Schools
Support wellbeing in your school – register for a PAT visit
Pets As Therapy visits are a wonderful free service that bring comfort, joy and companionship to those who need it most. If you’d like your school to benefit from these uplifting visits, simply click the ‘Request a visit’ button below to register your interest.
Why should we have a PAT Dog visit our school?
PAT Teams who visit schools bring more than just wagging tails - they bring comfort, confidence and connection. These visits can help raise a pupil’s reading standard, boost self-esteem, improve concentration and even support behavioural development. The presence of a friendly PAT Pet can have a truly positive impact on a child’s educational, social and emotional wellbeing.
Our Read2Dogs scheme (and some Read2Cats, too!) is designed to help young people improve their literacy skills in a calm and encouraging environment. Reading aloud to a PAT Dog - an attentive, non-judgemental listener - makes the experience enjoyable and stress-free.
The child looks forward to spending time with their four-legged friend, which in turn creates a bond of trust, empathy and understanding of the needs of the pet.
How to register for a PAT visit
Welcoming a PAT Pet to your school couldn't be simpler. If you would like a PAT Team to visit and help your pupils develop their literacy skills, and boost their confidence and concentration levels, just complete our online registration form.
Before registering, please carry out a risk assessment for the role of a visiting PAT Volunteer. While our volunteers are accompanied during visits, if your role requires a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service), it is your responsibility to arrange this at no cost to our volunteers. Please note that PAT does not process DBS checks.
Frequently asked questions
Pets As Therapy does not assess or provide working or school pets. Any visits conducted outside of PAT's official guidelines are not covered by PAT insurance, and PAT accepts no liability for incidents arising from such visits.
As a PAT Volunteer, your primary responsibility is to your pet—and as a teacher, your responsibility is to your pupils. In situations like emergencies or evacuations, these roles could conflict, potentially compromising the welfare of both.
There is no charge for your school to receive regular visits from a PAT Team - our service is freely given, with the goal of bringing joy, comfort and connection to those who need it most.
If you’d like to support PAT by holding a fundraising event, we’d be delighted to help! We can provide collection tins, leaflets and posters to help you promote your event and spread the word about the difference PAT Pets make every day.
The time it takes to arrange a visit can vary depending on a few factors, including the availability of volunteers in your area, it can typically take a few weeks to a few of months to get everything in place.
If you know someone with a friendly, well-behaved dog who loves meeting people and might enjoy bringing joy and comfort to children, please ask them to visit our Volunteer with us page.
Help us spread more joy in schools
Every week, our PAT Teams make a real difference in classrooms across the UK, helping children feel calmer, more confident and excited to learn.
With your support, we can reach even more schools and provide the joy of animal companionship to children who need it most.
Sometimes, a wagging tail and a gentle nuzzle are just what a child needs to thrive.
