Dogs on Academy Grounds

2023/24

Aims

This policy aims to ensure the safety and well-being of students, staff and visitors at the academy to minimise risk of accident or injury.

We appreciate that dogs are a regular part of life for many of our families and are included in daily activities e.g. walking students to and from school. We also acknowledge that other people (possibly adults, students or staff) can find contact with dogs stressful or frightening. Our policy takes into account expectations from all members of the Academy community and aims to decrease risk of accident or injury to people or animals within the academy grounds.

Existing council laws also already cover issues including dog restraint and the need for owners to pick up their dog’s excrement. The policy sets out a "Code of Conduct" below for all families wishing to bring their dogs onto the academy grounds. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct will mean that the dog will no longer be allowed onto academy grounds.

Dog owners must be aware that dogs are potentially dangerous and may also be a health hazard. They must also be mindful of the fact that some children and adults do not like dogs and may be afraid of, or allergic to them.

Risk of Dogs on the Site

Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent recognises that there are risks in allowing dogs onto the site, including biting incidents, barking which may frighten Students and hazards to health such as Toxocariasis. Parents/carers and staff may understandably have concerns regarding dogs on the site.

It is the School’s aim to control risks by asking staff, parents, guardians, visitors and contractors to follow some simple rules, exercise common sense and encourage sensible behaviour of students around dogs.

Regulations surrounding dogs on academy grounds are as follows:

Parents and carers must adhere to this Code of Conduct when bringing dogs onto academy grounds

• Dogs to be kept on a lead at all times.
• Dogs’ leads to be held by adults only.
• Dogs (on leads) to be kept close to the adult in charge at all times
• Anyone bringing a dog on site must ensure that they are on a lead, supervised at all times and controlled so that it does not jump up at people.
• Any student interaction with the dog/s must be properly supervised by the owner. Students must never be left alone in charge of the dog, unless permission is given by parents or carer to do so and they are able to adequately control the dog.
• No dogs to be tied up anywhere on the academy grounds
• Dogs to be distanced away from exit gates/doors and to keep distance from other staff/students as much as possible whilst parents/carers waiting to collect students.
• No dogs accompanying students to and from the academy are allowed inside the building under any circumstances.
• Parents/carers are responsible for cleaning up any soiling by their dog on academy grounds. Failure to do so will mean the dog will no longer be allowed on academy premises
• When bringing dogs to the academy, it is the parents/carers responsibility to ensure that their dog has had no previous issues/aggression around children and that the dog is fully trustworthy in a school environment.
• Dogs only allowed at the front of the academy building (communal areas) and outside of the academy fence line. They must not enter student only areas (past any academy gates/or playground areas).
• Dog owners responsible for the care and veterinary requirements e.g. vaccines kept up to date to reduce risk of transmission of diseases to others.
• Thought should be given to the environment that the animal has been brought up in. Large numbers of children could cause a dog to become nervous, agitated. Dogs displaying any warning signs that they are becoming agitated must be immediately removed from the environment by the adult in charge of the dog.
• Aggressive dogs, or those with a history of aggression, must not be brought on to the site. Dogs with young puppies (those under the age of eight weeks) should not be brought on to the School site as there is a risk of the mother becoming over protective, which may cause them to act out of character.
• Owners of illegal dog breeds asked to leave the Site immediately e.g. XL Bully and any reports made to the police.

• Exemptions when dogs may be allowed into the academy are for things such as

• Sniffer dogs – police
• Educational training – e.g. P6 activities (providing there is a full risk assessment of the activity and consent from parents for any students involved), Community Evenings, School Fayres e.g. Greyhound Gap (Insurance information should be obtained from the company providing the training).
• Guide dogs e.g. for the blind, disabled.

If any staff member observes a rule being flouted, they are to remind dog owners of these rules at the first opportunity and/or report any concerns to relevant members of staff.

For the avoidance of doubt, the academy retains the right to direct that a dog is not to be brought into the academy grounds, or a dog can be requested to be removed from the premises immediately.

Dogs belonging to Staff:

Dogs owned by staff should not normally be present when teaching or undertaking other supervisory duties.

As a school, we request that dogs are not brought onto site with the intention to be left during the school day in a car in order to best protect the welfare of the dog.

Members of the public walking/exercising dogs on school grounds:

School grounds are private property and should not be used for the purpose of exercising dogs. In the first instance, if it is safe to do so, the dog owner should be approached and asked to leave the grounds explaining that it is private property. If this continues or staff feel they are unable to approach the dog owner the school should contact the local council dog warden (0151-556 1220) or the police.

The Academy now has a fully fenced front elevation, meaning that access to the site is now restricted.

Stray dogs on school grounds:

If there is a stray dog in the school grounds contact your local council dog warden on (01782 234234) for advice and they will come and remove the dog from the school grounds. Students should be kept indoors until the dog has been safely removed.

Educational On/Off-Site Visits:

A risk assessment will be undertaken prior to any dog being brought into the site.

Students will not have unsupervised access to any dog and will be told how to behave around dogs and handle safely. Where the School has been informed that a Student has an allergy, they will be kept away from the dog as appropriate. Students will wash their hands thoroughly after handling the dog.

There are occasions when the presence of staff-owned dogs on educational off-site visits may enhance the experience for the students and staff alike. This is at the discretion of the visit leader and the member of staff responsible for approving that risk assessment. In these circumstances sensible provision must be made to transport the dog. The Academy will also follow the Evolve procedures before such events taking place, which are approved by the Trust.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

The Governing Body will review this policy at least every two years and assess its implementation and effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the Academy. To be used alongside our ‘Dogs On-Site’ risk assessment.

Adopted by the Co-op Academy on            

September 2023

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Chair of Academies Trust Board                 

Helen Oakley

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Principal                                 

Shane Richardson

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Review date

September 2024                                                .................................................................