As children across the country return to the classroom, local schools are being encouraged to apply for up to Ā£500 worth of free outdoor learning resources to allow youngsters to get hands on with nature.
Applications for the Local School Nature Grants are open from now up until the 22nd November 2019 from the charity Learning through Landscapes, which is distributing Ā£550,000 of funding raised by players of Peopleās Postcode Lottery, with funds being awarded from Postcode Local Trust.
Through the programme, Learning through Landscapes wants to transform the way we currently think of outdoor education and show the learning and play potential that exists within all school grounds regardless of their setting and outdoor spaces, empowering teachers to be able to take the teaching of any curriculum subject outdoors.
As well as receiving up to Ā£500 worth of outdoor resources of their choosing, school staff will also receive a two-hour training session on how to get the most out of the equipment. The learning resources and the training sessions available are entirely customisable; meaning infant, primary and secondary schools can choose which items will best suit their learners and the setting that they will be delivered in. The programme is also open to special schools and pupil referral units.
Applications are being actively encouraged from schools whose pupils are aged 5+ and are passionate about making environmental improvements for the benefit of their pupils, staff and the community.
Laura Chow, head of charities at Peopleās Postcode Lottery, said: āGiven that children in Britain spend an average of just 16 minutes a day exploring in parks and the countryside[1], Iām delighted that players of Peopleās Postcode Lottery are supporting this programme enabling children of all ages to get outside and Iād urge schools to take advantage of this opportunity and get an application in.ā
For more information and to apply for funding, please visit Learning through Landscapesā website: www.ltl.org.uk/projects/local-school-nature-grants
[1] Childrenās engagement with the outdoors and sports activities, UK: 2014 to 2015.
Office for National Statistics – https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/childrensengagementwiththeoutdoorsandsportsactivitiesuk/2014to2015
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