This page covers the following areas:

• Farm visits
• Therapy / wellbeing dogs in schools
• Dogs owned by staff in schools
• Chickens / fowl used for eggs on school grounds
• Miscellaneous animals on school grounds – including equines / sheep / reptiles etc

Animals are wonderful to be around – for many people. But sadly, for those who have allergies, or who have phobias, animals can mean a very dangerous, or challenging day ahead. Even for those people who tolerate animal fur and skin, or for those who adore animals per se, the specific animal, or its environment, can be unpredictable. Below is a set of links that will lead you to documents from either professional bodies, other councils or Suffolk LA which advise schools on the safe keeping, the safe management, the safe visiting, of animals. The RSPCA document advises on stringent welfare issues.

Please note – it is crucial that all activities are robustly risk assessed.

It is not acceptable for staff to bring animals into school under the guise of ‘therapy’ or ‘wellbeing’ animals. Animals (usually dogs) who are proper therapy animals, are professionally trained, risk assessed and monitored at all times. No matter how well behaved Fido is at home, when he’s with scores of small people all wanting to stroke / feed / walk him, he may lose his otherwise cool personality.

Please seek further guidance from your SHaW Advisor in any event.

Anaphylaxis Campaign – Allergy to Animals Factsheet

Animal Friendly Schools Guidance – RSPCA

“What you need to know about keeping animals on school sites.” – An excellent article from ‘The Headteacher.com’ about a school leader’s journey to keep animals at school (external link).

Visiting farms and small-holdings – Industry Guidance – Quick Guide

Visiting farms and small-holdings – Industry Guidance – Summary of Control Measures Code of Practice

Dogs in Schools – Managing Safely – Canine Comprehension (Australian) – vital information. Applies even though it’s not a UK publication.

A Guide to the use of School Dogs – Dogs Trust – crucial reading for those schools who have dogs who aren’t properly trained as ‘therapy’ dogs

Keeping Chickens Safely in School – Free Range Learning – very helpful advice to ensure your children and your chooks are safe.

Risks to Health from Animals – The Health and Safety Executive

Dogs in School Settings – Advice from the LA Schools’ SHaW Advisor and the Insurance Team Manager – PLEASE READ!

Keeping Animals in Schools – Guidance – Cardiff Education Services – useful guide for risk assessments

Example Risk Assessment – source unknown but there are some useful parts to this document.

Preventing or Controlling Ill-health from Animal Contact at Visitor Attractions – Industry Guidance – basically the standards you should expect from an attraction

Avoiding Infection on Farm Visits – Public Health Guidance

There’s also a list of CLEAPSS resources which may be useful. No links I’m afraid as you must be a member of CLEAPSS to access them (all LA schools are already). Pop over to the CLEAPSS science home page and enter the document reference number.

GL378 – Choosing reptiles to keep in the science department

GL376 – Principles of keeping animals in the science department

GL377- An introduction to keeping and handling animals in school

GL380 – Choosing invertebrates to keep in the science department

GL410 – Use of incubators & incubator ovens in school science

GL207 – Fresh water tropical aquaria

L056 – Housing for animals

SSS073 – Animals (living)