Schools on allotment sites

[Hans Mum]

i am secretary of our self managed site for my sins...i have been approached by the head of the school which borders our site requesting a plot
the school is for children under 11 years old with behavioural difficulties and have been removed from 'ordinary' schools. My first reaction was yes lets do all we can to help but there will be opposition from some quarters. The kids will be in small groups of 4/5 and will have 1:1 supervision at all times. The insurance will be covered by the LEA so thats not an issue. Has anyone else done anything like this on their sites or got any advice.

[FionaH]

I dont have an allotment, but the mainstream school I do admin for does. The kids get a great deal out of it. They actually connect with where food comes from.

[yorkshire sam]

I would say yes, yes, yes! The effect on these kids is unbelieveable and a pleasure to watch - yes I know sometimes like baby girraffes - all enthusiasm and little coordination but you will be amazed just how quickly they learn. The pleasure they get out of it cannot be overstated and we have had some who have grown up and now do it for a living and some still do it just for the pleasure. If they are well supervised ( and they usually are for thier own safety) they can do little harm and lot of good.

[kernowyon]

one of the plots on our site is run by the local probation service and we have a endless supply of hoodies with white trainers standing on the paths staring at the supervisors while they work.

occaisionally they do get a few lads who are really keen but then the term of punishment ends and they disappear.

funnily enough though the vandalism and petty theft has dropped - maybe word has got round that nothing of value is kept there.

as for schools, and after growing up in a rural community - its a big yes (even if all it achieves is that the kids realise that food isn't always scrubbed and wrapped in plastic - sometimes it does have dirt on it) I loved my rural studies lessons, our school even had its own mini farm.

[ailsasyl]

I used to work with adults 16+ with learning and behavioural problems when I lived in England, we had a garden nursery and some farm animals, the animals eventually were removed as it became harder to manage with insurance etc but the garden nursery business was a boom the guys got loads out of it both mentally and physically and really enjoyed learning to care for plants,

[snuffer]

Mrs snuffer is deputy head at a special school in Nottinghamshire. The school doesn't visit the local allotment site but does have its own veg garden and greenhouse. (That's why I never have any seeds for the seed swop, any spares end up going to school). The pupils enjoy working in the garden very much and get a lot out of it.

As long as you can be assured that pupils will be properly supervised at all times I would say let them have a go at it. It's not just an opportunity to learn about GYO it's also about letting these kids, that are so often sidelined, be a part of the community in which they live.

[Polly Fouracre]

It's not what the children get out of it now that counts but what will come back to them in years to come. We were,to a child, our mother's very reluctant helpers when we were young and I couldn't have given a damn about gardening. But now we are all avid gardeners and can't get our children interested!! But I see now signs of the same spark in our children.
Yes, by all means encourage any youngster. Surely 50% will have the "seed" sown.

[sarflo]

I agree with Snuffer, I'm a special needs teacher and we garden at school. Kids with bd often find practical things a lot more inspiring than regular school and it can be very rewarding for all concerned!!

[Hans Mum]

thanks for your replys peeps will definately be letting them have a plot just gotta get me armoured jacket on for all the fall out

[SHAZSULL]

THIS MAY BE of use was in last sats paper potatoesforschools.org.uk for your school hope the havt run out free spud growing kits for schools who register will stocks last x

[NOG]

You will need to inform your Insurance even if the LEA will have their own.

You will also have to do all the risk assessments.

[jacob marley]

We at our last but one AGM decided to offer a plot to the local school 300 yard's away the head teacher turned the offer down flat no more was done about it....jacob

[snakeshack]

will be taking my cub pack down to the lottie this year (have been a leader for 25 years)as I feel this will be more benificial than grow a bean in a jar.the school my wife works at has a gardening club and grows beans ,tomatoes and potatoes amongst others .
all the kids get to participate and take something home to eat at end of season.
I too think children need more identification with where food comes from and doesn't grow in plastic bags in the supermarket.there is currently a scheme for schools wanting to participate "food for life "I think ,try googling the website
just checked it's www.foodforlife.org.uk