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Dogs in school playground

41 replies

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:28

Can someone help me write an email to our safeguarding lead at the primary School my child goes to. I'm close to going to the LEA about this as I don't know what more to do.

I've spoken to the school numerous times about people bringing dogs into the school playground. I would say every 5th person has a dog, but most of them are very sweet dogs, old or just generally nice breeds that aren't know for being aggressive or dangerous.
But there have been others. One parent was bringing a young out of control doberman in for a while but she muzzled it and eventually stopped bringing it. It was strange because she drove to the school, took the dog into the playground and drove home (as far as I know) with it, which is what I have noticed a lot of parents doing, so it seems that the dog isn't even getting a walk.
Another parent brought an XL Bully in (before the ban) I complained about that.
Another parent has been bringing a huge Rottweiler in and unmuzzled - I have even seen her letting her 8 year old daughter walk it on the way home from school which is madness. She clearly has no concept of how powerful her dog is.
Today the same woman who brought the XL Bully in, now has a young doberman with clipped ears and tail (which I think is illegal)
I'm so sick of it. It's not safe to have so many dogs in a noisy playground, a child will be seriously bitten and hurt at some point.
I am mainly bothered about the dogs with the known aggressive temperaments as they are so powerful and if they decide to snap, they could kill someone. There is a reason these dogs are kept for security purposes. We only have to look at the statistics over the last couple of years and the breeds that were involved to know the risks.
I would appreciate some help putting an email together to the safe guarding lead to highlight the risks and put a good case for banning dogs in the playground or perhaps someone has some alternative suggestions I can put forward about a change in policy that only lets certain size dogs in or breeds.

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 26/11/2024 18:30

Even when my 2 were at school a long time ago, dogs were not allowed on school grounds.

NuffSaidSam · 26/11/2024 18:31

I can't believe this is allowed tbh! I've never known a school allow this.

What have the school said on the occasions that you've approached them before?

FoxRedPuppy · 26/11/2024 18:33

Are they coming into school grounds? Dogs are not allowed on school grounds just like play parks.

KnickerlessFlannel · 26/11/2024 18:34

Depends on your school set up, but it might be safer to have them spaced out on the playground tbh. Our dog owner parents all wait in a line right at the gate, on a narrow path (surrounded by woodland so can't go round them widely) and you have to walk past about 20 each day. Fine for me as an adult but dd2 is terrified of dogs, and she's a petite 4 year old so some of them are big compared to her.

GrumpyCactus · 26/11/2024 18:34

I wish I had some advice but every school I've taught at or dealt with in my over 10 years of teaching has not allowed dogs into the school playground or on the premisis, exclusions of course applying to service dogs.

If your school allows it then I honestly don't know what you can suggest to get them to change their mind because they clearly lack any common sense or care about keeping children safe. If they cared they wouldn't need a parent to point out the bloody obvious and they would have done something about the problem a long time ago.

CarnivoreCam · 26/11/2024 18:36

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Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:37

NuffSaidSam · 26/11/2024 18:31

I can't believe this is allowed tbh! I've never known a school allow this.

What have the school said on the occasions that you've approached them before?

The head teacher brings her well behaved 'school dog' in so I wonder if they are concerned about being hypocritical or that they cannot ban them because they would no longer be able to bring their dog to school.
The reason given when I have spoke to them was that people would tie them up outside, causing more problems than bringing them into the grounds.
They did send an email out to remind people that only well behaved dogs on leads were permitted onto the grounds.

OP posts:
Terrribletwos · 26/11/2024 18:37

Could you suggest all dogs on the playground have to be muzzled, at the very least? Not sure how that would be enforced tho?

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:37

FoxRedPuppy · 26/11/2024 18:33

Are they coming into school grounds? Dogs are not allowed on school grounds just like play parks.

Yes they are in the school grounds

OP posts:
Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:38

Terrribletwos · 26/11/2024 18:37

Could you suggest all dogs on the playground have to be muzzled, at the very least? Not sure how that would be enforced tho?

I think this could be a very good compromise

OP posts:
Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:39

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Mobiles are banned just not dogs!

OP posts:
Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:41

GrumpyCactus · 26/11/2024 18:34

I wish I had some advice but every school I've taught at or dealt with in my over 10 years of teaching has not allowed dogs into the school playground or on the premisis, exclusions of course applying to service dogs.

If your school allows it then I honestly don't know what you can suggest to get them to change their mind because they clearly lack any common sense or care about keeping children safe. If they cared they wouldn't need a parent to point out the bloody obvious and they would have done something about the problem a long time ago.

Edited

That's why I am wondering if perhaps the LEA can help. Do you think there's a chance?

OP posts:
GrumpyCactus · 26/11/2024 18:43

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:41

That's why I am wondering if perhaps the LEA can help. Do you think there's a chance?

I would definitely get in touch with the LEA. It sounds like the head teacher is prioritising her desire to not pay for doggy day care over the safety of the children.

Bridgetomalley · 26/11/2024 18:44

I like dogs but I'm getting quite exasperated by the number of dogs in inappropriate places.
Yesterday a woman had her dog in the library. I've seen her with it in there before. It's not an assistance dog.
Then today I had a hospital appointment and walking through the grounds from the bus stop to the building entrance there were 2 seperate people with 2 large dogs each and another person with a puppy. A busy hospital grounds with quite a bit of traffic and quite a lot of staff and patients walking about didn't seem the right place for dog walking.
I've also seen staff allowing non assistance dogs in the supermarket and that used to be a definite no. It's a real hygiene issue.
I just feel no where is a dog free zone now but I agree with OP that a school playground definitely should be. The school should be really not be allowing parents to bring dogs in to the grounds.

Terrribletwos · 26/11/2024 18:46

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:37

The head teacher brings her well behaved 'school dog' in so I wonder if they are concerned about being hypocritical or that they cannot ban them because they would no longer be able to bring their dog to school.
The reason given when I have spoke to them was that people would tie them up outside, causing more problems than bringing them into the grounds.
They did send an email out to remind people that only well behaved dogs on leads were permitted onto the grounds.

Not sure what their reasoning is that tied up dogs would be less of a problem? I would ask them why they think that? And how do they (or anyone) determine how well behaved a dog is? They sound a bit clueless 😕

Also, the HT taking in her own, well behaved dog has actually, nothing whatsoever to do with the other dogs in the playground so I wouldn't let that concern you...

CarnivoreCam · 26/11/2024 18:47

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LlynTegid · 26/11/2024 18:49

Formal letter to the governors, or if an academy, whatever the equivalent is. Head Teacher bringing in their dog mention your support.

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:53

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yes def LA

OP posts:
verycloakanddaggers · 26/11/2024 18:54

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 18:38

I think this could be a very good compromise

Why bother with a compromise?

Write a complaint, ask for a ban, copying in the LEA or parent academy. Include the question 'does the school's insurance cover any injuries on school premises caused by dogs?'. Explain the situation is dangerous on a daily basis.

Are other parents concerned? If so ask them to write too.

CarnivoreCam · 26/11/2024 18:55

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AllYearsAround · 26/11/2024 19:02

Have you made an official, formal complaint to the school?

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 19:06

AllYearsAround · 26/11/2024 19:02

Have you made an official, formal complaint to the school?

Not yet. It's only ever been a chat.

OP posts:
ladybee2 · 26/11/2024 19:11

I've never known dogs being allowed anywhere on school premises, at any school.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 26/11/2024 19:11

I’m a dog owner. I wouldn’t take mine to my dds school. I work in a private school and they have a no dogs policy. I thought this was a given in state schools so not sure why your school is allowing this?

Bulldogchewingahornet · 26/11/2024 19:12

I'll be honest, I am nervous about taking this further as it's otherwise a good school and they're supportive in general. This could backfire and although I know it would be high unprofessional to treat me or my child differently because of this, what if they do?

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