Jennie Courtney, Headteacher at Saint Patrick’s Primary, welcomes a new member for the wellbeing team
At Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Corsham, we have always seen the great benefits of a close community, especially since 2020 when we all went through the Covid 19 pandemic together… but apart.
Since this time, schools became a central focus for learning, as well as emotional and social support, for our children, their families and the wider community. An important priority for our school became wellbeing for all, and it was while we were exploring ideas to support this, that we began our partnership with Dogs for Health.
Dogs for Health dogs and volunteers work alongside professionals to improve mental health and wellbeing by building confidence and self esteem, while helping to reduce stress, social isolation and anxiety. From our initial staff meeting to having a fellow Dogs for Health partnership visit our school – huge thank you to Emma and Acorn from Oakfield Academy in Frome for their time – it became clear that our school community would love to be able to welcome a new 4 footed friend!
Enter Teddy… Teddy is a 12 week old Cockapoo who is the latest puppy to join the Dogs for Health gang! He was welcomed into my family in February half term and had his first day in school on the first day of term 4.
Teddy’s role is to raise confidence, self-esteem, positivity and smiles for the children, parents and staff. You can find him on gate duty each morning welcoming children to school with and Mrs Minty (Deputy Headteacher) and me. He loves children visiting him to celebrate great learning or to read him a story, as well as spending time with those who are finding the day a bit tricky.
Therapy dogs, like Teddy and his friends, offer comfort and support in many ways beyond physical closeness. In school Teddy may sit beside someone, sharing calm and quiet times to provide comfort to those staff and pupils who need it. He may bring a toy or gently nuzzle to show affection and that he wants to play! As he gets older, he will simply have a presence in classrooms which will encourage calmness for learning.
In his first month, he has thoroughly enjoyed taking part in Celebration of the Word assemblies, as well as World Book day and most recently Mental Health Awareness Day, of which he played an important role and admired the children in their colourful outfits!
This year in the Catholic Church it is the Year of Hope, where Pope Francis has reminded us that in a year with many difficult situations world wide, we must ‘Never forget to smile, even when life is hard’. Teddy has definitely helped us to ensure that this the case for us all at Saint Patrick’s.
