I believe it is important for children to learn about animal welfare. It is encouraging that schools have the freedom to teach topics such as animal welfare and responsible pet ownership as part of subjects such as Personal, Social, Health and Economic education and Citizenship. I am also pleased that maintained schools, academies and free schools are already required to teach primary pupils about the basic needs of animals for survival including appropriate habitat, food, water and air as part of the science curriculum. Schools should also teach pupils how to take care of animals taken from their local environment and the need to return them safely after study.

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