Thanks to generous funding from the Flint Family Fund, five nursery and pre-school settings in inner south and east Leeds have been offered the opportunity to transform their outdoor spaces and inspire healthier eating.
Each setting will work with Season Well CIC and Grow to School CIC over the next two academic years. Together, they will help each setting create a thriving, nature‑rich food‑growing environment and engage children and families in cooking and enjoying fresh, home‑grown produce.
The successful schools are: Hunslet Moor Primary School, Cross Gates Primary School, White Laith Primary School, Grimes Dyke Primary School and Hunslet Carr Primary School.
The fully funded programme, normally valued at £4,000 per setting, will use Grow to School’s Growbag Early Years toolkit and include hands‑on support for staff, children and parents. From building productive growing spaces to running family cooking sessions, the project aims to boost outdoor learning, increase access to green spaces and encourage healthier eating habits from the earliest years.
Ama Chaney, a Director at Grow to School says
“It is hugely important for children from a young age to have access to, and understanding of, where food comes from and to develop an early relationship with nutrition. Children need to be supported to try and taste new foods that they may not normally have access to and expand their horizons. Training teaching staff means that these settings can continue growing and cooking beyond the legacy of the project”.
Olivia MacNay, Nursery Teacher at Cross Gates Primary School says
“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the grant funding. This support will make a meaningful difference to our children by giving them greater opportunities to connect with nature, develop new skills, and learn through hands-on experiences outdoors. We know that access to outdoor learning and gardening experiences can have a positive impact not only on children’s education, but also on their wellbeing and sense of responsibility. What we are most looking forward to is seeing the children fully engage with the project — planting, growing, exploring, and taking pride in something they have created together. We envisage the outcomes being far-reaching and long-lasting. As a team we cannot wait to start this amazing journey!”
This project marks an exciting step toward helping Leeds families grow, cook and enjoy good food together, starting right where children learn and play.”
About Grow to School…
Grow to School provides outdoor learning lessons, training, support and resources that create lasting impact in the classroom and beyond. They are a Community Interest Company, which means they are a not-for-profit organisation and any surplus from their trading activites are used to support work with schools and communities.
