School Dogs
Meet our school dogs
Reggie and Roxie
Reggie is a working cocker spaniel and Roxie is a miniature dachshund.
Reggie and Roxie belong to Ms Birmingham, Deputy Head and she will be the main point of contact for any dog related questions. Both dogs live with Ms Birmingham and her family and their main place of residence when at school is in Ms Birmingham’s office.
It is accepted that interacting with animals is not appropriate for all children, but for some, it has the potential to provide many positive benefits. Any parent/carer who does not wish their child to interact with Reggie and Roxie are invited to write to Ms Birmingham, via Epraise or letter, to inform her of their wishes.
Ms Birmingham can be contacted on
nbirmingham@st-johns-bromsgrove.worcs.sch.uk
Permission for your child to have some contact with the school dogs will be presumed if no written communication to Ms Birmingham is received.
Please also ensure your child’s medical record is up-to-date and the school office has been made aware of any allergies.
Reggie and Roxie have grown up in the school environment, becoming fully accustomed to the routines of the day and supportive of students within the school. Here are some of the positive effects of having a school dog:
- A calming effect on pupils, particularly those with behavioural or learning difficulties;
- Encouraging expression and participation in more withdrawn children;
- Fostering a sense of responsibility;
- Increasing enthusiasm for and enjoyment of animals which will motivate the children to think and learn;
- 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;
- Improving attendance.
Their main place of residence will be in Ms Birmingham's office. Whilst moving around the school, they will be kept on a short lead and will always be with a member of staff.
School Dog Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the legal owner of the dogs and who pays for their costs?
The legal owner of the dogs will be Ms Birmingham; she will bear the costs associated with owning the dogs; the school budget will support insurance.
Will the dogs be from reputable breeders?
Yes. The dogs were purchased from reputable breeders. Ms Birmingham visited the puppies in their homes and both parents were seen.
Has a risk assessment been undertaken?
Yes, a full risk assessment is in place, which will be reviewed regularly. We have carefully considered having dogs in school and sought advice from many sources, including other schools that successfully have a school dog.
Who is responsible for training?
Ms Birmingham will be the legal owner of the dogs and as a result, will be responsible for their training.
How will their welfare be considered?
The dogs will be walked regularly and given free time outside. They have their own space in Ms Birmingham's office where they will not be disturbed by students. The dogs will be carefully trained over a period of time and will have unlimited access to food and water. We will work carefully to ensure their welfare is always considered and will remove them from the school environment if we feel they are unhappy.
How will this be managed where children have allergies?
Students will not need to touch the dogs, 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 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.
My child is frightened of dogs; how will you manage this?
Access to the dogs will be carefully managed and supervised and children do not need to have close contact with them if this has been expressed by parents. We hope to work closely with parents of children who are fearful of dogs to alleviate their fear and to teach them how to manage this.
Will other school dogs be allowed in school?
Allowing a dog onto the school site can only be approved by the Headteacher and for educational purposes. This will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Parents can follow Reggie and Roxie's training and development on Instagram @reggie_and_roxie
We hope students will gain a great deal of enjoyment from having school dogs. In the meantime, please see our school dog policy and full risk assessment, which are reviewed regularly. If at any point, it comes to light that either dog does not actively enjoy life in the school environment, they will no longer attend.