Luna’s top dog for school’s autistic children

A DOG is soon to be an unlikely new classmate for pupils at a primary school.

One-year-old Luna, right, will be supporting children with autism, which affects social interactions, at Redriff Primary School City of London Academy in South-East London.

Luna, right, a golden retriever poodle cross, will become the school’s first therapy dog when she joins after completing her training with a charity that specialises in training dogs to work in schools.

Jack Gibbs, Luna’s owner and assistant headteacher at the school, said: ‘We hope that Luna is able to be a loving companion for the children and encourage them emotionally, physically and socially.

‘She will help the children reach their full potential.’

The school, which is accredited by the National Autistic Society, has an integrated unit called ‘the boathouse’ with 14 places for children with special education needs.