Blue is our Silver Labrador Retriever who is in the process to become a School Reading Dog through the Burns By Your Side scheme. He has achieved both his Bronze and Silver Award accreditation. He is a firm favourite with our pupils.
Burns By Your Side Vision
'For every child, no matter where they come from or how low their reading skills are, there is a book that will take their breath away... a book that will make them want to pick up another book. And for every child, finding that joy of reading will change their life!' - John Burns.
Burns By Your Side Scheme
The scheme is categorised as an animal assisted intervention, designed to create a stress free, relaxed environment where a reluctant reader can read to the dog without interruption or social pressure.
The scheme has also proven highly beneficial for children with communication, confidence, trauma and anxiety issues. Research shows learning is blocked by stress/anxiety/classically conditioned emotional responses and this project addresses these blocks and alleviates them without the child ever being aware.
The reading dogs scheme provides a calm, relaxing safe environment where a child can enjoy a book without any judgement, they can develop their vocabulary and improve their reading skills.
Headteacher Sian Williams
