Overview of the Nature Premium SBF Trial

How much funding would each school
receive as the Nature Premium?
We propose that each Key Stage should
receive £5000 plus £100 for each child or
young person known to be eligible for free
school meals (FSM) and £25 for each child or
young person not eligible for free school meals
(non-FSM). This means that each school
would receive annual funding, dependent on
their size and cohort.
What would this funding buy?
Early year providers and schools are
autonomous, meaning that each education
setting will make unique decisions as to how
the Nature Premium should be used
considering the:
● Location - urban, rural, coastal, moorland,
wooded, farmland and more.
● The age of the children & young people.
● The life experiences of the children and
young people.
● The interest & experience of staff.
● Broad definition of nature as farming,
conservation work, gardening, urban
farms, Forest School, fishing,
permaculture, adventurous activities,
improving local biodiversity, beekeeping
and more. Schools/EY settings could
work with NGOs that supported their
interest in nature.
Ultimately the Nature Premium would change
the education culture by:
• Demonstrating that nature is a priority,
engage the wider education community to
include ALL C&YP developing and
embedding a growing Sustainable
Education culture. This will strengthen
communities to benefit the local education,
health, and economy.
• Acting as a catalyst between the
aspirations of a future Net Zero society
and the practicalities of creating a
knowledgeable and resilient future
workforce.
• Providing financial capacity to enable
schools to support staff and C&YP nature
connection.
How could the early year providers and
schools use the funding?
As with the Sports Premium, the Nature
Premium could be used for five Key
Indicators which should demonstrate
improvement in:
1. The engagement of all C&YP with regular
nature connection activities. The profile of
nature and sustainable living would be
raised across the school as a tool for
whole-school improvement.
2. Increased confidence, knowledge and
skills of all staff teaching about nature and
sustainable living.
3. Broader experience of nature offered to all
C&YP.
4. Increased participation in communitybased
nature activities.
These Key Indicators could be achieved by:
● Training all staff.
● Working with external experts and NGOs.
● Buying essential kit e.g. wet weather gear.
● Assessing and improving biodiversity in
the school grounds.
● Enabling the school estate to function
sustainably.
● Working in the community on Climate
Emergency, tree planting and biodiversity
projects.
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