Our therapy dogs, Oakley and Cindy, are trained by Autism Dogs Charity to support Wider Ambition students.
The dogs support our students in a wide variety of ways. For some students, being greeted at their car in the morning by a therapy dog transforms the transition into school into a time of day that they enjoy. During learning sessions, the presence of a dog for strokes and cuddles provides sensory input and additional reassurance. Opportunities to play with the dogs outside and to learn how to train and care for them can encourage students who find physical activity difficult, as well as contributing to our Animal Care curriculum.
The reliable friendship offered by our dogs helps to enhance students’ self-esteem and often provides an opening for the development of social communication skills. Some of our students also choose to experience deep pressure therapy, training the dogs to lie on them on one of our heated water beds.
Our dogs wear a therapy dog harness throughout the school day and they are always accompanied by a trained dog handler.
Both dogs have public access training, enabling them to accompany students on visits to shops, on public transport and for other activities in our local community. Their presence provides reassurance for students with high anxiety who struggle to access public spaces.
We understand some children can be wary of dogs. Our staff are sensitive to students’ preferences and ensure the dogs only directly interact with those who welcome their presence.