We may only be a few weeks into the term, but many boys have already benefited from reading with our school reading dog, Cocoa.
Y3 and Y4 boys enjoy regular paired reading sessions with Cocoa, while boys who need a little more support with their reading enjoy sessions with her on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Increasing reading levels is just one of many benefits of having a therapy dog in school. Cocoa also helps to improve boys’ confidence, well-being and self-esteem and reduces anxiety, which improves learning outcomes.
This positive impact can be seen each week in the playground. When Cocoa is out and about during morning break and lunchtime, she is now looked after by a new team of supervisors. This team of boys, who work in pairs on a weekly rota, first met with Mrs Rossington and received training on caring for her. We are pleased to say that these boys are doing a superb job, and it is wonderful to see the sense of pride that taking on this role of responsibility has given them. Furthermore, the positive impact goes beyond this; Cocoa also brings joy to the boys out playing, who cannot help but smile when they meet her and sneak a quick cuddle.
