Overview of the Nature Premium SBF Trial

The Nature Premium 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% of
children have stated that being in nature
makes them ‘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 further benefits to local
communities, the UK economy, and the
environment. A recent Natural England
report, forecast shows Social Return on
Investment (SROI) for schools that have
embedded learning outside the 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 of the natural world will
inspire them to respect and protect their
school, local community, and planet earth.
● Unless personally motivated, many
teachers, just like the general public, have
little knowledge or experience of the
benefits of nature connection. Unlike
teaching PE, teachers are less likely to
have personal reference points or
experiences to prime their teaching about
or in nature.
● Provision of funding amplifies the
message that teaching about, in, with, as,
for and from nature is a priority.
● Financial capacity would enable schools
to provide CPD during the working day
rather than expecting staff to volunteer to
work more evenings or weekends.
● The Nature Premium would provide
financial capacity to deliver regular and
ongoing nature experiences when school
finances are already over-stretched.
● A Nature Premium would ensure that All
children benefit from regular nature
experiences, not just the lucky ones.
How will you persuade the Government to
fund the Nature Premium?
We know that the DfE accepts that children’s
mental wellbeing is supported by improved
nature-connection. The Nature Premium
would be regarded as innovative so, at a time
of economic crisis, it’s important that we help
support the DfE introduce this evidence
informed education policy that is likely to cost
£1 billion annually.
We propose running a Social Bridging
Finance Trial (SBF) of the Nature Premium.
SBF is a model designed to change policy at
scale. In this instance the DfE, funders and
Nature Premium campaign would work
together to agree Key Outcomes for the trial.
The funders would fund the trial, the Nature
Premium would implement the work, and the
DfE would agree to sustainably fund a Nature
Premium, using a coalition of blended funding,
but only when the Key Outcomes are
achieved. This provides a risk-free
mechanism for the DfE to explore a concept
that they already accept benefits children’s
mental wellbeing.
Assumptions
● Nature Premium funding goes directly
from the funder to the 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,
the experiences of its children, the
interests of the staff and their connection
with the community.
● Funding will be used following 5 Key
Indicators (training staff, using external
expertise, modifying grounds, buying kit,
work in the community).
● Staff will be supported by a Nature
Premium 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 of Psychiatry, funders, and the
Department for Education (DfE).
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