Friends fur-ever: The therapy programme supporting tamariki through ruff times
A unique initiative utilising support dogs is impacting Pacific learners in Porirua and Upper Hutt, providing individualised support to help tamariki thrive in busy classrooms and modern learning environments while fostering empathy, resilience and confidence.
Elizabeth McKee is a primary school teacher supporting tamariki in the Ongoing Resource Scheme (ORS).
After noticing some students getting overwhelmed by the pressure to engage and succeed in busy classrooms and modern learning environments, Elizabeth decided to draw on her expertise and address the diverse needs of learners.
Her initiative, Ted’s Space, is a unique programme utilising support dogs. It provides individualised support, helping students overcome these obstacles,
re-engage with learning, and thrive in ways that traditional approaches might overlook.
At the heart of the initiative is activities such as weighted dog workshops, where tamariki and their parents create weighted toy dogs by replacing their stuffing with rice. They are transformed into sensory tools that offer comfort and help with self-regulation during moments of stress.
Support dogs Willow and Daisy play a vital role in Ted’s Space, bringing calm and joy to classrooms and carrying on the legacy of Elizabeth’s late dog Teddy.
Initially run alongside Elizabeth’s teaching career, the programme became a registered New Zealand charity three years ago, a milestone allowing Elizabeth to separate her specialist teaching role from Ted’s Space, giving each the specific attention they deserve.
Tailored support for Pacific learners
Through the Ministry of Education’s Pacific Education Support Fund, Elizabeth was initially tasked with reaching 70 Pacific students across three schools between 2023 and 2024.
By term 3 2023, the initiative had exceeded expectations, supporting 84 learners. To date, the programme has benefitted 300 Pacific students across five schools in the Wellington region.
A key part of the programme’s success, enabled by the funding, is that they can run family evenings, says Elizabeth.
Well attended, the family evenings attract parents eager to learn about the programme and its positive impact on their children’s engagement with school. They provide an opportunity to understand the benefits of the initiative while participating in hands-on activities such as making weighted dogs for their children.
Schools say these evenings are among their most highly attended events of the year, highlighting the strong interest and support from the community for this transformative programme.
Positive shifts in and out of the classroom
The programme’s impact is evident in the significant changes it fosters in students’ behaviour and in classroom dynamics.
“At the beginning of the year, this group struggled with unity, kindness and empathy,” says one deputy principal and special education needs coordinator (SENCo) about a Year 3 and 4 class.
“But after consistent engagement with Ted’s Space, we’ve seen a marked shift. Acts of kindness have increased, conflicts have reduced, and there’s now a stronger sense of whānau in the classroom.”
“The therapy dog sessions have helped my quieter Pacific students thrive,” adds a Year 2 kaiako.
“The weighted dogs have been invaluable for self-regulation, especially during mat time. Students who used to struggle to sit still are now much more settled and ready to learn. These sensory tools have become an integral part of our learning environment.”
But the impact of Ted’s Space extends beyond groups to individual students, enabled through the programme to find voices and confidence.
One Year 5 and 6 teacher shares the story of a student thriving in the programme’s calm environment.
“This student often finds the classroom overwhelming, but Ted’s Space has given him opportunities to develop resilience, self-regulation, and communication skills. It’s improved his wellbeing and readiness to learn.”
“Teddy helped me to be calm because he was calm,” explains the student. “He made me feel safe and happy. It was fun training him and making the animals.”
Creating lasting change
More than a dog therapy programme, Ted’s Space is a lifeline for children and a model for how targeted, culturally responsive initiatives are filling gaps in student wellbeing and achievement.
Entirely funded through grants, the programme provides services to schools free of charge.
Elizabeth is hopeful this can continue but acknowledges the challenges of getting funding.
“Our biggest worry is ensuring continuity for the students who need this programme most,” she explains.
Despite these hurdles, the initiative has flourished, combining innovative therapeutic tools and animal-assisted therapy to support children’s wellbeing, transforming classrooms and empowering Pacific learners to thrive.
“Every child deserves the chance to feel supported and valued,” says Elizabeth.
“Ted’s Space is about creating safe spaces and brighter futures – one child and one weighted dog at a time.”
