Dogs are well-known to be ideal companions for children... but can they also help them improve their literacy skills?

From this month, students from San Andrea School will be benefiting from weekly reading sessions with trained dogs from the Service Dogs Malta Foundation.

Research has shown that reading to therapy dogs can improve literacy attitudes in students, leading to improved academic performance and positive attitudes about school.

'San Andrea School has always been at the forefront as far as innovative educational methods are concerned,' said Chairman Kevin Spiteri, 'This pioneering method means that children will benefit from uninterrupted reading to a calm and uncritical listener in a relaxed atmosphere.'

Mr Spiteri and Head of Early and Middle School Dorothy Lapira thanked the teachers and parents of the school for giving their support to this exciting new project.