In September 2024, we welcomed who, with support from the staff and PAWs Therapy Dog Team, is in training to become our school dog and is set to become an integral part of our school family. 

Rusty is a Cocker Spaniel. Cocker spaniels are known for their friendly and affectionate nature, making them perfect candidates for therapy dog training.

Rusty joined Miss Oseman’s family during the August 2024 and has made a big impression. He is very friendly, loves to chase bubbles and enjoys a belly rub!. He is learning incredibly fast, and we are working hard to ensure he is well-trained for being around children and in a working environment.

 

                                                  

What are the benefits of having a school dog?

Numerous research studies have shown the benefits of therapy dogs in schools. Therapy dogs have been working in schools for the past 5 years across the UK. However, they have been commonplace in schools in the USA and Australia for many years.

Evidence indicates that benefits include:

• Cognitive – companionship with a dog stimulates memory, problem-solving and game-playing. Encouraging expression, participation and shared attention.
• Social – a dog provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility, wellbeing and focused interaction with others. Encouraging respect and thereby improving students’ relationships with each other, parents and teachers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-47655600
• Emotional – a school dog improves self-esteem, acceptance from others and lifts mood, often provoking laughter and fun. Dogs can also teach compassion and respect for other living things as well as relieving anxiety. Improved behaviour, attendance and concentration, reduced stress and improved self-esteem.
• Physical – interaction with animals reduces blood pressure, provides tactile stimulation, gives motivation to move and stimulates the senses.
• Environmental – a dog in a school increases the sense of a family environment, with all of the above benefits continuing long after the school day is over.

Rusty's role

For the first few months, Rusty will be coming to school on a part time basis. This is to help him acclimatise and not be overwhelmed meeting too many people. Rusty will spend the first few months in and around the school, mainly in staff areas to build socialisation. When around the building, Rusty will always be on a short lead and accompanied by a member of staff.  

 

Our goal for Rusty is to become a Professionally Accredited Therapy Dog. This is a working dog role, not just a school pet. This type of training relies heavily on  Rusty’s temperament and training, which we will help develop over the next few months as he grows from puppy to adulthood. Rusty has already been screened by a member of the PAWs team, and they believe he is a suitable candidate for therapy training. Rusty will be “in training” for the rest of this academic year until he is a mature adult. After his 1^st Birthday in May 2025, he will become a PAWs Accredited Working Therapy Dog, provided he passes their strict assessment.

While Rusty’s main place of residence will be in the Senior Leadership Office, children will be able to interact with him under strict supervision. Please understand that we will do everything we can to reassure children who are fearful and that under no circumstances will they be forced to meet with Rusty. 

We hope the children will gain a great deal of enjoyment from having a school dog and that he becomes an established part of life and the St Thomas family. We understand that it is not possible for all families to have a family dog and therefore we hope that this is an opportunity for children to share in a dog and gain from a relationship and contact on a regular basis. 

The Dogs Trust

In January 2025, we had a visit from The Dogs Trust. They gave an assembly to all children and then delivered individual workshops to each year group about how to behave around dogs in a safe manner! We thoroughly enjoyed this experience!