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Pupils at Cherry Orchard Primary Academy in Ebbsfleet will get the chance to follow three guide dog puppies throughout their 20-month training course.
Housebuilder David Wilson Homes - which is building its Castle Hill development less than a mile from the school - has sponsored a Guide Dogs’ “Puppy Graduation Scheme”, and pupils will receive regular ‘pupdates’ and pictures of puppies Fifi, Una and Lexi, during the first year of puppy walking and formal training.
To help the pupils understand more about the work that the charity does, they were treated to a special assembly with a talk from Lynn Stapley, a volunteer puppy walker and organiser of the Ebbsfleet branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Lynn brought her guide dog puppy Kurt to the talk. Natalie Perry, sales and marketing director for David Wilson Kent said: "We are really pleased to be able to work with Cherry Orchard Primary Academy on this project, as part of our ongoing collaboration with Guide.
"Our staff are passionate about supporting this charity whenever we can, and we are pleased that the pupils enjoyed the assembly and are looking forward to following Fifi, Una and Lexi’s training.
"We hope that both the experience and the lessons they learn will stay with them for a long time to come."
Kate Hunter, community fundraiser for Kent at Guide Dogs, said: "Our volunteer puppy walkers’ key responsibility is to prepare the puppies for their working life by familiarising them with as many different environments including the home, town and public transport.
"The pup will then enter formal training at a mobility team to learn guiding skills.
"We really appreciate the ongoing support from David Wilson Homes and the importance that they place on teaching children not just about sight loss but realising the life changing impact a guide dog can have on those who are blind or partially sighted."
Mrs Forsythe, headteacher at Cherry Orchard Primary Academy, added: "It was a great experience for the children to meet Lynn and guide dog puppy, Kurt, and learn about how essential a guide dog’s work is.
"We are all very excited to be given the opportunity to be part of this project and look forward to following Fifi, Una and Lexi throughout their training."
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