Southwark Education Business Alliance (EBA) has forged a successful partnership with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home following project leaders’ attendance at the Home’s Enterprise & Work Related Learning Education Business Partnership Showcase Day earlier this year.

The scheme will promote pupils’ well being and their understanding of the environment and provide a holistic learning opportunity around animal husbandry and the importance of team work.

The EBA brokered a pilot visit to the home by pupils and teachers from Rotherhithe Primary School to trial the new Enterprise Challenge scheme.  Pupils and staff thoroughly enjoyed the visit and spoke highly of the learning opportunities it provided. The EBA will roll the scheme out across the borough in the near future.

Southwark EBA have also brokered an exciting new project in partnership with Willow Tree Riding Establishment.  Visits to the stables allow children to see how an inner city riding school (mixed ability) runs, meet the horses and ponies, learn about animal husbandry and welfare in a fun setting and see sustainability in action in an enjoyable and safe environment.

The riding stables offer an invaluable teaching resource for all age groups aged from four years upwards. The visit can be used to teach all aspects of the curriculum through learning about animals, their care, and sustainable living in the city.  Primary school pupils can benefit from a unique experience in stable management and horse welfare by creating their own personal project.

A visit to the riding stables gives a first hand experience in a range of visual, tactile and other sensory situations. An understanding of an environment that is affected by humans is given as a good example by the farm. Important knowledge on life cycles and seasonal changes, differences between animals and humans, reproduction in animals, classification, diet and dentition amongst others, are covered.

Again Rotherhithe Primary School kindly made a pilot visit to trial the scheme on the EBA’s behalf.  Feedback from both staff and pupils was entirely positive and the EBA look forward to rolling out the programme in the near future.

Southwark EBA’s increased capacity to support primary school education enterprise initiatives has allowed the team to cement business partnerships with existing schools and businesses and respond positively to new organisations’ wish to expand their corporate social responsibility agenda.  In recent months the EBA have brokered relationships with a range of new companies including; Bristow's, Sapphire Systems, ITV, Barclays, RBS, Surrey Quays City Farm and Dundas Wilson.

Both new and established business partners are keen to support school communities.  Many opt to extend their practical provision and contribution beyond their initial involvement and provide a valuable asset in these times of economic restraint and ever diminishing resources.