12 September 2024
Dear Parents and Carers,
You may be aware that there is a growing movement in many schools to reintroduce the concept of school
pets as a way of teaching all children responsibility and providing a source of pleasure and learning. Over
the last year, leaders at Monkton Wood Academy have been discussing the benefits of a school dog for our
children. There are a number of school dogs already in post locally and around the country and we firmly
believe that having a school dog can only enhance and extend the children’s opportunities for learning –
both academically and socially.
This week in their House assemblies, students have been asked to consider raising the necessary funds to
purchase and train a school dog, as their fundraising goal for the year. It is possible of course that they may
choose a different local or national charity to represent. However, since a school dog is likely to be a hot
topic for conversation among our young people, I wanted to provide you with some information at this very
early stage.
What are the benefits of a school dog?
Numerous research studies have shown the benefits of therapy dogs in schools. Therapy dogs have been
working in schools for the past 5 years across the UK. However, they have been commonplace in schools in
the USA and Australia for many years. Evidence indicates that benefits include:
• Cognitive – companionship with a dog stimulates memory, problem-solving and game-playing.
Encouraging expression, participation and shared attention.
• Social – a dog provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility, wellbeing
and focused interaction with others. Encouraging respect and thereby improving pupils’
relationships with each other, parents and teachers.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-47655600
• Emotional – a school dog improves self-esteem, acceptance from others and lifts mood, often
provoking laughter and fun. Dogs can also teach compassion and respect for other living things as
well as relieving anxiety. Improved behaviour, attendance and concentration, reduced stress and
improved self-esteem
• Physical – interaction with animals reduces blood pressure, provides tactile stimulation, gives
motivation to move and stimulates the senses
• Environmental – a dog in a school increases the sense of a family environment, with all of the above
benefits continuing long after the school day is over.
• Helping children build confidence in reading –
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/feb/28/dogs-listen-to-children-reading
Of course, bringing any animal into school is not something to be approached lightly, both for the animal’s
sake and for the sake of the children and adults in the school. We are taking advice from fellow Academies,
who have school dogs. We have discussed the practicalities, including everything from risk assessments and
insurance to dealing with training, dog toileting and children’s allergies. Children would never be let alone
with the dog, and they would be taught about how to be around a dog before it is in a classroom
environment.
We are at a very early stage in this process, and it is too soon to gather information about allergies and
phobias at this point. However, please be reassured that – should the school community choose to pursue
this plan – we will gather this information and take all necessary steps to meet students’ needs.
Should the school dog be chosen by a House as their fundraising project for the year, we will confirm with
families and share much more information about potential timescales and the process that we must follow.
With thanks for your continuing support.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs H. Jones
Principal
