We are all excited to have Mr Henry and Mr Maximus visiting us at Newlands Primary School to support our staff and children holistically and therapeutically.

Mr Henry and Mr Maximus are Labrador Retrievers. They belong to Mrs Rutter who will be visiting the school with Mr Henry and Mr Maximus on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

Mr Henry and Mr Maximus have calm and caring temperaments and love playing, being stroked and listening to stories. They are gentle, exceptionally friendly and love spending time with people.

Mr Henry and Mr Maximus are training to become  therapy dogs with PAWS (People and Animal Wellbeing Services) - the PAWS Therapy Dog Certification is the UK's first comprehensive programme that will equip dogs with everything they need to know and do to deliver safe and effective animal-assisted therapy in school.

Therapy dogs/wellbeing dogs have been working in UK schools for many years. There are many benefits to having dogs in schools, including:

• a calming effect on pupils, particularly those with behavioural or learning difficulties
• improved behaviour and concentration, reduced stress and improved self-esteem
• encouraging expression and participation in more withdrawn children
• fostering a sense of responsibility
• motivating pupils to think and to learn, as most children have a high level of natural interest in, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of animals
• encouraging respect and thereby improving pupils’ relationships with each other, parents and teachers
• teaching children to nurture and respect life
• helping work undertaken with the most vulnerable children, and educational improvements with low achievers
• helping children build confidence in reading.

Research into the effects of well-being dogs in schools is showing a range of benefits including:

• increase in school attendance
• gains in confidence
• decreases in learner anxiety behaviours resulting in improved learning outcomes, such as increases in reading and writing levels
• positive changes towards learning and improved motivation
• enhanced relationships with peers and teachers due to experiencing trust and unconditional love from a therapy dog. This in turn helps students learn how to express their feelings and enter into more trusting relationships.