Meet Bella – Our School Dog! 🐾

A Very Special Member of the Winford Family

At Winford Church of England Primary School, we are very lucky to have Bella, our much-loved school dog!

Bella is a friendly Cavapoochon who has been a school dog since 2020. She began her school dog adventures at Blagdon Primary School, where she worked alongside Mrs Campbell, our Headteacher.

Winford has a history of having school dogs, so when Mrs Campbell joined Winford in September 2025, Bella came along too, becoming a very special member of the Winford family!

With her gentle nature, wagging tail and love of company, Bella brings something wonderful to school life. Having spent several years in a primary school environment, she is familiar with the sights, sounds and routines of a busy school.

Bella helps us put our school values of Aspire, Belong and Care into practice, reminding us of the importance of kindness, patience, empathy and looking after one another.

How Bella Helps Us Flourish

Animals can have a positive influence on children's wellbeing, confidence and relationships. Bella provides opportunities for children to develop important personal and social skills in a calm and supportive environment.

Bella supports different aspects of school life, including:

• Emotional wellbeing – Providing a calming and reassuring presence for children who may be feeling worried, unsettled or overwhelmed.

• Confidence and self-esteem – Helping children feel more comfortable and confident through positive interactions.

• Reading – Offering a friendly, non-judgemental audience for children practising their reading.

• Social skills – Encouraging communication, patience, empathy and positive relationships.

• Nurture and pastoral support – Spending time with individual children or small groups as part of our wider wellbeing provision.

• Responsibility and respect – Helping children learn how to care for animals and understand their needs.

For some children, spending a little time with Bella can make a real difference to their school day.

Learning to Care for Animals

Having Bella in school also provides valuable opportunities to teach children about responsible animal ownership and welfare.

Children learn about:

• Approaching dogs calmly and safely.

• Recognising when a dog wants space.

• Understanding basic dog body language.

• The importance of kindness and gentle handling.

• Positive, reward-based training.

• Providing animals with food, water, exercise, rest and appropriate care.

We want children to understand that dogs have feelings and needs of their own and deserve to be treated with care and respect.

These lessons help children develop empathy and responsibility, both towards animals and towards one another. Our Dog Awareness Page gives some information on this.

Keeping Everyone Safe and Comfortable

The safety and wellbeing of our children, staff and Bella are always our priority.

Bella's presence in school is supported by a risk assessment and appropriate arrangements for supervision and hygiene.

We recognise that some children may be nervous around dogs, have allergies or simply prefer not to interact with them.

No child is ever expected to interact with Bella.

We respect individual preferences and work sensitively with families to ensure that children feel safe and comfortable.

For children who are unsure about dogs but would like to become more confident, carefully supported opportunities may be offered where appropriate.

Looking After Bella

Bella's happiness and welfare are just as important as the benefits she brings to our school.

We make sure that she has:

• A quiet, comfortable place to rest.

• Regular breaks away from children.

• Access to fresh water and appropriate care.

• Supervised and positive interactions.

• Time and space when she needs it.

Children are taught to recognise and respect Bella's boundaries, including when she needs a rest.

We want her experience of school to be happy, safe and enjoyable too!

Questions About Bella?

We understand that families may have questions about having a dog in school, particularly where children have allergies, additional needs or concerns about dogs.

If you would like to discuss anything relating to Bella, please contact the school office.

Telephone: 01275 472730
Email: office@winfordprimary.com

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Together we Flourish

Learning kindness, building confidence and caring for all living things.