Starting an Starting an Education ProgrammeEducation Programme

Overview Overview How to implement an education programme and How to implement an education programme and develop links with schools. . . develop links with schools. . .

Dogs Trust Education ProgrammeDogs Trust Education Programme• We spoke to 67,230 children in 2008!We spoke to 67,230 children in 2008!

• 9 Education Officers all over the UK9 Education Officers all over the UK

• 1 Education Officer in Dublin 1 Education Officer in Dublin

• 1 Education Officer in Malta 1 Education Officer in Malta

• Free resources to download Free resources to download www.learnwithdogs.co.ukwww.learnwithdogs.co.uk

• Great communities links and support Great communities links and support

Why Is Education Important? Why Is Education Important?

• Long-term solution Long-term solution

• Young people can/want to make a difference to Young people can/want to make a difference to the welfare of dogs now and in the futurethe welfare of dogs now and in the future

• Raise awarenessRaise awareness

• Tackle local problemsTackle local problems

What Do You Want To Achieve?What Do You Want To Achieve?• Inform and empower next Inform and empower next

generationgeneration

• Tackle everyday issues and Tackle everyday issues and problems – children pass on problems – children pass on the informationthe information

• Benefit your Benefit your organisation/Ambassadorsorganisation/Ambassadors

• Achieve positive changes in Achieve positive changes in animal welfareanimal welfare

Key MessagesKey Messages

• What do you want to say?What do you want to say?• Who do you want to say it to? Who do you want to say it to? • What do you want them to do? What do you want them to do? • What problems do you face in your community? What problems do you face in your community? i.e. rabies, lack of neutering, no basic vet care, street i.e. rabies, lack of neutering, no basic vet care, street

dogs dogs

Target AudienceTarget Audience• Which age group will you target? Which age group will you target?

– All Primary school age children (5-11 years)? All Primary school age children (5-11 years)? – Or will it be more specific? Or will it be more specific?

i.e. 9-10 years, young offenders, secondary school i.e. 9-10 years, young offenders, secondary school children, children with Special Educational Needs etcchildren, children with Special Educational Needs etc

Create ResourcesCreate Resources• Workshop and teacher resources to reinforce Workshop and teacher resources to reinforce

key messageskey messages• Adds fun and excitement, whilst helping to focus Adds fun and excitement, whilst helping to focus

children’s attentionchildren’s attention• Offer additional learning opportunitiesOffer additional learning opportunities• Resources can include. . . Resources can include. . .

Visual aids – photos, props, puppet, storyVisual aids – photos, props, puppet, story

Activities – games, colouring, quizActivities – games, colouring, quiz

DVDs, internet etcDVDs, internet etc

Prizes for children – sticker, pencil, photoPrizes for children – sticker, pencil, photo

Activities for WorkshopsActivities for Workshops• Reiterate key messagesReiterate key messages• Children develop opinions and Children develop opinions and

gain knowledge/understanding of gain knowledge/understanding of topicstopics

• Younger pupilsYounger pupils – ‘quick fire’ – ‘quick fire’ activities i.e. drawing, drama, activities i.e. drawing, drama, songs etcsongs etc

• Older pupilsOlder pupils – more mature – more mature activities i.e. group working, activities i.e. group working, debates, discussions, matching, debates, discussions, matching, art and design etcart and design etc

What Next?What Next?• You have created your ideas and activities - you You have created your ideas and activities - you

know exactly what to say and to whom. But what know exactly what to say and to whom. But what happens now?happens now?

• How do you begin to deliver the workshops? How do you begin to deliver the workshops?

• How can you start working with children and How can you start working with children and

schools?schools?

ResearchResearch• Who else is going into Who else is going into

school? school?

• What do they offer What do they offer schools? schools?

• Benefits for them, schools, Benefits for them, schools, children and teachers?children and teachers?

• How are they making it How are they making it stand out? i.e. Flags, stand out? i.e. Flags, Plaques etc. Plaques etc.

Talk to teachers – who Talk to teachers – who visits? What works? visits? What works?

The People In The know. . .The People In The know. . .• Research school system and curriculum Research school system and curriculum

• Who are your key contacts to approach?Who are your key contacts to approach?

• Organise consultation with a number of schools Organise consultation with a number of schools to get their opinionto get their opinion

ExampleExample

When setting up in Malta, we arranged a meeting with the Director of When setting up in Malta, we arranged a meeting with the Director of the ‘Curriculum Management and eLearning Department’ (Ministry the ‘Curriculum Management and eLearning Department’ (Ministry of Education), to give a presentation on our proposed programme. of Education), to give a presentation on our proposed programme.

We also went to visit a number to school to share and We also went to visit a number to school to share and discuss our plans.discuss our plans.

Outlining Your AimsOutlining Your Aims

• Pitch your education programme and aimsPitch your education programme and aims• Happy, positive, changing attitudes in an upbeat Happy, positive, changing attitudes in an upbeat

wayway• No preaching and no horror storiesNo preaching and no horror stories• DVD DVD

http://www.learnwithdogs.co.uk/movies.aspxhttp://www.learnwithdogs.co.uk/movies.aspx

Presenting your programme…Presenting your programme…• Brief background informationBrief background information

• Issues, aims and objectivesIssues, aims and objectives

• Your proposal – what makes your education Your proposal – what makes your education programme special? programme special?

• Is it going to cost them anything?Is it going to cost them anything?

• What do councils, schools and teachers have to What do councils, schools and teachers have to do?do?

……contcont• What will happen in the workshops exactly? Examples of What will happen in the workshops exactly? Examples of

materials/activities to be usedmaterials/activities to be used

• Dog or no dog?Dog or no dog?

• Police background checksPolice background checks

• How will you promote it?How will you promote it?

• TestimonialsTestimonials

What should I do while I am What should I do while I am waiting for the go-ahead? waiting for the go-ahead?

Investigate, Research And Investigate, Research And Plan! Plan!

• Where do I find the children? Specific local areas to Where do I find the children? Specific local areas to target? target?

• Schools/ Youth groups/ After school clubsSchools/ Youth groups/ After school clubs• LibrariesLibraries• Community Centres Community Centres • Clubs i.e. sports clubs, football teams, Clubs i.e. sports clubs, football teams,

environmental activity groupsenvironmental activity groups

Talk To Teachers Talk To Teachers

• Find out what they think of your proposed Find out what they think of your proposed materials materials

• Spend some time with them and observe what Spend some time with them and observe what goes on in their schools goes on in their schools

• Even ask if they can provide a a class of children Even ask if they can provide a a class of children to try your workshops out on!to try your workshops out on!

““Tips From A Teacher”Tips From A Teacher” What are they looking for?What are they looking for?

• Fun and , friendly Fun and , friendly • Child friendly talk – easy to understandChild friendly talk – easy to understand• A visual prompt or “gimmick”A visual prompt or “gimmick”• Rewards for the childrenRewards for the children• Short, sharp, quick activitiesShort, sharp, quick activities• Be preparedBe prepared• Be reliableBe reliable• Be organised – ensure you have full contact details and that Be organised – ensure you have full contact details and that

they have yoursthey have yours• Be ready for the unexpected!Be ready for the unexpected!

Why Do Schools Like Visitors?Why Do Schools Like Visitors?

• Child friendly zoneChild friendly zone• Rising costs of transportRising costs of transport• Health and Safety issuesHealth and Safety issues• Build relationships with the wider Build relationships with the wider

communitycommunity• Opportunities for whole school Opportunities for whole school

involvement through assembliesinvolvement through assemblies• Engage the children through active Engage the children through active

learninglearning• Help to spread the word using ‘pupil Help to spread the word using ‘pupil

power’power’

You have the ‘buy-in’…so now You have the ‘buy-in’…so now spread the word there’s a new spread the word there’s a new education programme in town!education programme in town!

Getting Into SchoolsGetting Into Schools

• Contact schools to let them Contact schools to let them know about your education know about your education programmeprogramme

• Posters, emails, flyers, Posters, emails, flyers, postcards, local press, postcards, local press, letters, phone calls etcletters, phone calls etc

Promotion IdeasPromotion Ideas•Outline what you offer and any Outline what you offer and any costscosts

•Emphasise benefits for schools, Emphasise benefits for schools, teachers and pupilsteachers and pupils

•Tell them how to bookTell them how to book

•Sell yourself and your Sell yourself and your workshops! workshops!

Social Networking Social Networking

Repeat Visits To SchoolsRepeat Visits To Schools

• Word of mouth promotionWord of mouth promotion• Build on retained knowledgeBuild on retained knowledge• Explore other dog welfare issuesExplore other dog welfare issues• Increase and improve pupil’s knowledge/ Increase and improve pupil’s knowledge/

understanding after each visitunderstanding after each visit• Impact on wider communityImpact on wider community

Talk to different Groups…Talk to different Groups…• Raise the status of dogs Raise the status of dogs

in your societyin your society

• How do other charities How do other charities use dogs?use dogs?

e.g. Guide Dogs for the Blind, e.g. Guide Dogs for the Blind, Pets As Therapy, Hearing DogsPets As Therapy, Hearing DogsDogs for the Disabled,Dogs for the Disabled,READ READ (Reading Education Assistance (Reading Education Assistance

Dogs)Dogs)

• Special Educational Needs SchoolsSpecial Educational Needs Schools• Summer schoolsSummer schools• Private schoolsPrivate schools• Nurseries and playgroupsNurseries and playgroups• Young offendersYoung offenders• Foster childrenFoster children• Animal welfare studentsAnimal welfare students• Home-educated childrenHome-educated children

……Different GroupsDifferent Groups

Extra-curricular WorkExtra-curricular Work• Attending local events Attending local events • Community daysCommunity days• Gala daysGala days• Charity eveningsCharity evenings• Fundraising Fundraising • Press and media coveragePress and media coverage• Open days at animal welfare centresOpen days at animal welfare centres• Working with other organisationsWorking with other organisations

Don’t forget…feedback!Don’t forget…feedback!• Feedback form for school - hearing what schools, Feedback form for school - hearing what schools,

teachers, pupils and parents think about the teachers, pupils and parents think about the programme is vital!programme is vital!

• Praise and constructive criticism always improve Praise and constructive criticism always improve workshops and resourcesworkshops and resources

• Collate feedbackCollate feedback

• Strive to improve and maintain standardsStrive to improve and maintain standards

‘‘Train The Trainer’ Train The Trainer’

• Establish yourself as the expert!Establish yourself as the expert!

• Train others - teachers, education professionals, Train others - teachers, education professionals, Council staff, youth workers, other animal welfare Council staff, youth workers, other animal welfare organisations etc organisations etc

• Help to spread your education key messages to a Help to spread your education key messages to a much larger audience than you can reach alone.much larger audience than you can reach alone.

FundsFunds• Governmental grants, individuals, or try local Governmental grants, individuals, or try local

businesses to help with printing costs or just businesses to help with printing costs or just donate prizes for children donate prizes for children

• Even small donations can help to boost your Even small donations can help to boost your work!work!

• Are you planning to encourage children and Are you planning to encourage children and schools to fundraise? schools to fundraise?

• Costs of workshopsCosts of workshops

SummarySummary• The most important ingredient is to be enthusiastic and fun! The most important ingredient is to be enthusiastic and fun!

• Be clear on your messages and objectivesBe clear on your messages and objectives

• Always approach the council first, apart from being your Always approach the council first, apart from being your passport in, it is courteouspassport in, it is courteous

Remember…Remember…

• WWork it outork it out

• OOrganise rganise

• OOffer workshopsffer workshops

• FFlourish! lourish!

Education Training WorkshopEducation Training Workshop If you haven’t created your resources yet, you should If you haven’t created your resources yet, you should

attend our excellent. . . attend our excellent. . .

Overseas Education Workshop Training CourseOverseas Education Workshop Training Course

(see David Newall for more information)(see David Newall for more information)

• Activities to improve English

• Information about dogs• Neutering• Re-homing dogs• Are you dog friendly?

Save our Street Dogs

Free – get your copy today . . . www.dogstrust.org.uk/wayswehelp/international/education

SOS Dogs Education Booklet

Any QuestionsAny Questions??

Thank you for listening!Thank you for listening!

Thank you very much for listening. Thank you very much for listening.

Good luck! Good luck!

Contact the Education Team at Dogs TrustContact the Education Team at Dogs Trust

educ@dogstrust.org.uk educ@dogstrust.org.uk