Early Years Enterprise Challenge for Early Learners 3-5 years

Over the years, several teachers around the world have adapted our School Enterprise Challenge programme for very young learners. In South Africa, we saw Scilla Edmonds, an experienced teacher and principal of The Birches, an Early Years School, adapt our programme for her learners with remarkable impact over 11 years. Year on year, we saw The Birches learners having fun and developing their skills and confidence as they completed the Challenge and ran a business. The Birches now runs multiple school businesses which bring additional income into the school.

Working with Scilla Edmonds we created the Early Years Enterprise Challenge, a simplified, shorter form of the School Enterprise Challenge programme incorporating environmental awareness-raising activities. In 2023-24 we trialled the programme in South Africa with teachers from Early Childhood Development (ECD) in KZN, 19 school teams proudly showcased their businesses at Marketplace and Celebration event.

Early Years Enterprise Challenge 2026

In 2026 we will be building on our experiences from 2023-25. In 2025 we worked closely with ECD teachers in KZN to implement the Early Years Challenge in 30 schools and develop a comprehensive programme Model for ECD schools across South Africa. In 2026 we will be running the programme with more schools and aim to demonstrate that our Model and systemised approach can be offered to many more ECD teachers and schools and can be delivered at a cost that facilitates wide adoption.

Very young learners consistently impress us, their teachers and their parents with their amazing creativity, enthusiasm and confidence throughout the programme. Their teachers also note their growth in

• Language and numeracy development, and
• Knowledge of environmental protection, and
• Understanding of the value of money, and
• Importantly, that they clearly love learning in this way.

Teachers tell us that the programme has been transformational for their learners, their school and themselves.

“I’ve gained a deeper understanding of learning through play and how to create more child-centred, active learning environments. I also learnt to use open-ended questions to encourage children’s critical thinking and creativity. In addition, I discovered new ways to observe and assess children’s learning through play, and how to plan activities that build on their interests and developmental stages”.

Read our full Impact Report 2025 here

Read what the South African press says about our programme here

" I see so many opportunities for the future. This programme will benefit children with learning barriers. It should be introduced to all preschools. Not every child will become an astronaut, this project gives learners opportunities to do something they love. They learn to build and sustain a business (doing something they love). I am so fired up I can hardly wait for the next years"

Teacher, Sunbeam Pre-Primary School

"This has been the most beneficial extra curricular activity that we have implemented in our school. It has empowered staff, learners, and their families to think out of the box when it comes to recycling and sustainable living. (For me) Every waste product I see now has a hidden value to it"

Head, Pretty Palms Pre-Primary School

“The children have been amazing, making .. and creating.... They’ve learned to greet customers, handle money, understand its value. We’ve been opened to a whole new world.”

Teacher, Sunbeam Education Center