Enhancing opportunities for Reception Children to learn through nature
6
The Pitch
Problem statement
Following two very difficult and confined years, our new cohort of Reception children have begun at our school with limited experience of outdoor spaces and engaging with nature. About 30% of our children did not attend nursery regularly due to closures and have been disadvantaged by the lack of hands on experience education in the outside world can give them. Many have come to our school with severe language and communication needs, complex social needs, including anxiety and difficulties with engagement. Most children have not had the experience of visiting garden centres or farms and therefore have no basic understanding of where food comes from and how it is grown.
Solution
We would like to enhance our current outdoor area to include a garden space, an allotment and a sensory area where the children can connect with nature and enjoy the benefits of a calm and nurturing space. Funding would be spent on clearing a section of the scrubland and creating the 3 spaces using fencing, ideally something like living bamboo fences. There will need to be purchases of seeds and bulbs as well as gardening equipment suitable for young people. We would also like to install some sort of seating area such as tree stumps and planters to grow herbs and fragrant plants. It would be wonderful to be able to install a canopy of sorts so that the benefits can be enjoyed all year.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
We have a dedicated and enthusiastic team who are committed to improve the quality of education for these children. We have recognised and identified their need to engage with nature to develop their emotional well-being, their communication as well as their understanding of how food grows. We bring some experience with gardening and growing and are keen to develop these skills and experiences to help the children flourish in a nurturing environment. Many of these children live without gardens and limited access to outside spaces and we would love to be able to utilise a green and growing space within our school to further develop their educational opportunities.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Essential Gardening Equipment | £129.99 |
| Waterproof Overtrousers 15@12.99 | £207.84 |
| Herb Seeds starter pack 2 @ 27.99 | £55.98 |
| Jumbo summer allotment pack 2 @ 40.00 | £80 |
| Landscaper/Gardener 10 @ £25 an hour | £250 |
| Wellie Boots 15 @ £10 | £150 |
| Den Construction | £110 |
| Watch me grow planter | £277.19 |
| Den Seats X 2packs @41.99 | £83.98 |
| Bamboo Hedging | £349.99 |
| Welly Stand | £211.19 |
| Sensory Equipment | £93.84 |
Beneficiaries
120 people
Expected impact
The immediate impact will be on the current cohort of Reception children who will benefit from having this space to enhance their ‘busy learning’ (free play) time. The children will be able to explore nature, develop a curiosity about how things grow and observe plants growing. The space will also be used to take groups of children for specific input time and will also be used for 1:1 intervention and SEN support. The area will inspire the development of communication and language as well as other PSE skills and other areas of the EYFS curriculum. The area will also provide opportunities for the 120 KS1 children to have a hands on experience when learning about growth and plants in science. The area will provide a calming sensory space for children within our school who have complex SEN including visual impairment. The space will be maintained and provide an engaging learning environment for each cohort of 60 children each year.
Track record
We have not applied to any beneficiary before. We have attempted gardening projects in the past with reception however we are limited to what we can achieve with only 5 trowels and a builders tray.