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Promoting happy and healthy human-dog interactions in educational settings
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What do we mean by a 'school dog'?
The term ‘school dog’ refers to any canine involved in a school context for the purpose of contributing to children’s learning and personal development. There are two main models of practice relating to school dogs. Both approaches can offer unique benefits but also have unique challenges. Both require careful planning, monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the dogs' welfare is not compromised. Which approach works in a school will be dependent on a number of nuanced factors, including what suits the dog best.
Visiting Dogs
Managed by external organisations, visiting dogs come into schools regularly through structured volunteer programmes like R.E.A.D and Burns By Your Side. These programmes offer targeted support such as reading interventions. These visits are often made on a weekly, or fortnightly basis for about an hour.
Permanent school dogs
Are owned by members of the school staff. As such, they may be present more frequently and for longer periods to provide consistent opportunities for engagement and well-being support.
Rationale: Why have dogs in school?
Evidence points to potential benefits of interacting with dogs on social, emotional, physical, behavioural and cognitive development e.g., Purewal et al, (2017).
Dogs can motivate learners with low levels of confidence and language skills, generate a supportive learning environment, and foster responsibility and empathy (Fine, 2000; Lewis and Grigg, 2020).
Globally, the number of school dogs is on rise. This has led to growing concerns over the lack of guidance for schools to ensure the wellbeing of all.
We hope you find this website helpful in providing such guidance, and practical classroom ideas.
Vision
Our vision is to see the right dog in the right school working with the right learners
Aims
- - To provide high-quality guidance and resources to support positive human-school dog interactions
- - To establish a community in which innovative and research-informed practices are shared and critiqued
- - To inform key stakeholders, including school leaders and policymakers, about current opportunities, issues and challenges
Our Core Values
Compassion: Promoting compassionate human-dog interactions
Respect: Respecting dogs as sentient creatures
Safety: Ensuring the safety of all participants
Making a positive difference: Focusing on the impact of school dogs on their own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing and learning of others
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Why have a dog in school?
Having a dog in school offers several benefits. It can significantly reduce student anxiety and stress, creating a calmer and more positive learning environment.
Dogs also encourage social interaction among students, helping to build better social skills and fostering a sense of community. Moreover, they can improve emotional well-being by providing comfort and companionship, making students feel more secure and supported in their academic pursuits.
Benefits of Animal-Assisted Education
Involving animals in classrooms helps children with self-regulation and understanding sustainable citizenship, enhancing overall development.
Emotional and Social Growth
Animals in educational settings foster empathy, reduce anxiety, and encourage social interaction among children, promoting a nurturing environment.
Enhancing Learning Engagement
Children are more engaged and motivated to learn when animals are integrated into their educational activities, making learning enjoyable and effective.
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Case Studies
NSDA is based in Swansea University