Meet Monty 

 We are delighted to introduce a new member of the school team, Monty who is the school Dog Mentor. Monty is a 5-year-old Blue Merle Labradoodle who lives with our Headteacher, Mr. Miles.

Monty joined our school in April 2026, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a highly skilled Dog Mentor, having previously supported and worked alongside hundreds of children at another local primary school before becoming part of the St. Luke’s family. Since arriving, Monty has quickly become a much-loved and valued member of our school community.

Each day, Monty plays an important role in school life. He warmly welcomes children as they arrive, visits classrooms throughout the day, and actively takes part in children’s learning experiences. He helps to create a calm, supportive, and nurturing environment where pupils feel confident and encouraged.

As with any hardworking member of staff, Monty occasionally takes a well-earned break from his busy schedule and can often be found relaxing in Mr Mile’s office before returning to his important duties. 

Monty passed his Dog Mentoring Assessment with flying colours and continues to make a hugely positive impact on the wellbeing, confidence, and happiness of all of our children. We have 5 qualified dog handlers in school: Mr. Miles, Mr. Ware, Mrs. Scott, Mrs, Bridger and Mrs. Mason.

 Monty Meet Up

Each Friday, a special “Monty Meet Up” takes place! One child from each class is nominated by their class teacher and invited to join Monty for a celebration of their achievements. Each week has a different focus linked to our school values and expectations.

The Benefits of The Dog Mentor Programme

The Dog Mentor programme aims to enhance the universal support provision in our school environment, covering not only social, emotional, and mental health wellbeing but also curriculum-based education to improve learning outcomes.

Numerous research studies have shown the benefits of dogs in schools, and we are excited to see the positive impact Monty will have on our children. 

Cognitive Development: companionship with a dog can stimulate memory, problem-solving, and game-playing, as well as improve reading skills.

Emotional Development: a school dog can improve self-esteem, acceptance from others, and lift moods, often provoking laughter and fun. He can also teach compassion and respect for other living things, as well as relieve anxiety.

Physical Development: Interacting with a pet can reduce blood pressure, provide tactile stimulation, assist with pain management, give motivation to move and walk, and stimulate the senses.

Environmental Benefits: a school dog contributes to a home-style environment, with all the above benefits continuing long after the school day is over.

Social Benefits: a dog provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility and wellbeing, and helps develop social skills and focused interaction with others.

The Dog Mentor programme has also been proven to have a positive impact on children in areas including behaviour, peer relationships, and better engagement skills, which in turn result in improved academic achievement.