As Sheffield’s schools embrace a new academic year, an exciting opportunity on the horizon promises to enrich student learning and well-being. Grow to School, a pioneering organisation dedicated to outdoor and nature-based education is poised to bring its innovative resources to Sheffield schools. Although they are not yet active in the city, the benefits of their programmes are too significant to overlook. ShefFood, the local food partnership, is thrilled to highlight Grow to School’s work and encourage Sheffield’s educational institutions to integrate their fantastic tools into their curricula.
Grow to School CIC has been championing outdoor education since 2011. Their mission is to create sustainable pathways for schools to enhance educational experiences through hands-on outdoor learning and food growing. They offer an array of practical resources designed to help schools make the most of their outdoor spaces. By integrating nature-based education, Grow to School helps students develop a deeper connection with the environment, fosters healthy habits, and enriches their overall learning experience.
The core of Grow to School’s offerings includes their Growbag Toolkits and a newly launched Free Resources Page. These tools are designed to make outdoor learning accessible and effective, regardless of a school’s existing facilities or budget.
The Growbag Toolkit provides a comprehensive approach to outdoor education and food growing in schools, featuring year-round growing guides written by horticulturists, including step-by-step instructions for cultivating various vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs. There are various levels of support, most of which come with carefully selected plants and seeds that are easy to grow and high-yielding, along with activity plans designed for various age groups, integrating outdoor play and learning.
The toolkit aligns with the science curriculum through detailed lesson plans and activities that cover seasonal changes and environmental impact. It includes the PAWS programme with 50 lesson plans for outdoor learning, simple recipe cards for using garden produce, in-school gardening lessons, staff training, after-school club activities, and additional resources such as interactive assemblies, monthly bulletins, and ongoing support. The toolkit is crafted to be practical and easily integrated into school schedules, supporting both educational and environmental objectives.
These toolkits come in two versions: one for Early Years and another for Primary settings. The Growbag Early Years Toolkit focuses on providing young children with engaging, age-appropriate activities that introduce them to nature and food growing in a hands-on manner. Meanwhile, the Growbag Primary Toolkit extends these principles into more structured, curriculum-oriented outdoor learning experiences for older children. Each toolkit is designed to be affordable and scalable, ensuring that schools of all sizes and resources can benefit.
In addition to the Growbag Toolkits, Grow to School has recently unveiled a Free Resources Page. This platform is a goldmine for educators, offering free lesson plans, gardening guides, and nature-based activities. The resources are tailored to help teachers seamlessly integrate outdoor learning into their daily routines, regardless of their level of experience or the size of their outdoor spaces.
The Free Resources Page provides practical, actionable tools that support outdoor education across various subjects and age groups. Whether you’re a teacher looking to enhance a science lesson with a nature walk or a school looking to establish a vegetable garden, the Free Resources Page has something to offer.
The benefits of outdoor learning are well-documented. Evidence shows that spending time in nature improves students’ physical and mental health, enhances cognitive and emotional development, and fosters a lifelong love for learning. Grow to School’s programmes are grounded in these principles, aiming to help students develop practical life skills, increase their environmental awareness, and build resilience.
Outdoor learning fosters healthier eating habits by integrating food growing into school curricula. Grow to School helps children grasp the origins of their food, encouraging better dietary choices, and aligning with ShefFood’s commitment to health and food access. This initiative also supports part of Sheffield’s local food action plan, specifically enhancing food-growing education and promoting active participation in growing activities across the city, especially for children.
Sheffield’s schools have an exciting opportunity to enhance their educational offerings by partnering with Grow to School. Although Grow to School is not yet active in Sheffield, there’s a compelling case for local schools to consider its programmes. By adopting Grow to School’s toolkits and resources, Sheffield schools can create engaging, enriching outdoor learning environments that benefit both students and staff as well as the wider community.
Parents, this is where you can make a difference. Discuss with your child’s school about incorporating Grow to School’s programme into the curriculum. The Growbag Toolkits and Free Resources Page offer immense benefits for your children, including improved academic performance and a stronger connection with the natural world. Embracing these resources can join Sheffield’s schools in prioritising student well-being, environmental stewardship, and fostering a love for learning. We encourage educators and parents in Sheffield to explore how these tools can enhance educational practices.
For more information and to access the Free Resources Page, visit Grow to School’s website: growtoschool.co.uk. Let’s work together to bring the outdoors into Sheffield’s classrooms and give our children the enriching educational experiences they deserve.
