A CHILDCARE provider across Tees Valley and North Yorkshire is bringing fun and learning to its early years children with the help of its dog director.

Rosedene Nurseries' dog director Brian, a five-year-old Jack-a-Poo who spends a lot of time in head office, has been visiting each nursery across the region.

Early years research shows that children who have exposure to pets get invaluable training to treat animals nicely, be patient and to treat people the same way.

Rosedene also recognises the benefits of animals on child development, including empathy and pro-social behaviour, taking responsibility and improving cognitive development.

Alice McCullagh, a human director at Rosedene, said: “The children benefit from Brian’s visits as he brings positivity, he loves to play, run a round for the ball and do tricks.

“The children learn new social and emotional skills, having Brian around and in general animals can teach empathy and compassion and nurture non-verbal communication.

“Last year we brought donkeys into the nurseries, we are incubating and hatching eggs at the moment so there will be chickens and then, when it is safe to do so, we are going to have a visit from an alpaca.”

Throughout lockdown, Rosedene operated four special facilities open in its region, providing childcare provision for designated key workers during the Covid-19 crisis.It began to reopen its additional facilities on June 8.