Introducing Neo, our school Dog Mentor
We are delighted to introduce Neo, our school dog mentor!
Neo is a miniature dachshund that resides with Ms Khinich, our Headteacher, who brings him to school three times a week. He greets children upon arrival to school, goes into classrooms, participates in the children’s learning and has stories read to him. He also spends time with a number of individual children during targeted intervention sessions. Whenever he takes a break from his interesting and ever-changing job, he has a rest in Ms Khinich’s office.
Neo joined the Dog Mentor programme in January 2023 and has since completed his training and passed the Dog Mentor Programme assessment. He is currently working towards achieving a gold award to recognise his impact on the school community.
With this programme, we aim to enhance the universal support provision in our school environment, not only for social, emotional and mental health well-being, but also to cover all aspects of curriculum-based education to improve educational outcomes. As mental health and well-being is one of our curriculum drivers, we believe Neo will complement our curriculum offer well.
Numerous research studies have shown the benefits of dogs in schools and evidence indicates that areas of potential benefit include:
- Cognitive development: companionship with a dog stimulates memory, problem-solving, game-playing and can improve reading skills
- Emotional development: 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
- Physical development: interaction with a pet reduces blood pressure, provides tactile stimulation, assists with pain management, gives motivation to move and walk, and stimulates the senses
- Environmental benefits: a dog in a school contributes towards the creation of a home-style environment, with all of the above benefits continuing long after the school day is over
- Social benefits: a dog provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility, wellbeing, developing social skills and focused interaction with others.
The Dog Mentor programme has also been proven to have a positive impact on children in areas including behaviour, peer relationships and better engagement skills, which in turn result in improved academic achievement.
Full training has been given to Ms Khinich, Miss Storey, Ms Begum and Coach K, who are Neo’s handlers, and they ensure that the welfare of everyone involved is maintained as a top priority.
Dog Mentor Neo
