Canine Assisted Learning
Kato is Marlborough Schools CAL dog. He qualified in July 2023 through the Canine Assisted Learning programme. CAL provides Animal Assisted Therapy, interventions and activities supporting educational, behavioural and emotional development in young people. Kato has 4 trained handlers that work with him.
Kato receives termly visits from Lizzie at CAL to check on his progress.
September 2024 CAL visit: It certainly is very pleasing to read and it is very evident that everyone including Kato himself, sees Kato as part of the school team! It is wonderful reading all about the different places Kato visits at the legacy site and also the commands he uses on the switch at the MPA site. I was very moved to read all about V and the walking therapy which Kato is supporting him with, truly amazing work being done there! Kato does have a really good balance of work and rest and you all have done such a brilliant job of providing him enrichment and variety, he clearly loves his job!
February 2025 CAL visit: Kato is very much embedded into the fabric of the school and he loves his "job". Working one day a week at the Legacy site is working extremely well and you are all doing a great job.
June 2025 CAL visit: Everything is going great and Kato loves his role as a school dog at Marlborough School and everyone loves him too.
Kato at the House of Commons! July 2025
We are delighted that Kato was shortlisted for the National School Dog Alliance, School Dog of the Year Award. The shortlisting panel, comprising of representatives from the NSDA, RSPCA and PDSA gave the following feedback:
We were incredibly impressed by the outstanding work being done at Marlborough and the clear commitment to best practice—not only in how Kato supports students, but also in how Kato’s wellbeing is prioritised. It is a shining example of what safe, inclusive, and impactful animal-assisted education can look like.
Kato attended the final at the House of Commons in July with staff and students. Although Kato was a gracious runner-up, his achievement highlights his incredible work and we are very proud of him.
For more information about CAL, please visit the Canine Assisted Learning website:
www.canineassistedlearning.com
