Labrador helps improve school behaviour

A chocolate Labrador called Oscar has been proving a hit at one Southampton school.

The friendly pooch is proving a bit hit with children and has helped to reduce behavioural problems among students at Cantell Maths and Computing College.

The rescue dog is based in a special classroom run by the school's mediating team, where pupils can go to take time out, discuss their problems with staff and do work, the Southern Daily Echo reports.

Teacher Des Anderson, who also owns Oscar, told the newspaper: "He's a best mate for the kids. Sometimes we get kids who come in and they're angry. Oscar doesn't know he's doing it, but he goes over and calms them down, because it's very difficult to be angry with a Labrador.

"It means we can work with them within the hour, rather than having to wait until the next day."

In other Southampton education news, staff, teachers and local politicians came together for a special turf cutting ceremony this week to mark the start of work on the new £16.3 million Oasis Academy Lord's Hill.
 

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