Helping Children Grow One Paw at a Time: Introducing the Therapy Paws UK After-School Club
Helping children grow in confidence, kindness and wellbeing — one paw at a time.
Could your school offer an after-school club with a difference? One where children can unwind after a busy school day, learn new skills, develop confidence and enjoy the wonderful companionship of a friendly therapy dog?
At Therapy Paws UK, we are excited to introduce our Animal-Assisted After-School Wellbeing Club, a fun, interactive five-week programme designed to help infant and primary school children develop important life skills through meaningful, structured activities with a therapy dog.
Launching from November 2026, our club will give children the opportunity to learn, explore, play and connect in a supportive environment, guided by our experienced therapy dog handlers.
What is the Therapy Paws UK After-School Club?
Our five-week club combines animal-assisted activities with wellbeing, learning and play.
Each weekly session will last 60 minutes and will be carefully structured to give children opportunities to interact with a therapy dog, take part in engaging activities and develop skills that can support them both in and out of the classroom.
The club is designed for infant and primary school children, with a maximum of just six children per group. This small-group approach allows for more individual attention, meaningful participation and opportunities for children to learn at their own pace.
Whether a child is building confidence, developing communication skills, learning about emotions or simply looking for a positive way to finish their school day, our club offers a welcoming opportunity to grow through the special bond between children and dogs.
What will the five-week programme include?
Every week will have its own theme, giving children something new to look forward to while building on the skills they have developed in previous sessions.
Week 1 — Meet Your Therapy Dog
Getting to know each other & building confidence
Children meet their therapy dog and handler and learn how to safely approach, greet and interact with a dog.
Activities could include:
● Learning the dog's name, breed and personality
● Understanding dog body language
● How to safely stroke and interact with a dog
● Grooming and caring for the dog
● Learning about the handler's role
● Simple confidence-building activities with the dog
● Creating a personal "My Therapy Dog" activity sheet
Focus: Confidence, communication, trust and safe interaction.
Week 2 — Reading & Games with Our Therapy Dog
Making reading fun and helping children feel comfortable
The therapy dog becomes a calm and supportive reading companion. Children can read aloud to the dog individually or in small groups without feeling judged or pressured.
Activities could include:
● Reading a story to the dog
● Choosing a book together
● Storytelling activities
● Dog - themed word games
● Simple memory games and observation games
● Fun interaction games with the dog
Focus: Reading confidence, communication, concentration and enjoyment.
Week 3 — Can You Train Our Dog?
Learning how dogs learn
Children become little trainers and learn how positive reinforcement can encourage good behaviour.
Activities could include:
● Learning basic training commands
● Using treats appropriately
● Teaching the dog a simple behaviour
● Understanding rewards and positive reinforcement
● Taking turns being the "trainer"
● Learning why patience and consistency are important
Focus: Patience, responsibility, communication, teamwork and problem-solving.
Week 4 — Caring, Kindness & Wellbeing
Understanding feelings — ours and our dog's
This week focuses on kindness, empathy and emotional wellbeing, using the therapy dog to help children explore how we recognise and respond to feelings.
Activities could include:
● Understanding how dogs show different emotions
● Talking about our own feelings
● Kindness activities
● Exploring what helps us feel calm
● Relaxation and mindfulness with the dog
● Discussing how we can show kindness to people and animals
Focus: Empathy, emotional awareness, kindness and wellbeing.
Week 5 — Our Therapy Dog Challenge & Celebration
Putting everything we've learned into practice
The final session brings everything together in a fun, positive celebration.
Children can take part in a series of age-appropriate challenges involving the therapy dog.
Activities could include:
● A gentle training challenge
● Dog knowledge quiz
● Reading or storytelling challenge
● Caring-for-the-dog challenge
● Teamwork activities
● Sharing something they have learned
● Celebrating their achievements
Each child can then receive their Therapy Paws UK Certificate of Achievement.
Focus: Achievement, confidence, teamwork and celebrating progress.
Karen & Bonnie Serving Somerset
Leah & Reggie Serving High Wycombe
Jan & Cory Serving Hampshire/Surrey borders
The overall aim
The five weeks would gradually take children from meeting and building trust with the dog → reading and playing → learning to train → exploring kindness and wellbeing → celebrating what they have achieved.
And because the group is limited to 6 children, the handler can give each child plenty of individual attention and opportunities to interact with the dog.
How can an after-school therapy dog club benefit children?
Animal-assisted activities can offer children a different way to engage with learning, relationships and wellbeing.
Our club is designed to provide opportunities for children to develop a range of skills in a positive, supportive environment.
Building confidence and self-esteem
Interacting with a therapy dog, learning new activities and celebrating small achievements can help children practise confidence at their own pace.
Supporting emotional awareness
Children can explore feelings, practise recognising emotions and discover ways to express themselves through age-appropriate activities.
Encouraging kindness and empathy
Learning how to understand a dog's needs helps children practise patience, gentleness, respect and consideration.
Developing communication and social skills
Small-group activities create opportunities for children to listen, share ideas, take turns, communicate and work together.
Supporting reading confidence
Reading to a therapy dog may help some children feel more comfortable practising their reading in a relaxed, non-judgemental setting.
Encouraging concentration and focus
Games, training activities and guided tasks give children opportunities to practise attention, listening and following instructions.
Promoting calm and positive experiences
Spending time with a friendly therapy dog can provide an enjoyable opportunity to unwind after the school day. Some children may find the experience comforting and relaxing.
Every child is different, and we recognise that children will respond to activities in their own individual ways.
A small group with meaningful opportunities
We believe that small groups allow children to have more opportunities to participate, ask questions and receive individual support.
With a maximum of six children per club, activities can be adapted to suit the group's needs and abilities.
Our experienced therapy dog handlers will guide each session, ensuring that interactions are supervised and that the wellbeing of both children and the therapy dog remains a priority.
Children will be encouraged to participate at their own pace, with opportunities to observe, engage and learn in ways that feel comfortable for them.
After-school club details
Therapy Paws UK Animal-Assisted After-School Wellbeing Club
Age group Infant and primary school children
Programme length 5 weeks
Session duration 60 minutes each week
Group size Maximum 6 children
Suggested start date Wednesday 4 November 2026
Suggested time 3:10pm–4:10pm
Cost Full programme £90 per child for all 5 weeks (£18 per child, per session) Celebration Therapy Paws UK Certificate
PLEASE NOTE
For the safety and wellbeing of all children, a member of school staff who is trained in First Aid and Anaphylaxis Management must be available throughout each session near by.
Our Therapy Paws UK handlers are self-employed professionals whose primary responsibilities during the club are to ensure the welfare of their therapy dog and maintain safe, supervised interactions with the children.
They are not trained to provide First Aid or manage anaphylactic emergencies, so the school must ensure that appropriately trained staff are available at all times.
The proposed Wednesday schedule is subject to agreement with the school. The club will run once all six places have been secured.
Could your school offer children something a little different?
At Therapy Paws UK, we believe that wellbeing, confidence and kindness are important parts of a child's development.
Our Animal-Assisted After-School Club offers schools an opportunity to provide a structured, engaging activity that combines learning, social interaction and the companionship of a therapy dog.
From reading stories and learning about dog care to exploring emotions and celebrating achievements, every week offers children something meaningful to experience.
We are looking forward to bringing our after-school club to schools and creating opportunities for children to learn, grow and make wonderful memories with our therapy dogs.
Interested in bringing the club to your school?
We would love to hear from schools interested in offering our five-week Animal-Assisted After-School Wellbeing Club.
Currently Serving:
Somerset
High Wycombe
Hampshire/Surrey Border
If you would like to find out more, discuss arrangements or register your school's interest, please contact:
Karen BirchFounder of Therapy Paws UK Ltd.
Helping children grow in confidence, kindness and wellbeing — one paw at a time.
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