Dogs on School Grounds Policy

Aims:

To ensure the safety and well-being of pupils, staff and visitors to the school and to minimise the risk of accident or injury to people or animals within the school grounds.

The context of the policy:

Governors and staff recognise that dogs are an essential part of life for some of our families and, as such, are often included in day-to-day activities such as walking children to and from school. In our teaching, we promote the relationship between people and their pets and accept and encourage the idea of pets as ‘family members’. We do see pet ownership as a valuable educational experience for children.

The value of pet ‘therapy’ is widely accepted as a powerful aid to stimulation and communication. Studies have shown that the presence of companion animals can improve children's well-being and lower anxiety rates simply by making the environment happier, more enjoyable and less forbidding.

The school also acknowledges the views of families who have chosen not to have dogs or other pets. They recognise that bringing dogs onto the premises might pose a health and safety risk to our pupils and others on site and could be unsettling for many as they arrive and leave school. There are added risks of dogs fouling, biting, or showing aggressive, unpredictable behaviour.

The School recognises that even well-behaved dogs can behave unpredictably when placed in an unfamiliar, busy, noisy, and crowded school environment, leading to unexpected behaviour in even the best-behaved pet. Children can also behave unpredictably when in the presence of dogs, especially when they are not used to being with them.

Advice to those bringing dogs to school at drop off and pick up times:

Dogs are not permitted to access the school grounds. The school’s priority is the safeguarding of its children and staff.

*The only exception to this is if they are working guide dogs. (engaged as a seeing aid)

Dogs being brought into the school as an educational activity for pupils

Occasionally, a dog might come into school as part of an educational activity. This could be linked to a curriculum topic on animals or pets, fundraising for Guide Dogs or workshops by the Blind and Dogs Trust. In these cases, the following guidance should be adhered to:

a) A risk assessment is completed before the visit, and the dog is from a recognised organisation that can show evidence of the dog’s nature and temperament;  b) The organisation has public liability insurance;

c) Parents/carers have been informed of the proposed visit/how the visit will be carried out;

d) The extent of interaction with the pupils and permission slips received;

e) Alternative arrangements for pupils who may not wish to participate in the activity;

f)  All necessary arrangements have been made before the visit, as agreed with the organisation bringing in the dog. This should take into consideration size, breed of dog, age group and number of children;

g)  Consideration is taken of any allergic reactions to dogs that pupils or staff may have;

h)  Good hygiene and hand washing procedures in place for pupils.

Members of the public walking/exercising dogs on school grounds

School grounds are private property and should not be used to exercise dogs.