Gulval School Pets in School Policy. June 2016

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Josephine Chase
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1 Gulval Schl Pets in Schl Plicy June 2016

2 Cntents 1. Missin Statement Intrductin Lking after a schl pet Handling Animals Diseases, parasites and allergies Animal Health Appendix 1: Keeping animals in schl: RSPCA guidance Appendix 2: Keeping extic pets: guidance Appendix 3: Handling animals: guidance fr schls

3 1. Missin Statement Adventure Learning Academy Trust (ALAT) brings a new energy and apprach t prviding the best educatin fr ur pupils. Thrugh prven practices, ALAT will transfrm the learning f pupils, raise standards and prvide the highest quality learning envirnments, enabling pupils and teaching staff t thrive and be the best. ALAT s aim is t break dwn the barriers that limit educatinal prgress. We d this thrugh adpting a persnal learning pathway fr every child ne that takes accunt f individual needs, aspiratins and talents. ALAT s values: Learn Grw Prsper Prvide the best educatin fr every pupil. Ensure the highest quality teaching and learning. Wrk with the family, parent r carer. Grw ur pupils futures. Develp the best teaching staff. Prvide the best learning envirnment and supprting technlgy. Lead the way in educatin. Realise the pprtunities. Be cnnected t the cmmunity. 2. Intrductin Studies shw that encuraging children t take an interest in animals can have a psitive effect n them and can be used t imprve human and animal welfare. Sme f the benefits have been identified as fllws: Schl pets have been fund t: mtivate pupils t think and t learn, as children have a high level f natural interest, enthusiasm and enjyment f animals encurage a respect and reverence fr life in pupils and thereby imprve their relatinships with ther pupils, parents and teachers fster a sense f respnsibility in children teach children t nurture and respect life lead t the develpment f hbbies /careers in animal care imprve academic achievement Pets in schls als have scial benefits fr the schl cmmunity: enhance the learning envirnment, creating a sense f security and family warmth fr the pupils 2

4 encurage the invlvement f parents and the wider cmmunity in schl activity help t prmte the schl as an imprtant nurturing influence in the cmmunity 3. Lking after a schl pet At Gulval Schl we aim t prmte gd practice in animal care. Children are taught crrect prcedures in handling and caring fr animals; they are encuraged t take a shared respnsibility fr the care f the animals, under supervisin. Children will be taught hw t interact gently with ur schl pets whilst under adult supervisin. At Gulval we: btain well scialised yung animals frm a reputable surce abide by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which places a duty n animal wners t ensure their animal's welfare needs are met. The Department fr Envirnment, Fd and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has prduced guidance n this act: ensure that each animal enjys an ptimum envirnment, in scial grups. If apprpriate. We are aware that keeping mixed gender animals can lead t breeding and result in welfare prblems rutine preventive health measures are practised as advised by the vet vaccinatin, flea preventin and wrm cntrl where apprpriate. pets and their quarters are kept clean and safe at all times. A high quality, apprpriate diet is prvided children always wash hands after handling any sick animals are prmptly islated and examined by a vet careful arrangements fr hliday and weekend care are made 4. Handling Animals If animals will be handled, the mst imprtant is the maintenance f gd hygiene. When handling animals: d nt cnsume fd r drink cver any pen cuts r abrasins n the expsed skin f hands and arms with waterprf adhesive dressings wash yur hands with sap and water befre and directly after handling animals 3

5 keep animals away frm the face Careful handling f small animals and ther animals is mst imprtant; the animals shuld be restrained sufficiently s that, they cannt damage themselves r the handler. Glves will nt nrmally be wrn unless it is knwn that an animal fr ne reasn r anther is likely t bite r scratch. In this situatin a pair f rubber glves, which des nt particularly reduce dexterity, is a sensible precautin. Handling small animals shuld always be carried ut ver a table r trugh filled with a sft material such as sand / sawdust. 5. Diseases, parasites and allergies. The likelihd f diseases being passed n frm pet animals is lw. Hwever allergic reactins t mammals, birds and a few ther animals cannt be discunted. These might result frm handling the animals r just frm being near them and be detected by the develpment f skin rashes, irritatin t the eyes and nse r breathing difficulties. Hand washing sn after handling animals will help. Teachers shuld watch fr the develpment f allergic reactins in pupils wh cme int cntact with the animals. Children knwn t have allergic reactins t specific animals must, f curse, have restricted access t thse that may trigger a respnse. In mst cases, an allergic reactin will subside nce the animal and the affected persn are kept apart; in extreme cases, seek medical advice. Salmnella bacteria may be carried by reptiles; gd hygiene is again required, especially if aquatic reptiles, such as terrapins, are kept. Gd general hygiene and hand washing are essential fr risk reductin. Children under five shuld nt have cntact with such reptiles r the envirnment in which the reptiles live r exercise. The majrity f animals available thrugh reputable suppliers present n hazards that gd hygiene prcedures cannt address. In rder fr there t be minimal risk t humans f diseases being transmitted frm animals kept in schls, it is imprtant that animals are btained frm accredited r high quality surces. Unless these are knwn t have riginated frm a reliable surce, it will nt be pssible t be cnfident that they are disease free. 4

6 6. Animal Health If animals are nt kept in scrupulusly clean cnditins, r cme int cntact with ther animals frm dubius surces, it will n lnger be pssible t guarantee that the animals will remain in a disease free cnditin. Hliday times, particularly in primary schls, can bviusly create real difficulties. It is preferable that the animals remain at schl and suitable arrangements made fr their nrmal feeding, watering and cleaning. If, hwever, this is impssible and animals have t be taken ut f schl at hlidays, they shuld nt be sent hme with pupils r ther peple unless all f the fllwing cnsideratins can be satisfied. It can be guaranteed that the animals will be lked after as well as usual. Whever is caring fr the animals must have all the necessary infrmatin, equipment, fd, skills, etc. Steps will be taken t ensure that the schl's animals will nt be able t cme int cntact with pet animals (cats, dgs, rdents r ther mammals). Occasinally pets can be brught in as a special 'Shw and Tell.' In this instance the Principal will need t apprve the visit fllwing the cmpletin f a risk assessment by the class teacher. Any necessary precautins will need t be put in place by the class teacher and r wner f the pet t ensure the safety f the children and staff.. 5

7 7. Appendix 1: Keeping animals in schl: RSPCA guidance Pages 4-6 f the RSPCA guidance linked t abve cver the welfare needs f classrm pets. The guidance says that where animals are kept in schls, any staff respnsible fr classrm pets must ensure that the needs f these animals are met. This includes ensuring that: Accmmdatin is apprpriate t the animal and its size Suitable fresh fd and water is prvided The animal has the freedm t exhibit nrmal behaviur patterns The animal has suitable cmpaninship The animal is prtected frm pain, suffering, injury and disease A named persn is respnsible fr the welfare and husbandry f the animals at all times Any cntact between children r yung peple and animals is supervised and cntrlled The animals are given adequate "rest" perids away frm disturbance The animal's lifestyle (accrding t its species) fits with the academic day Any animals kept are prevented frm indiscriminate breeding 8. Appendix 2: Keeping extic pets: guidance The RSPCA als has guidance n keeping extic pets. It explains that befre getting an extic pet, yu shuld cnsider: Hw lng the animal will live and hw large it will grw What it eats and hw much What envirnment the animal needs. Fr example, des it need a carefully cntrlled envirnment? The size f the enclsure Whether the animal shuld be kept alne r with thers Whether the animal is ncturnal Whether there is an vet specialising in extic animals nearby wh can treat the animal if it becmes sick Whether yu need a licence r ther legal paperwrk t keep the animal 6

8 9. Appendix 3: Handling animals: guidance fr schls The Natinal Unin f Teachers (NUT) has advice n animals in educatin. It says n page 4 that befre letting pupils hld a pet, the schl shuld check that: The animal is used t being handled The animal is nt likely t be stressed by excitable children Whether there is a crrect way t hld the animal, which has been taught t the pupils It adds: The handling f certain animals shuld be avided altgether. Thse which are nervus, ncturnal r prne t biting r scratching shuld be bserved and nt tuched. Children and adults shuld wash their hands sn after cming int cntact with any animal r its equipment. The guidance explains that t reduce the risks f diseases being passed frm pets t humans: Cuts and abrasins n hands and arms shuld be cvered t minimise the risk f infectin Cleaning rutines and arrangements fr the dispsal f animal waste shuld be carried ut with due regard fr gd hygiene standards Cntaminated surfaces shuld be prperly washed and disinfected 7

C.A.R.E. Pet Adoption Application & Contract

C.A.R.E. Pet Adoption Application & Contract This sectin fr C.A.R.E. Use Only Puppy Dg Kitten Cat Pet s Name: Estimated DOB (r age): Breed: Clr: Micrchip #: Male Male/Neutered Female Female/Spayed Adptin Fee: $ Ntes: Cntact Infrmatin First Name: