Tony Nevett is a Blue Cross education volunteer who owns a retired greyhound called Scotts. Scotts is a Blue Cross education dog, a Pets at Therapy dog and also Britain’s first Reading Education Assistance Dog® (READ), who helps children who are otherwise too shy to read aloud to do so by listening to them and providing a calming and motivating presence.  

Tony is extremely impressed with the SING-A-LONG Resources and he and Scotts will soon be using them on their visits: “I think the SING-A-LONG Resources are fantastic and give an edge of fun for the kids whilst still learning. The concept and idea are great, and I love the different musical styles to fit in with the multi-cultural world in which we live. I’m going to a big READ conference in the United States soon and will definitely be taking the resources with me to all the home education environments and special needs units that I visit. I will also give them a mention in the many magazine and TV appearances that are coming up.”

We can’t help wondering which will be Scotts’ favourite SING-A-LONG song. As he’s a greyhound, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was ‘My dog Spot’ or ‘My Chihuahua is a thirsty fella’. We’ll be visiting Scotts later in the year to see how he’s getting on with SING-A-LONG and we’ll let you know.

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (READ) programme improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But it isn’t just any dog. READ dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children. Participating children make enormous strides in reading and communication skills while, along the way, building self-esteem, confidence, and social skills.

R.E.A.D Leaflet...

Dog Helps Children to READ (BBC)

Channnel Five's Ruth Liptrot went to meet Scotts Kelly and the schoolchildren who read to him.