How to write a winning Local School Nature Grant application
Local School Nature Grants are back! Explore our tips and tricks for writing a winning application for our outdoor learning grants.
The Local School Nature Grants programme is back for 2024! We’re offering schools and early years settings in England, Scotland, and Wales the chance to take outdoor learning to the next level, unlocking the benefits for children across Great Britain.
With a Local School Nature Grant, you could get your hands on:
- £500 worth of outdoor equipment chosen from a catalogue of over 100 items, including raised bed planters, loose parts kits, waterproof clothing, gardening kits, log seats, ground cover kits, and more;
- A free outdoor learning training session on your chosen theme, delivered by a member of our skilled team;
- Access to expert webinars with advice, suggestions, and inspiration for taking your grant even further; and
- Exclusive discounts and benefits reserved for LtL members – all covered by the grant!
Additionally, we offer unsuccessful applicants access to webinars covering suggestions for improving their applications, along with tips and tricks for developing their outdoor learning provision.
Supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery, our Local School Nature Grants have helped nearly 3,500 schools since 2017. To date, we’ve awarded grants to just over 10% of the schools and early years settings in England, Scotland, and Wales – and yours could be next!
Applications for the next phase of our Local School Nature Grants programme open on March 7, 2024! We can’t wait to hear your ideas and aspirations, but if you want to boost your chances of success, there are a few things you should keep in mind when writing your application.
Let’s take a look at our top tips for writing a winning Local School Nature Grant application.
4 tips for creating a winning Local School Nature Grant application
First and foremost, it’s important to remember that applications for Local School Nature Grants are assessed on the strength of ideas. We’re not looking for expert bid writers, but we are we looking for enthusiasm.
At its heart, the Local School Nature Grants programme is about enabling more children to enjoy the benefits of spending time outdoors and connecting with nature. Therefore, successful applicants are passionate about making environmental improvements for pupils, staff, and the local community for the long term. A Local School Nature Grant might be the first step in your outdoor learning journey, but we want to see your commitment to taking it even further!
Thus, your application should cover 4 key areas:
1. Pupil involvement
At Learning through Landscapes, we want children to have a say in the way their outdoor spaces are used and improved. Therefore, pupil involvement should shine through in your application for a Local School Nature Grant!
Tell us how you engaged pupils in selecting outdoor equipment. Did the Student Council take votes? Did you survey pupils during assembly? Was the decision based on a previous consultation?
However you choose to get pupils involved, we want to know about it!
2. Project sustainability
It’s important to us that pupils benefit from the Local School Nature Grants for years to come, so we’re keen to hear about your plans and aspirations for the future.
How will you share staff learning across the whole school? Do you have maintenance arrangements in place? How will you ensure that future pupils benefit from the grant?
We want to see that you’re planning for the long term!
3. Community
The changes your make to your outdoor provision have the potential to inspire the many different people surrounding your school.
Tell us how a Local School Nature Grant could benefit your local community! Could your plans create volunteering opportunities? Will passers-by see visual improvements to your school grounds? Could the changes boost biodiversity in the local area?
Schools are often at the heart of the local community — show us why!
4. Benefit to pupils and staff
Finally, we want to know how many pupils and staff will gain from receiving a Local School Nature Grant, along with the benefits you hope to see.
How do you plan to use the outdoor equipment? Could it improve break times, lessons, or both? Will the grant benefit the whole school or a select group of people?
Tell us how a Local School Nature Grant could change your school for the better.
Get started with your application
The Local Schools Nature Grants programme is open to early years, primary, and secondary schools and settings in England, Scotland, and Wales. To be eligible for a grant, early years settings must have a dedicated building and employ more than five members of staff.
The first round is open until midnight on April 26. To get started with preparing your application, visit the application portal to download a copy of the application questions and browse our product catalogue. You can also find information about the training sessions, as well as further guidance to support your application, including FAQs.
Remember, our Local School Nature Grants are very popular. However, if you’re unsuccessful during the first round, you can always reapply for a later round! To stay on top of all our dates and deadlines, make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or sign up to our monthly newsletter. Good luck!
Our Local School Nature Grants success stories
- Discover how Yorkmead Primary is using an outdoor curriculum to boost wellbeing
- Learn how Queen’s Hill Primary and Nursery School is building dens and connections
- Explore St Mary’s Catholic Primary Academy’s outdoor learning progress
