The Institute, through our Training Co-ordinator Ian Wellby, has been working with the Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) Educational and Learning Policy Group on a new policy document calling for greater access and engagement with nature within the UK education system.
Executive Summary
Access to and engagement with nature within education will be vital to tackling and
adapting to the biodiversity and nature crisis, as well as promoting health and wellbeing
and the success of children and young people. The Government has recognised the
importance of nature within education, including in the Environmental Improvement Plan
and the Department for Education’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy.
However, the current plans do not go far enough to guarantee that every child in England
has the level of access, contact and quality of connection with nature required to achieve
the vision of the EIP and the DfE’s strategy.
In this policy paper, we set out the gaps in the Government’s current approach and make
the case for a statutory requirement for nature within all education settings in England to
provide access to and regular high-quality engagement with nature; ensuring all children
have equal opportunity to benefit from connecting and engaging experientially with
nature.
The full policy document is below