Applications Are Invited for the Roots and Shoots Programme

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW INVITED FOR THE 2018 ROOTS AND SHOOTS SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

Roots and Shoots is a well-established programme that has been delivered to over 2000 school children over the past 9 years. The Alnwick Garden, supported by public health professionals from the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, offers children from selected schools, the opportunity to learn how to grow, tend and harvest their own food and to learn about the importance of eating healthily. This programme can help schools develop learning in curriculum areas such as science, (e.g. plants), and PSHE (e.g. healthy eating/team building/sharing), via outdoor learning experiences.

The following information should be considered before applying:  You will be required to make 4 visits to The Alnwick Garden, (the first one will be in March 2018). During each visit, sessions will be delivered to children by both Alnwick Garden staff and public health staff, (all of whom are CRB checked). School staff are responsible for their children’s behaviour and management, at all times, during these visits.  To ensure consistency and safety, schools are strongly advised to select a lead teacher and up to 2 additional adult helpers to accompany children on each visit, (maximum of 3 adults per visit).  Garden staff will deliver potting and planting sessions, alongside learning about bees/hens and other outdoor activities. Public health staff will focus their teaching on the key “Change4life” messages including healthy eating and the importance of keeping active.  Each school will attend independently of each other, (excluding the celebratory event in September).  This is a free programme, made possible by funding from the Shears Foundation. Participating schools will not be charged for their visits, but schools must pay for and provide their own transport. The Alnwick Garden will however, provide a one- off payment of £100, which can be used to either assist with your transport costs OR to purchase an annual Garden pass for their school. (Supply costs will not be paid for).  The sessions will accommodate up to 20 children per school, from years 4 or 5. As this is a “Healthy Living” programme, schools are encouraged to select children who may need to boost their confidence and self-esteem; who may have weight issues, (particularly those who are overweight), and/or may benefit from outdoor learning.

How To Apply There are only 10 school places available. Schools who can show how they will use their learning outside of the programme are most likely to be successful. For example, you might like to set up a Gardening Club within school, or promote Healthy Eating at lunchtimes to families and friends! Schools should also be prepared to develop a growing area in their school grounds or within their local community – Garden staff will help with this by offering one outreach visit per school (usually following the 2nd visit) to offer advice and support (and even a few plants!) Schools will be selected primarily on the basis of their application, but other factors such as levels of obesity within a given partnership area, will also be considered. Successful applicants will be asked to sign a written agreement of attendance and may be charged for staffing costs should the school fail to attend their visits.

Each school must complete the attached application form by Friday 8th December 2017 and return it to:

Dawn Willis Health Improvement Practitioner Integrated Wellbeing Service Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 2nd Floor, Block 6, County Hall Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF Tel: (01670) 623 841 Email: [email protected] Programme Overview (Please note there may be variation at visits)

Teachers and adult helpers (It is essential that the lead attends this visit). Also, we would encourage parents, volunteers or caretakers that will support the implementation and development of Teacher Visit a growing area in the school/local community to attend. (February) Introduction to the programme; setting the scene and planning for the year ahead; experience potting up and tour of the grounds. Each school will receive a journal, which is to be used to record the pupils’ journey through the programme.

Early Spring Visit Selected children and adult helpers (March) Garden planning; preparing growing areas and sowing seeds; watering techniques; possible visit to other parts of the Garden. Packed Lunch Healthy Lifestyle session. Required

May – during Outreach sessions – Gardeners attend individual schools to school time help plant out plots (some free veg plants will be provided) – schools are encouraged to ask families to attend these sessions if possible.

Late Spring Visit Selected children and adult helpers (April/May) Planting and maintaining plot at The Alnwick Garden. Planting out seedlings. Advice re: pest control, feeding/watering. Packed Lunch Healthy Lifestyle session Required

Summer Visit Selected children and adult helpers (June) Planting and maintaining school plot at The Alnwick Garden. Harvesting (if possible); taking soft and hard wood cuttings; bee Packed Lunch talk. Required Healthy Lifestyle session Celebration Event All participants to attend to celebrate their learning and progress (September)  Final visit to Roots and Shoots Garden Packed Lunch  Harvesting and Fun activities Required  Opportunity to showcase learning

Additional A resource pack will be provided with a selection of hints and tips resources to enable further learning in school.

All pupils and participating adults will complete an evaluation at the Evaluation and Celebration Event in September. photo consent Schools will be asked to obtain photographic consent for all participants and are responsible for those children whom cannot be photographed during the visits. All schools are asked to keep a record of their progress in a journal (which will be provided at the start of the programme) and present this at the Celebration Event. (Schools are encouraged to be creative regarding their presentations – for example schools in the past have written songs/ performed dances/ read out poems etc. Roots and Shoots Application

Please complete if you wish to be considered for this programme. Please provide as much detail as possible and continue on additional sheets if necessary

Name of School & Address:

Contact Name (Lead Teacher):

Contact Tel No & Email:

How many adults will take part (please circle) 1 2 3

Do you presently have a designated area for growing Y / N

If yes please explain how this is presently used and who manages it

Please briefly describe your future plans / aspirations for a growing club in your school (these may only be initial thoughts at this stage)

If possible, please demonstrate how you will use the food you have grown

Please return to:

Dawn Willis Health Improvement Practitioner Integrated Wellbeing Service Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 2nd Floor, Block 6, County Hall, Morpeth Northumberland NE612EF

Tel: (01670) 623841 email: [email protected]