The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has launched a new project that aims to "broaden the horizons" of primary school children in England. At the core of this initiative is a desire to help youngsters better understand early on the relationship between what they study in school and how this translates into the working world.

Supported by all of the leaders of the three major political parties in the UK and backed by over 100 MPs, Primary Futures, as it has been dubbed, also aims to enhance the aspirations of children.

Developed principally by the NAHT, in close collaboration with the Education and Employers Taskforce charity, the free scheme invites primary schools all across England to get involved in making the world of education and the world of work come together.

"Primary Futures is transforming the way children connect their learning in primary school with the many opportunities that lie ahead," explained Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT.

"The project also opens up the world of work to the children - right at the age where they are beginning to develop their aspirations and ambitions. The launch will give people from all walks of life the chance to visit schools across the country and see the great work they are doing.

"I would wholeheartedly encourage every employer to support this scheme by becoming volunteers and every school to take advantage by joining us on this exciting journey."

Signing up to the project will expose schools to an extensive network of volunteers from different backgrounds and professions. It is hoped that the concept will become a permanent feature of primary school education.

In short, the volunteers are ready and waiting to be contacted, after which they visit a school and share their experiences with children. When professionals sign up to the scheme they will be asked to also explain the importance of mastering literacy and numeracy and how this has helped them get to where they are today.

Furthermore, they will ask signees to express whether or not they are interested in becoming "reading or number partners" with local schools.

It fits in with the mission of the Education and Employers Taskforce, which aims to ensure all schools and colleges have some sort of practical and effective relationship in place with employers.

This, it says, will hopefully "provide its young people with the inspiration, motivation, knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to help them achieve their potential and so to secure the UK's future prosperity".

Nicky Morgan, education secretary, said that she and her colleagues were more than happy to support the scheme, adding that it is an objective of the government to bring together schools and the world of work.

"Children taking part in Primary Futures will be hearing from people who do all sorts of different jobs, not just MPs," she went on to say.

"Professional people are giving their time for free to show the children that there should be no limit to what they want to do with their lives. From the likes of an illustrator for the Beano to a demolition expert and countless others, these visits will help to show children what they could achieve and that no occupation should be closed to them because of their gender."