Education and Learning

Co-Chair: Jenny Davis, The Wildlife Trusts

Co-Chair: Cathriona Hickey, ZSL

Co-Chair: Suzanne Welch, RSPB

Link: Lauren Moore, Policy Officer

Update from the Group:

The Education and Learning Policy group works on policy approaches to improving nature-based education and learning. The group’s key policy ask is that regular, high-quality access to and engagement with nature, within education, becomes a statutory right for every child in England.

The Education and Learning Policy group works on policy approaches to improving nature-based education and learning. The group’s key policy ask is that regular, high-quality access to and engagement with nature, within education, becomes a statutory right for every child in England.

The group has published a briefing on its policy ask, outlining that nature education should include a curriculum where nature, climate and sustainability are threaded throughout, support and resources for teachers and schools, and regular outdoor learning. See the full briefing (15 min read) or the summary (3 min read). A blog was also published on the group’s ask.

The group is keen to obtain stakeholder views on this policy ask, and has produced a stakeholder survey to further understand levels of support, opinions on its practicalities and resources needed.

In September 2024, the group wrote a letter to the Department for Education outlining its policy ask. We received a positive response from Stephen Morgan MP, which will be followed up by a meeting in December.

In September 2024, the group also submitted evidence to the Play Commission on the value of nature for learning and play for children.

More recently, the group submitted evidence to the Curriculum and Assessment Review. This is a key moment to collate the vast amount of evidence on the value of accessing and engaging with nature in education, and the qualification pathways that could be improved with the integration of nature-based learning.

Link has recently met with The Treasury to discuss green skills, and the challenges and opportunities to fill the green skills gap that the country is facing.

For further information, contact Lauren Moore, Policy Officer at Link.

Last updated: November 2024