Freqently Asked Questions
Below are a series of frequently asked questions which I hope will answer any queries you may have, but do come and ask Mrs Makin if you have any other concerns or questions.
The “Dog in School” policy will be available on the website shortly. We hope the children will gain a great deal of enjoyment from having their school dog and that he, very quickly, becomes an established family member of Oakfield!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q Who is the legal owner of the dog and who pays for its costs?
- The legal owner of the dog is Mrs Makin who will care for the dog out of school hours and will bear the costs associated with it; the school will pay for any additional costs that may incur as a result of the dog being in school (for example, additional insurance.
Q Is the dog from a reputable breeder?
- Yes. We have done much research and have chosen a reputable breeder.
Q Will the dog be a distraction?
- The dog will be kept in the Heads/Main Office. These areas are separate from the classrooms/ playground area to ensure he only comes into contact, under strict supervision. We will be careful to ensure that time spent with the school dog is shared among the children fairly. We will also ensure that children who do not have permission for direct contact with the dog are still able to participate in a number of ways, should they wish to do so.
Q Has a risk assessment been undertaken?
- Yes, we have carefully considered having a dog in school and sought advice from many sources, including The Dogs Trust and other schools and that successfully have a school dog.
Q Who is responsible for training?
- Mrs Makin will be the legal owner of the dog and as a result, will be responsible for his training.
Q How will the dog be toileted to ensure hygiene for all?
- In the interest of health and hygiene Bailey will be toileted in an area where children have no access. Thus there will be no chance of the children coming into contact with faeces. While he is in training any accidents that happen will be cleaned immediately and in an appropriate and hygienic way. Any children in close vicinity to the dog will be removed while thorough cleaning takes place.
Q How will the dog’s welfare be considered?
- Bailey will be slowly introduced into the school on a one day a week basis. It is important that he is not overwhelmed with large groups of children ( for example on the playground) and we will carefully ensure that this is always considered.
Q How will this be managed where children have allergies?
- The breed of dog has been chosen for its hypoallergenic properties, however, children will not need to touch the dog which will relieve the possibility of allergic reactions however small. We already manage a number of allergies at school and this will be no different for children 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.
Q My child is frightened of dogs; how will you manage this?
- Access to the dog is carefully managed and supervised and children do not need to have close contact. 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.