Sharing Best Practice
At this level schools should have:
• Staff implementing the garden project and advocating its benefits to other schools
• Both pupils and teachers leading the design and development of the garden
• Most pupils across the school involved in gardening activities
• Regular activities to raise funds or source materials for the garden
• A varied range of plants and features in the garden, showing the use of plants for different purposes
• Good environmental and sustainable practices
• A holiday maintenance regime in place
• Produce from the garden that can be used in other school activities
• Pupils developing more advanced gardening skills
• Pupils involved in construction activities for the garden
• Pupils able to use and maintain a wide range of tools
• Regular use of a good range of gardening vocabulary, and ability to identify crops and weeds
• Pupils using the garden to develop their problem-solving and communication skills
• An awareness of healthy eating developed through food growing
• Older children mentoring younger ones in the garden
• Lead staff with sufficient gardening skills and knowledge to train others within the school
• Two or more curriculum subject being taught through the garden
• A good level of information in the garden to explain it to the widest audience
• An established team of volunteers from the community working alongside pupils in the garden
• Outside experts coming in to share their skills
Primary Schools (KS1 and KS2)
Junior Schools (KS2)