Schools Programme Resource Hub
This programme supports schools in developing engaging growing spaces that help pupils learn through the experience of planting, nurturing and harvesting plants. The resources have been designed to support staff workload while linking directly to existing school curriculum objectives, National Curriculum goals and pupil wellbeing. A whole-school approach is encouraged, with a designated growing coordinator helping to guide the programme and embed growing activities across the school.
The sections below explain how to use the resources and provide an overview of the programme, including an indication of the curriculum time typically required for successful implementation.
The Core Programme
The core programme is structured around the natural growing cycle and a “year in the growing space”. It guides schools through the key stages of planning, establishing, maintaining and harvesting a school growing area. Each section provides practical guidance, resources and suggested activities to help schools create and sustain a successful growing space for pupils.
While the programme follows the seasonal rhythm of planting, growing and harvesting, schools can adapt the activities to suit their own timetable and term structure. The resources are designed to be flexible so they can be integrated into existing lessons or used as enrichment opportunities throughout the school year.
Let's Get Growing!
Part 2
Maintaining and Caring For A Growing Space
Supporting schools to maintain and care for their growing space once seedings have begun to grow and plants have become established
Information on how and when to harvest crops and further opportunities, including seed collection and recipes/cooking of produce
Harvesting
Additional Tools & Guidance
These additional resources are designed to further support schools in developing and enriching their growing programmes. They provide extra guidance, ideas and materials that can help extend learning opportunities, support pupil wellbeing, and integrate growing activities across different areas of the curriculum. Schools can use these resources flexibly to complement the core programme and adapt them to suit their own setting and priorities.
Termly Overviews
Suggestions of how the content from above sections can be navigated/used over the course of the academic school year
Nurturing/Supporting Wellbeing And Curriculum Enrichment
How the programme can provide opportunities to enhance/enrich the school's curriculum, including supporting pupils' mental health and SEND
Additional Lesson And Other Programme Resources
PowerPoint presentations and other lesson resources/activities that can be used in the classroom to support practical elements of the programme