READING lessons at a Redditch first school are coming on leaps and bounds – thanks to Ozzie the reading dog.
Ozzie works for the charity Pets As Therapy as part of their Read2dogs project and is making a massive impact on youngsters at Woodrow First School.
The talented pooch helps simply by listening to them as they read and with remarkable results.
“Ozzie does a brilliant job and the children love him and really enjoy having him in school,” said headteacher Richard Kieran.
“I honestly think it develops more confidence in the readers because they are reading for a purpose, for someone.
“When you have an audience then you are going to put a bit more effort into it.”
The friendly cross breed belongs to Jodie Bolter, headteacher at Tudor Grange Academy, and pops in to Woodrow First School every Thursday afternoon.
When he’s not there he’s busy in Tudor Grange’s multi autism unit listening to the students read or helping relieve exam stress for anxious Year11s sitting their GCSEs.
“He’s become quite the celebrity both here and at Woodrow First School, and the children and staff love him,” said Jodie.
“Just having him around helps to calm things and many of our students have been giving him a stroke for luck before going in to sit their exams.”
The seven year old had to sit exams of his own to be passed fit to help Pets As Therapy, sitting tests in having his ears and paws pulled as well as paying attention despite loud noises going off.
And the results have been remarkable.
“The aim is to help raise literacy levels and in terms of the impact he’s had it’s been a real eye opener for us and the first school,” said Jodie.
Such has been Ozzie’s success that trials are now taking place to expand his role to include visits to Webheath Academy Primary School.
“It is really important we encourage students of all ages and abilities to enjoy reading. The children have said they have enjoyed it so much that they are now trying to read to their own pets!” said Jodie.
“It’s been a great experience for all involved and we look forward to working with more local schools in the community.”
