Our Learning Support team had a very special visit from Jack the Springer Spaniel, a Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog. Pets as Therapy (PAT) is a national charity that enhances health and wellbeing in the community through the visits of trusted volunteers with their behaviourally assessed animals. Within a school environment, the visit of a PAT dog as part of the read2dogs scheme can help improve literacy in children by developing their confidence, interest and enjoyment.
Research shows that young people can become nervous and stressed when reading to others in a group. However, when a PAT Dog enters the group, they often become less stressed, less self-conscious and more confident as the dogs are non-judgemental. Before long the young people are starting to look forward to the reading experience. PAT Dogs provide comfort, encourage positive social behaviours, enhance self-esteem, motivate speech and inspire young people to have fun.
Jack was invited specifically to encourage some of our more reluctant/unconfident readers. He came during lunchtime and all our Learning Support pupils were invited to drop in and visit him, and where possible read to him. Even Mr Hooke had the opportunity to read to Jack!
The initiative was such a success that there are plans to make the read2dogs scheme a regular termly event. The benefits were very visible and children who are not confident to read out loud were very keen to read to Jack and they all asked if they could return.
One of our pupils, Giulia, drew some pictures of Jack's visit and also wrote this lovely article, below:
