1 in 8 young people have never seen a cow in real life! The <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> campaign is calling for <strong>the</strong> government to guarantee regular and ongoing time in nature for ALL children and young people with additional funding for 2 those that need it most.
The <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> is a proposal to guarantee regular and ongoing time in nature for ALL children and young people with additional funding for those that need it most. Why is it important for children and young people to connect with nature? ● Government research shows that 87% <strong>of</strong> children have stated that being in nature makes <strong>the</strong>m ‘very happy’. ● Connecting with nature improves mental and physical health and educational, emotional and personal development. For example, a close relationship with nature is 4 times more important than purchasing power for feeling your life is worthwhile. ● There are fur<strong>the</strong>r benefits to local communities, <strong>the</strong> UK economy, and <strong>the</strong> environment. A recent Natural England report, forecast shows Social Return on Investment (SROI) for schools that have embedded learning outside <strong>the</strong> classroom in natural environments as a whole school approach is £4.32 for every £1 invested. Why do early years & schools need funding to guarantee regular time in nature for all? ● All children need to consciously ‘grow up greener’. It is good for children and our communities. Their engagement and understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> natural world will inspire <strong>the</strong>m to respect and protect <strong>the</strong>ir school, local community, and planet earth. ● Unless personally motivated, many teachers, just like <strong>the</strong> general public, have little knowledge or experience <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> benefits <strong>of</strong> nature connection. Unlike teaching PE, teachers are less likely to have personal reference points or experiences to prime <strong>the</strong>ir teaching about or in nature. ● Provision <strong>of</strong> funding amplifies <strong>the</strong> message that teaching about, in, with, as, for and from nature is a priority. ● Financial capacity would enable schools to provide CPD during <strong>the</strong> working day ra<strong>the</strong>r than expecting staff to volunteer to work more evenings or weekends. ● The <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> would provide financial capacity to deliver regular and ongoing nature experiences when school finances are already over-stretched. ● A <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> would ensure that All children benefit from regular nature experiences, not just <strong>the</strong> lucky ones. How will you persuade <strong>the</strong> Government to fund <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong>? We know that <strong>the</strong> DfE accepts that children’s mental wellbeing is supported by improved nature-connection. The <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> would be regarded as innovative so, at a time <strong>of</strong> economic crisis, it’s important that we help support <strong>the</strong> DfE introduce this evidence informed education policy that is likely to cost £1 billion annually. We propose running a Social Bridging Finance <strong>Trial</strong> (<strong>SBF</strong>) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong>. <strong>SBF</strong> is a model designed to change policy at scale. In this instance <strong>the</strong> DfE, funders and <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> campaign would work toge<strong>the</strong>r to agree Key Outcomes for <strong>the</strong> trial. The funders would fund <strong>the</strong> trial, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> would implement <strong>the</strong> work, and <strong>the</strong> DfE would agree to sustainably fund a <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong>, using a coalition <strong>of</strong> blended funding, but only when <strong>the</strong> Key Outcomes are achieved. This provides a risk-free mechanism for <strong>the</strong> DfE to explore a concept that <strong>the</strong>y already accept benefits children’s mental wellbeing. Assumptions ● <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> funding goes directly from <strong>the</strong> funder to <strong>the</strong> education settings. ● Each early years provider or school agrees to Key Indicators & Key Outcomes. ● Each early years provider or school interprets nature according to its location, <strong>the</strong> experiences <strong>of</strong> its children, <strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> staff and <strong>the</strong>ir connection with <strong>the</strong> community. ● Funding will be used following 5 Key Indicators (training staff, using external expertise, modifying grounds, buying kit, work in <strong>the</strong> community). ● Staff will be supported by a <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>Premium</strong> facilitator who will coordinate with local conservation/farming/gardening NGO’s and local government. ● Key Outcomes will be determined with input from Natural England, The Royal College <strong>of</strong> Psychiatry, funders, and <strong>the</strong> Department for Education (DfE). 1
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