, we have concerns that having a school dog is not supporting our students as intended or Ivy is not enjoying life in the school environment, then Ivy will be removed.
We fully appreciate that not everyone enjoys interacting with animals and that some students may have allergies that we may be unaware of. If you do not wish your child to interact with Ivy or you would like to update us about any allergies or other medical issues that may be impacted by having a dog on site, please use the contact us form to let us know and the school’s lead first aider will get in touch to find out more.
We hope students gain a great deal of enjoyment and support from Ivy.
Q: Who is the legal owner of the dog and who pays for its costs?
A: The legal owner of the dog will be Mr Taylor; he will bear the costs associated with owning the dog; as well as the appropriate insurance.
Q: Will the dog be from a reputable breeder?
A: Yes. The dog was purchased from a reputable breeder and is fully KC Registered. Mr Taylor visited the puppies in their home and both parents were seen. This dog was specifically chosen for its temperament and loving nature.
Q: Has a risk assessment been undertaken?
A: Yes, a full risk assessment is in place, which will be reviewed regularly. We have carefully considered having a dog in school and sought advice from many sources, including other schools that successfully have a school dog.
Q: Who is responsible for training?
A: Mr Taylor will be the legal owner of the dog and as a result, will be responsible for its initial training. All training certificates will be recorded and checked for authenticity.
Q: How will the dog be toileted to ensure hygiene for all?
A: In the interest of health and hygiene, our school dog will be taken to an area outside of the school grounds that has no access to students during the school day. The staff in charge of the dog will ensure that this is cleared away appropriately, leaving no trace on the ground, cleaning the area with disinfectant if needed.
Q: How will the dog’s welfare be considered?
A: The dog will be walked regularly and given free time outside. The dog will have its own space in a specified area of the school where it will not be disturbed by students. The dog will be carefully trained over a period of time and will have unlimited access to food and water. We will work carefully to ensure the dog’s welfare is always considered and remove the dog from the school environment if we don’t feel she is happy.
Q: How will this be managed where children have allergies?
A: Students will not need to touch the dog, which will relieve the possibility of allergic reactions. We already manage a number of allergies at school and this will be no different for students and adults that are allergic to dogs. Individual needs will always be met and we are happy to work with parents/carers to put additional control measures in place for individual allergies. Any students with allergies to dogs will be built into the risk assessment as they are made known to the school.
Q: My child is frightened of dogs; how will you manage this?
A: Access to the dog will be carefully managed and supervised and children do not need to have close contact with it if this has been expressed by parents/carers. We will work closely with families whose children are fearful of dogs to alleviate their fear.