The Nature Premium is a big idea with wide-ranging benefits and consequences. If you’ve got questions about how it will work - great! We’ve answered some common questions on this page, simply click the + symbol to reveal the answer.
If you’ve got a question that isn’t answered here, please get in touch and we can add it to this page.
What is the Nature Premium
The Nature Premium is the name for a funding model that would enable early years providers and schools to provide regular and additional sessions for children to go outside into nature.
Surely children go into nature with their families?
Natural England research shows that children’s experience with nature is varied, with almost 25% spending time outside less than once a month. Read the supporting evidence here.
Don’t children have opportunities to go into nature at school already?
Yes, but these experiences are very limited. We are asking for ring-fenced funding that will provide regular nature experiences for all UK children. This will benefit children’s mental and physical well-being and make them happier and healthier.
Why is it called the 'Nature Premium'?
Schools currently receive government funding called a ‘Sports Premium’ that provide P.E. sessions for all children. The Nature Premium would use a similar funding model.
How does the Sports Premium work?
The government invests £16,000 for a school of 16 children or less and £16,000 for a school of 17 children or more plus £10 per additional child.
We know spending time outside is important, doesn’t the Sports Premium pay for this?
We are calling for ring-fenced funding that would provide for far more than can be achieved by the P.E. sessions. A Nature Premium would mean that all children would spend time in a rich, natural environment compared to the relatively barren grass playing field/artificial grass or playground. Not all children enjoy P.E. or competitive sports. Time outside in nature is inclusive as all children are active: running on uneven paths, climbing over logs, splashing in mud or walking up and down hills. These sorts of activities exercise a wide range of muscles without the children even realising it.
It would help children become happy and healthy and develop their understanding of how they fit into the world, developing a connection and respect for the natural environment .
How are schools going to be able to use the Nature Premium?
We are suggesting that each school should determine how the Nature Premium is spent because they know the needs and experiences of their children. This could be Forest School sessions, conservation work, rural visits, farm visits or residential stays at adventure centres.
I'm a Head Teacher. Can I pay for staff using this money?
Our hope is that Nature Premium would operate like the Sports Premium, which can include covering staff or equipment costs.
Who would supervise and teach the children when they are in this natural space?
There many options for supervision. Members of staff may have a passion for the outdoors in addition to Forest School practitioners and other professional outdoor facilitators. Volunteers and conservation charities can also provide support.
What if my child’s school doesn't have any nature space in the grounds?
If there is space in the school grounds this could be the nudge needed to develop a wild area for the children to play in. It’s not easy if you have to travel to nature away from the school site, but with regular financial support we hope that there will be in incentive to talk to local councils or landowners to explore access to natural areas and build partnerships.
What resources are available to support teaching management take children into nature?
There are many free resources available, we suggest that you talk to your local Forest School practitioners or Wildlife Trust who have experience of writing risk assessments.
Why should the funding go to schools?
Lockdown has demonstrated many inequities, including children’s ability to go into nature. By funding every child in school the inequity in access to nature is removed and all children are treated fairly.
Has anything like this been financed before?
Yes! In February 2019 Michael Gove launched Nature Friendly Schools programme (which is funded by the Department for Education and supported by Defra and Natural England) as part of the Year of Green Action. He said “As the future stewards of our planet, children and young people have a vital role to play in this. The £10 million boost will help ensure there are no barriers for young people to access the benefits of the natural world and importantly enable them to play their part in environmental protection”.
£10 million sounds like a lot of investment for children in nature already?
£10 million is a lot of money but, as a comparison, the Sports Premium is funded at £320 million each year. Put another way an average primary school would receive £18,660 from the Sports Premium while each of the Nature Friendly Schools received £5,333 last year.
Is there government research supporting the benefits of spending time in nature?
Yes, a number of reports have been produced by Natural England, a government agency. Read the supporting evidence here.
Is there academic research that supports the benefit of spending time in nature?
Yes, for example: “a two-hour ‘dose’ of nature significantly boosts health”:
White, M.P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J. et al. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Sci Rep 9, 7730 (2019).
Read all the supporting evidence here.