| Reviewed by: | Michelle Fenniche, 01 05 2025 |
| Ratified by: | Resources Committee, 05 06 2025 |
| Next Review: | Summer term 2027 |
Contents
Introduction
Within the Oakbridge federation community, we believe a school is a place where ‘children grow, learn and flourish together’. Our mission statement encompasses our values and beliefs regarding every individual in the federation.
Rationale for having Pets in School
Encouraging children to take an interest in animals can have a positive effect on them and can be used to improve human and animal welfare.
School pets may:
- motivate children to think and to learn, as they have a high level of natural interest, enthusiasm and enjoyment of animals
- encourage a respect and reverence for life in children and thereby improve their relationships with their peers, parents and teachers
- foster a sense of responsibility in children
- teach children to nurture and respect life
- improve academic achievement
The benefits of school pets are far reaching and can be broken down into the following development aspects:
- Cognitive development – companionship with a pet stimulates memory, problem- solving, game-playing and can improve reading skills.
- Emotional development – a school pet improves self-esteem, acceptance from others
and lifts mood, often provoking laughter and fun. Animals can also teach compassion and gives relief from anxiety.
- Physical development – interaction with a pet reduces blood pressure, provides tactile stimulation, assists with pain management, gives motivation to move, walk and stimulates the senses.
- Environmental benefits – a pet in a school contributes towards the creation of a home-style environment, with all of the above benefits continuing long after the school day is over.
- Social benefits – a school pet provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility, wellbeing, developing social skills and focused interaction with others.
Pets in school also have social benefits for the school community:
- enhance the learning environment, creating a sense of security and family warmth for the pupils
- encourage the involvement of parents and the wider community in school activities help to promote the school as an important nurturing influence in the community. Children naturally identify with animals, we use the children’s interactions with animals to teach them how to respect each other and how to show empathy.
- Teaching children to respect and protect even the smallest animal is vital to ensure that we support the development of adults who will continue to show a respect for protecting our
environment, animals and plants for generations to come. A child’s attitude toward animals can predict future behaviour; we will teach kindness and empathy towards animals which will foster a positive attitude and in turn will reduce the likelihood of anti-social behaviour.
Looking After a School Pet
At Oakbridge federation we aim to promote good practice in animal care. Children are taught correct
procedures in handling and caring for animals under the direct supervision of adults; they are encouraged to take a shared responsibility for the care of the animals, under direct supervision.
Children are taught how to interact gently with our school pets. Pets and other animals in school can enhance the learning environment. Sensible measures are taken to reduce the risk of infection to the children and to staff.
At Oakbridge :
- we have a named person responsible for the welfare of all animals in school. This named person will oversee relevant guidance relating to each animal and amend practice in response to changing guidance.
- risk assessments and care sheets will be provided for each different animals by The Lead Pets in School person.
- the Lead Pets in School person will oversee all animal care and safety throughout the school, but day to day maintenance and feeding will be overseen by the designated staff.
- animals remain the responsibility of their owner.
- we obtain well socialised young animals
- we register all our animals with a local veterinary practice and seek advice and treatment when appropriate
- we ensure that each animal enjoys an optimum environment
- we practise routine preventive health measures as advised by vets for example vaccination, flea prevention and worm control where appropriate
- we keep pets and their quarters clean and safe at all times
- we make careful arrangements for holiday and weekend care are made
- we provide a high quality, appropriate diet
- we isolate and treat any sick animals promptly Examples of how the pets will be used in school
- Reading programmes: Children who might be embarrassed to read aloud to the class or even adults are less likely to be scared to read to an animal.
- Thrive approach: school pets can be used within nurture sessions to teach empathy and responsibility.
- Reward: Children who have shown the Oakbridge Values may also be rewarded with time with the school pets.
- Walking, cleaning out the environment, grooming, playing and training are some of the responsibilities take children will be allowed to undertake.
Health and safety
Children’s parents or carers sign a consent form for the school pets during induction. This will allow parents to indicate whether they give consent for their child to be in contact with school pets. Any allergies are also highlighted during children’s induction, which should alert us to allergies to other pets.
The likelihood of diseases being passed on from pet animals is low. However, allergic reactions to mammals, birds and animals cannot be discounted. These might result from handling the animals or being in close proximity and be detected by the development of skin rashes, irritation to the eyes and nose or breathing difficulties.
Staff will watch for the development of allergic reactions in pupils who come into contact with the animals. Children known to have allergic reactions to specific animals will have restricted access to those that may trigger a response.
When animals are handled, good hygiene will be practised.
When handling animals:
- children will wash their hands with soap and water before and directly after handling animals
- children will not consume food or drink
Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed every two years or sooner.