Welcome to another new member of staff!!

Welcome to Barbara, our new school Therapy Dog who will be starting her very important work at St Bede’s this term. Barbara and her handler Ms Julia will be coming into classrooms and working with some students to help support positive wellbeing and access to learning. A permission form will be sent home soon via Operoo to make sure anyone with allergies or phobias around dogs is catered for and so we all have an understanding about how to stay safe when working with a Therapy Dog. As soon as the administration side of this venture is ready, Barbara will join us in our new Wellbeing Space set up in the breakout room attached to the Jarrow Room. 

In the meantime, here are some benefits of welcoming Barbara to our school. Research suggests animals can assist the school setting in the following ways:

• Animals can teach empathy and appropriate interpersonal skills
• Help individuals develop social skills
• The relationship between therapy animals and the handler can be a model for a healthy relationship
• The presence of animals is soothing and can support building relationships between students and teachers and across the school community
• Patting an animal has been demonstrated to lower blood pressure, lower anxiety and lessen stress
• It has been shown that animals have the potential to lower human anxiety by simply being present
• Self-esteem through the skills and responsibility gained in regard to caring and handing animals.
• Improving school attendance and connection

Ms Julia and Barbara have completed a special training course and are qualified to work in schools and are very excited to be starting soon at St Bede’s. Here is a story about her you can read through with your child, to help them get ready too!