Co-op Academy Walkden

Dogs on Academy Grounds Policy

Introduction:

Our aims are to ensure the safety and well-being of pupils, staff and visitors to the school and to minimise the risk of accident or injury to people or animals within the school grounds

Co-op Academy Walkden recognises that there may be occasions where dogs may be on site, namely:

• Dogs being brought onto academy grounds by parents/carers when dropping off or picking up pupils;  
• Dogs being brought into the academy as an interactive educational activity for pupils;
• Members of the public using the academy grounds to walk their dogs; and  
• Stray dogs on academy grounds.  

The value of pet ‘therapy’ is widely accepted as a powerful aid to stimulation and communication. Studies have shown that the presence of companion animals can improve the well-being of children and lower the rate of anxiety, simply by making the environment happier, more enjoyable and less forbidding.

We also recognise that bringing dogs onto the premises might pose a health and safety risk to our pupils and others on site and could be unsettling for many as they arrive and leave school.

There are added risks of dogs fouling, dogs biting or showing aggressive unpredictable behaviour. We recognise that even well-behaved dogs can behave unpredictably when placed in an unfamiliar, busy, noisy and crowded school environment and that this can lead to unexpected behaviour in even the best-behaved animals. Children can also behave unpredictably when in the presence of dogs, especially where they are not used to being with them. It is in considering this context that this policy has been developed.

Legislation

The academy is required to comply with all legislation including, but not limited to, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. These pieces of legislation establish the standards that must be met to ensure the health and safety of all employees and others (pupils, parents/carers and visitors) who may be affected by any activity in the Academy and are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive.

In addition, the Academy has a legal duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure that disabled people are not discriminated against, under the Equality Act 2010, specifically that:

• Where a person has a registered assistance dog, the Academy must make reasonable adjustments to avoid discriminating against them. They cannot be refused entry to the Academy

Advice to those bringing dogs to academy at drop off and pick up times    

Parents/carers who bring their dog into the school grounds, while walking their children to or from school, should keep their dog on a lead at all times.

The adult must always have control of the dog – children must never be left alone with or in charge of the dog.

Any dog foul should be cleaned immediately.

Aggressive dogs, or those with a history of aggression, must not be brought into school grounds.

Parents/carers should keep their dog away from other dogs within the grounds as it is not always possible to gauge how dogs can react towards each other.

For the safety of the dog, as well as for the benefit of others, the dog should not be tied to the academy property

This information should be circulated to parents through a newsletter or through the school website.

Dogs being brought in the academy as an educational activity for pupils  

The Academy may wish from time to time to bring a dog into the academy as part of an educational activity. This could include activities such as therapy dogs, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Dogs Trust Workshops, such as staying safe around dogs.  

The following guidance should be adhered to:  

• A risk assessment must be completed prior to the visit.  
• The dog is from a recognised organisation that can show evidence of the dogs nature and temperament;
• The organisation has public liability insurance;  
• Parents/carers have been informed of the proposed visit/how the visit will be carried out;
• The extent of interaction with the pupils has been made explicit and consent from parents/carers has been received
• Alternative arrangements for pupils that may not wish to participate in the activity must be offered;  
• All necessary arrangements have been put in place prior to the visit, as agreed with the organisation bringing in the dog. This should take into consideration size, breed of dog, age group and numbers of children;  
• Consideration taken of any allergic reactions to dogs that pupils or staff may have;  
• Pupils have been informed of the appropriate behaviour around dogs, prior to the visit. This should be done in the conjunction with the organisation bringing in the dog and guidance taken from them;
• Good hygiene and hand washing procedures in place for pupils during and after the activities

Members of the public walking/exercising dogs on academy grounds  

Academy grounds are private property and should not be used for the purpose of exercising dogs. In the first instance, if it is safe to do so, the dog owner should be approached and asked to leave the grounds explaining that it is private property. If this continues or staff feel they are unable to approach the dog owner the academy should contact the local Council dog warden or the police.  

Stray dogs on academy grounds  

If there is a stray dog in the academy grounds the local Council dog warden should be contacted for advice and they will come and remove the dog from the academy grounds. Children should be kept indoors until the dog has been safely removed.  

Roles and Responsibilities 

The Principal is responsible for developing and implementing this policy.

Teachers and staff are required to abide by this policy.

The Health and Safety Officer is responsible for providing information, advice and guidance as and when required.