Wellbeing Dog

We are very excited to welcome Sunny and Bailey our Wellbeing Dogs to Elm Academy

Sunny is a Maltipoo and Bailey is a Golden Retriever who both love to support pupils coming into school, listen to children read and check on everyone’s wellbeing.

They have had the pleasure of meeting everyone in the school and love standing on the school gate in the mornings to welcome everyone in.

Academic research has shown that dogs working and helping in the school environment:

• benefit children’s social and emotional development
• have a calming effect on pupils, particularly those with behavioural or learning
  difficulties
• improve behaviour and concentration, reduced stress and improved self-esteem
• encourage expression and participation in more withdrawn children
• foster a sense of responsibility
• motivate pupils to think and to learn, as children have a high level of natural interest
  in, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of animals
• encourage respect and thereby improving pupils’ relationships with each other,
  parents and teachers
• teach children to nurture and to have respect for life
• help children build confidence in reading
• reduce children’s anxieties if they have a fear of dogs
• improve attendance

Please see our policy, risk assessment and parent letter for more information. Wellbeing Dog Policy and Risk Assessment

This is Sunny:

This is Bailey with Mrs Wakeman: