Dogs Trust

An engaging education programme providing resources for pupils aged 3-16
www.learnwithdogs.co.uk
www.learnwithdogs.ie

Background

Our partnership with Dogs Trust began back in 1998 and continues to thrive to this day. Dogs Trust believe that by educating young people about the responsibilities and commitment involved in dog ownership, we can reduce the number of dogs that are mistreated and abandoned.

Our aim

To deliver the key messages of the UK’s leading dog welfare charity to young people through creative curricular resources and activities. To continuously create engagement opportunities with schools to establish long term relationships both within the classroom and local communities.

What did we do?

We have developed a range of curriculum materials for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary schools, to teach young people how to be compassionate, to care for, and have respect for dogs. We strategically and creatively assist in the delivery of the important messaging around the need for responsible dog ownership and safety around dogs. All resources meet the curriculum requirements for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; some of the Primary resources have also been adapted for the Irish curriculum, and some are available in Welsh language.

We have worked closely with Dogs Trust to help them develop their education website, Learn with Dogs. As well as creating online versions of all the UK wide resource materials, we have steered the creation and development of a range of fun, interactive educational games which consolidate learning outcomes.

In addition to the above, we also developed the initial concept of the Dogs Trust Education Officer, assisting in the creation of the role, the recruitment process, training and developing a series of classroom activities for the Education Officers to deliver. The Education Officers have gone from strength to strength, with 12 representatives now in positions across the UK and Ireland.