School builds a little nest egg

8:04am Thursday 15th May 2008

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ANIMAL-LOVING youngsters have been keeping chickens as part of a classroom business project.

Year Six pupils at Alne Primary School, near York, have built and managed a chicken run since last September.

The children look after the six chickens themselves and sell the eggs within the school and in the community.

The money the children make goes towards "healthy tuck" - a healthy snack shop for pupils at the school.

The project was a business initiative introduced by Year Six teacher at the school, Melissa Cooper. She wanted children to be able to take on responsibility as well as learning skills in business.

Mrs Cooper said: "I thought it would be a good idea for the children to get an idea of responsibility as well as learning how to manage a business. The children built the chicken run themselves and a chicken coop was donated.

"All the responsibility of looking after the chickens, feeding them and collecting the eggs is shared between the children.

"They have done so well and everyone involved had really enjoyed themselves. The project has been so successful we are hoping to keep it going."