Over the Easter holidays we are delighted to announce that the RHS has been in to support us with revamping our outdoor space. We want to use this space to support our young people with transitioning back to the classroom.

This term will be like no other. There will likely be a mix of emotions; pupils and students excited to see their friends again but also having to navigate a new way of learning and behaving. On top of this, many young people will have felt enormous strain during the months of lockdown and a socially distanced months they have had.

Our new space consists of a allotment area, raised flower beds, an outdoor shed and 'activity centre', as well as a reflection area where children can come for time away from the classroom. 

Dr Lauriane Suyin Chalmin-Pui, RHS Wellbeing Fellow, says, “Cultivating plants provides children and young people a sanctuary from virus-related anxieties, and a place to develop feelings of fulfilment and pride in themselves. Gardening fosters creativity and curiosity, as even the smallest wonders of nature can be exciting and fascinating. Moreover, gardening can encourage a sense of belonging in a world from which they may have felt isolated from in the past six months.”
 
We are delighted to announce alongside the opening of our outdoor space, a gardening club. This will allow our children to feel the benefits of growing and caring for plants and they will have the ability to include our fresh produce in our lunchtime meals!
 

Within our curriculum we are also going to be offering Mindfulness sessions. We will be adding this into our weekly routine. Inviting pupils to sit cross-legged or to lie down on the ground outside we will be using the time to reflect on our day, our feelings and the happenings of the world. Studies have shown the effectiveness of this on reducing stress and giving them a chance to 'breathe'.  

We are incredibly excited for the opening of the outdoor space, incorporating it into our curriculum and giving our students an added space to gather thoughts and spend time in our incredible school setting.

Please see the following link for more information about the RHS school gardening movement.  https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/home