Boys were delighted to meet a very special new member of staff who started this term: Cocoa, the Prep School’s new reading and therapy dog.
There was great excitement as Cocoa was introduced in assembly on the first day of term, and the boys were instantly smitten! Cocoa, who lives with Mr and Mrs Silk, is an eight-year-old Labrador. Calm, affectionate and very gentle-natured, she is the perfect temperament for a therapy dog and passed her initial training with flying colours.
This week, Cocoa has already enjoyed sessions with some of our Y4 boys as they explored their year-long topic: dragons; she has also spent time in the classroom with boys in Y3 and Y7 and has enjoyed walks at lunchtime as well as numerous reading sessions. Indeed, there were queues outside the library at lunchtime on Thursday to sit and read with Cocoa, who enjoyed listening to everything from David Walliams’ The Fing to The 65-Storey Tree House to War and Peace (although she didn’t get far before falling asleep)!
Increasing reading levels is just one of many benefits of having a therapy dog in school, from improving children’s confidence, well-being and self-esteem to reducing anxiety, which improves learning outcomes. Therapy dogs are also shown to make a positive change towards learning and improve motivation in school. In addition, they help pupils learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships. Cocoa may have only been with us a few days, but she is already having a hugely positive impact on the boys, who cannot help but smile when they meet her and sneak a quick cuddle.
Cocoa will be in school every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to read with boys, spend time in the classroom, enjoy lunch breaks and support boys’ well-being through one-to-one sessions.
‘It’s great having Cocoa in school;
she makes us feel better.”
