A DOG with a playful heart of gold is changing children’s lives at St George’s Primary School in Gainsborough.
Buddy has not only become a friend to the 225 pupils, but he’s also the one they turn to when they are upset, angry or simply don’t want to be there.
The children also like to find a quiet corner where they can read him a story.
"He really helps because the pressure is off,” said headteacher Katie Barry, who made the decision to invest in a therapy dog.
“Buddy just sits or lies still while they concentrate on their reading.”
Katie, who used INEOS’ Forgotten Forty funds to help buy him, broke the good news to the children during a special school assembly.
They were tears and squeals when Buddy came out from behind the stage,
Although the Golden Retriever still has a lot to learn, he’s already attending school three days a week – and making a huge difference.
“He calms them down, reassures them and gets them in through the gates in the morning,” said Katie.
“As soon as he enters the room, they forget about being angry.”
Once Buddy is fully grown, he will be at school every day.
Staff are able to come and get him whenever they want – or need – him.
Other times, Buddy is free to do as he pleases.
Every breaktime and lunchtime, he goes outside to play with the older children.
He is also helping to make them so much fitter because they run around so much with him outside,
When it’s time to go home, Buddy leaves with Katie.
“He lives at my house mainly,” she said. “But occasionally he goes for sleepovers at two other teachers’ homes.”
The school has appointed a dog squad of 30 children, who were formally interviewed after applying to help train, walk and care for Buddy while he is in school.
Initially staff had to work hard to ensure he wasn’t too much of a distraction in class if children were trying to concentrate on their lessons.
“We had to push through that phase so that the children didn’t get too excited every time he was in their classroom,” said Katie.
Buddy is in good company at St George’s because there is a least one other pet in every classroom.
But what makes Buddy special is that he has free rein of the school, unlike the bearded dragon, the chickens, the fish and the guinea pigs.
“He loves assembly when the whole school gathers in the hall,” said Katie. “During the Easter production he got up on stage and ate the bread from the Last Supper.”