It might shock them to know that I have taken my pet Labrador into a local school to meet the Nursery children, and that the children from another local school have petted her when they were on a walk around the village. (The meeting was pre arranged so that the children could meet her on their walk!)
Maybe I should give myself up to the Ofsted Inquisitors now!
Oh! I’ve just realised I’m OK. I did a risk assessment first! I tried to get her to bite me by pulling her tail, and all I got was a sloppy wet kiss. [There must be a health risk in there somewhere]
Read on to discover more…..
A risk assessment task for Ruby
A West Highland Terrier found itself in the dog house with schools inspectors after being taken in by a head teacher.
Rosie, an 11-year-old rescue dog, was in danger of being banned from The New School in Exminster, Devon.
Ofsted inspectors were concerned that pupils were petting the dog and that she was allowed to roam the corridors and gardens of the school.
They asked for a risk assessment and eventually she was allowed to stay, the Times Educational Supplement reports.
Rosie, an 11-year-old rescue dog, was in danger of being banned from The New School in Exminster, Devon.
Ofsted inspectors were concerned that pupils were petting the dog and that she was allowed to roam the corridors and gardens of the school.
They asked for a risk assessment and eventually she was allowed to stay, the Times Educational Supplement reports.
'Unbelievable'
Head teacher Michelle Taylor took the dog from a rescue home 18 months ago and brought her in to school after checking she was safe.
She says Rosie is "the most docile animal you've ever seen in your life" and that the children love her and "give her a hug if they're upset".
She told the Times Educational Supplement (TES) she was confused about why the inspector was so concerned about the dog.
"I couldn't believe it to be honest.
"Occasionally she will go to the toilet, but the children tell us and we clean it up."
Concerns were raised about the dog and the safety of the building during a spot check in February.
There was a follow-up visit from England's schools inspectors Ofsted a month ago. This time, the dog received a good report.
The inspector wrote: "Following the unannounced visit, the school was required to conduct risk assessments relating to the safety of the premises and the presence of a pet dog".
He added: "This elderly small dog appears well socialised and pupils respond to it readily when it ventures away from the head teacher's office.
"A risk assessment has been undertaken and pupils have been instructed to wash their hands after handling or stroking the dog.
Some pupils were noted doing this.
"No concerns have been expressed by parents."
She says Rosie is "the most docile animal you've ever seen in your life" and that the children love her and "give her a hug if they're upset".
She told the Times Educational Supplement (TES) she was confused about why the inspector was so concerned about the dog.
"I couldn't believe it to be honest.
"Occasionally she will go to the toilet, but the children tell us and we clean it up."
Concerns were raised about the dog and the safety of the building during a spot check in February.
There was a follow-up visit from England's schools inspectors Ofsted a month ago. This time, the dog received a good report.
The inspector wrote: "Following the unannounced visit, the school was required to conduct risk assessments relating to the safety of the premises and the presence of a pet dog".
He added: "This elderly small dog appears well socialised and pupils respond to it readily when it ventures away from the head teacher's office.
"A risk assessment has been undertaken and pupils have been instructed to wash their hands after handling or stroking the dog.
Some pupils were noted doing this.
"No concerns have been expressed by parents."
If the children were washing their hands (as instructed) and no parents had expressed concerns about the dog why on earth were these busy body inspectors wasting their and the schools time with such comments as ….
"Following the unannounced visit, the school was required to conduct risk assessments relating to the safety of the premises and the presence of a pet dog".
"This elderly small dog appears well socialised and pupils respond to it readily when it ventures away from the head teacher's office.
Have they got nothing better to do than suggest a school does a risk assessment on a small dog? Do they really think that a head teacher would bring a drooling and slavering Rottweiler or Pit Bull Mastiff into school?
A spokeswoman for Ofsted said: "As an independent school, Ofsted inspects it at the request of the Department for Children, Schools and Families to check that it has met the appropriate regulations.
"Following the unannounced visit, the school was required to conduct risk assessments relating to the safety of the premises and the presence of a pet dog".
"This elderly small dog appears well socialised and pupils respond to it readily when it ventures away from the head teacher's office.
Have they got nothing better to do than suggest a school does a risk assessment on a small dog? Do they really think that a head teacher would bring a drooling and slavering Rottweiler or Pit Bull Mastiff into school?
A spokeswoman for Ofsted said: "As an independent school, Ofsted inspects it at the request of the Department for Children, Schools and Families to check that it has met the appropriate regulations.
[Where the hell in their rules and regulations have they got statements about health and safety when a dog is in school?]
"Between the inspection and the progress monitoring visit, Ofsted made a further visit, at the request of the DCSF, to follow up a complaint concerning health and safety of the children owing to poor repair of the building and the presence of a dog."
The school was given an "outstanding" rating for the education it provides when it was fully-inspected in 2007.
"Between the inspection and the progress monitoring visit, Ofsted made a further visit, at the request of the DCSF, to follow up a complaint concerning health and safety of the children owing to poor repair of the building and the presence of a dog."
The school was given an "outstanding" rating for the education it provides when it was fully-inspected in 2007.
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Are we really having to pay our taxes so that highly paid Ofsted Inspectors can comment on the safety or otherwise of a dog in school? It seems a great shame that they have nothing better to do with their time. I suppose I could say "Is the country going to the dogs"???
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