Oulton Academy Welcomes a New Member to our Team

We are very excited to introduce you to a new member of the Oulton Academy Community, Louie, the Cocker-Spaniel, who will be trained to be a certified Therapy Dog. Louie will become an integral part of the academy and support our commitment to pupil mental health and well-being. The decision to introduce a therapy dog has been taken after extensive research on the substantial benefits of animal-assisted interventions on pupil well-being, alongside other benefits including cognitive development which will aid academic progression of pupils.

"a powerfully cost-effective way of helping children feel more secure at schools."

Sir Anthony Seldon

Numerus studies have shown the impact and benefit of animal-assisted interventions in schools. By introducing animals into schools, a range of moral, spiritual and educational benefits for children can be observed. Evidence indicates that benefits include:

• Cognitive – Companionship with animals stimulate memory, thought processes and problem-solving skills, encouraging pupils to invest in learning.
• Social – Animals provide a positive mutual topic for discussion, supports pupils to foster a sense of empathy and responsibility, positively impacts on well-being and focused interaction with others.
• Emotional – Animals in schools improve self-esteem, acceptance from and toward others and teaches children how to nurture. Animals can also teach compassion and respect for other living things, as well as relieving anxiety.
• Physical – Interactions with animals reduces blood pressure, provides a tactile stimulation, assists with pain management and stimulates the senses.
• Ambition – Working with animals in school can lead to the development of hobbies and potential careers in animal care.
• Academic achievement – Research indicates improved academic performance, specifically in relation to pupil’s development in reading.

Children with higher levels of well-being learn more effectively, have lower levels of absenteeism at school, better academic engagement, and have more meaningful and successful peer relationships.

Click here to see letter to parents.