You’ve probably heard of Cycling Proficiency – well we bring to you Pet Proficiency – helping to teach kids about pets.

Pet Proficiency is a programme to raise levels of awareness about pets and promote responsible attitudes among children aged 7-11 years. The course can be run in schools as an extra curricular activity, as a lunchtime or after school pet club. The course consists of eight sessions, which we recommend running over an eight week period.

It requires a single person to co-ordinate the programme and this can be by a teacher at the school or someone who works with animals such as a dog warden.

All the help you need to set up Pet Proficiency is available on this website including worksheets for each session, guidance on how to co-ordinate the programme and should you wish, advice on how to publicise your participation to your local papers.

If you are a Brownie, completing Pet Proficiency can be put towards your 'Friends to Animals' badge. Click here to download a letter for your Brown Owl.