Dogs on Site Policy

Date of issue: September 2022

Date of review: September 2023

Ratified by Academy Governing Council on:

The Co-op Academy Oakwood is committed to safeguarding every student. We acknowledge that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and ensure all of our staff are trained to be vigilant and aware of the signs and indicators of abuse and understand and follow safe working practices.

The viewpoints and voice of students is of paramount importance to our Academy and we will always listen to their wishes, thoughts and feelings, as well as identifying and supporting their needs. We will work alongside students to develop trusting, consistent and professional relationships and show we care by advocating the early help processes where possible. We will identify any difficulties or concerns early in order to act preventatively. We will always provide support and advice for families and parents/carers, whilst acting in the best interests of the student at all times and doing what matters most. Safeguarding also includes ensuring we work in an open and honest way, enabling our students to feel safe by providing a secure learning environment, are equally protected regardless of any barriers they may face and are able to grow and develop in the same way as their peers.

Co-op Academy Oakwood safeguards students by:

• Maintaining a secure site and ensuring that all visitors to the Academy are recorded, monitored and clear about how to raise a safeguarding concern should one arise.
• Ensuring that safer recruitment practices are followed to prevent those who pose a risk to children gaining access to our students.
• Filtering and monitoring all internet traffic into the Academy to ensure that students cannot be exposed to harmful material and communication.
• Ensuring that all staff employed by the Academy have received Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance which is recorded in the Single Central Record
• Providing regular training and briefings for all staff in child protection and ensuring that all staff and visitors know who our designated safeguarding officers and designated senior lead are.
• Ensuring that admission and attendance procedures are robust to protect students, ensure that they are safe and prevent students from going missing from education.
• Empowering young people to identify risks both within the Academy and in their community; ensuring that they have the skills and confidence to help and protect themselves and others.
• Making sure that all students understand the importance of reporting concerns about themselves and peers and giving them the confidence to discuss sensitive issues.
• Providing pastoral and inclusion support to ensure that all students have access to guidance and advice, and when needed referrals for additional agency support to meet their needs.
• Sharing information when appropriate with other agencies and services to ensure that students, children and their families have support to meet their needs and prevent students from harm or further harm
• Taking immediate action and contacting the appropriate agencies when we believe that a student is in danger or is at risk of harm.

Co-op Academy Oakwood is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all of our pupils. We expect our staff, governors, wider professionals, volunteers and all other stakeholders to share this commitment. All of our policies are underpinned and linked to our safeguarding policy through this commitment.

Overall aims of this policy  

Our aim is to deal with issues relating to dogs on the academy grounds.  There are four key issues to be explored:  

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

The Education Authority has recommended strongly to schools that dogs are only allowed  on school premises for educational purposes or with pupils, staff or members of the public  as a registered service dog. The Headteacher, along with the Governors, have considered  

this advice seriously and have put this policy in place to support all members of Co-op Academy Oakwood.

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

It is recognised that dogs are an important part of family life for many in our community,  and as such are often included in day-to-day activities such as walking children to and  from school. However, others may find the presence of dogs in the playground and academy grounds stressful, even frightening, and even well-behaved dogs can behave unpredictably when placed in a busy, noisy and crowded environment.  

Families may be approached by a member of staff about having a dog on the grounds.

The staff member is working under instruction from the Headteacher to apply the agreed policy of not having dogs on site for non-educational purposes.  

For the safety of the dog, as well as for the benefit of others, dogs should not be tied to the gates or the fencing around the school premise and be left unattended.  

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

Co-op Academy Oakwood may wish from time to time to bring a dog into the school as  part of an educational activity. This could include activities such as therapy dogs, Guide Dogs for the blind/deaf and Dogs Trust Workshops, such as staying safe around dogs.  

The following guidance should be adhered to:  

• A risk assessment is completed prior to the visit  
• The dog is from a recognised organisation that can show evidence of the dog’s  nature and temperament  
• The organisation has public liability insurance  
• Families have been informed of the proposed visit/how the visit will be carried  out  
• The extent of interaction with the pupils and permission slips received  
• Alternative arrangements for pupils that may not wish to participate in the activity  
• 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 their appropriate behaviour around dogs, prior to the  visit. This should be done in conjunction with the organisation bringing the dog and  guidance taken from them.  
• Good hygiene and hand washing procedures in place for pupils  

Members of the public walking/exercising dogs on academy grounds  

School grounds are for the exclusive use of the academy and should not be used for the purpose of exercising dogs. In the first instance, if safe to do so, the dog owner should be approached and asked to leave the grounds explaining that the grounds are for the exclusive use of the academy. If this continues or staff feel they are unable to approach the dog owner, the school should contact the local council dog warden (07710 232372) or the police.  

Stray dogs on school grounds  

If there is a stray dog in the school grounds, staff at the academy will contact the local council dog warden on  07710232372 for advice and they will come and remove the dog from the school grounds.  Children should be kept indoors until the dog has been safely removed.