The Howard School’s Sensory and Growing Garden.

Thank you for considering supporting our "Growing and Sensory Garden" at The Howard School, Elford. 

This project completes the ‘nature’ area, and complements our recently developed Forest School project. We believe and value creating opportunities to learn, connect with nature, use time and energy in caring for our environment, and so promoting holistic physical and mental wellbeing. 

As a charity  (“Friends of the Howard School”) over the last academic year, we have been running regular events at school and in our local community to help fundraise this project. We are now at the last stages of fundraising and hope the project will be completed over the Summer.

We have planned to make a dedicated outdoor space with a sensory and growing area where the children can take pride and ownership, working as a team. We plan that:

• The children will grow their own produce to then use in their school meals, which are cooked on site, teaching them ownership, pride in their work, horticultural life skills to take into adulthood and an appreciation of sustainability.
• Children will be able to pause and mindfully relax in a space which is dedicated to work for the different senses, creating a tranquil environment that promotes wellbeing.
• The Howard School’s Eco-Council, made up of children from each year group, will monitor the space and play a key role in decision-making and consultation activities with their peers.
• Alongside the Forest School areas, this area will provide a regular complementary stimulating and creative learning environment, and an opportunity for all children to shine.
• The new area will encourage and foster greater connection with the local community, with access for families who have children of pre-school age (who will take part in our free toddler group) and input from the volunteer gardeners from the Elford Walled Garden allotments.

 Our Children will also be fundraising for this project by pledging to complete 24 activities of their choosing in 24 days as part of a 2024 challenge. We hope that they learn new skills and/or challenge themselves whilst raising money through sponsorship on our 'Aviva Community Page'.  Here are some examples of what our children plan to achieve:

We cannot wait for this project to be completed and utilised by all our children. 

We hope you can help us come one step closer to achieve this wonderful new space.

Thank you!