How reading class is going to the dogs

AS a way of improving children’s literacy, it may seem barking mad.

But a primary school teacher is getting pupils to read to dogs in class.

Hannah Earnshaw has been bringing canines Morna and Blue into Crown Primary, Inverness, as part of a scheme involving charity Pets as Therapy.

It said that the project, which began last month, aims to relax the class and build confidence in nervous young readers.

But critics described the scheme as ‘desperate’ and ‘pointless’.

Probationary teacher Miss Earnshaw said the children have told of feeling happier reading to the animals because ‘unlike grownups’ they do not ask them to repeat sentences and give them time to think about what they are saying.

She added: ‘The kids that are reading to the dogs rather than reading to me improved significantly more in a reading test than the ones just reading to me.’

However, Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘Children need to read to their parents and teachers, people who can listen to them and correct them when they make errors, not a barking dog.’

An Education Scotland spokesman said: ‘It is important for schools to reflect on the impact of different approaches – there is no one size fits all.’